A bucket list golf road trip to savour

By Neville Idour

Golf road trips are nothing new but when you add bucket list experiences to them they become something really special. 

These experiences would take us to Kauri Cliffs and Te Arai in Northland. 

So, our recent 23-day northern journey of 3124 kilometres would prove to be just that, very special and memorable. 

Having moved from Dunedin to Kaiapoi, near Christchurch, in January, the drive to the Picton ferry is now less taxing. The morning smooth sailing was a nice start and a two-night stay with friends near Porirua in Wellington fuelled us for what lay ahead.

The drive via Transmission Gully motorway allowed us to reach Turangi, near Taupo. We had passed the famous must-play three level Rangatira course with its cable car from the 18th which we have played twice previously, but time did not permit this time. 

Turangi is a very pleasant golf course. It should not be missed if in the area. Watch out for a story on this gem in a later issue. We became aware of two other fine courses in the area, Putaruru and Tirau which we hoped to play on our return.

We spent the night in Taupo then it was a big day. A stop in one of our favourite towns, the eclectic Tirau, was a must to replenish us for the drive all the way to Whangarei for two nights. This allowed us to backtrack the short drive to Waipu Golf Club where we wanted to check out the significant changes to the fairways with the new fairway watering. We played and our experience will be detailed in a later issue of this publication.

Waipu has more than a golf course to enjoy. It's Scottish Migration Museum is a must visit as it tells a settlement story unique in this country’s history. You can discover how 1000 Gaelic speaking emigrants escaped from the western highlands of Scotland to “the virtual paradise of of Waipu.” It is one of New Zealand’s finest museums and has won awards and an international reputation.

Next it was two nights with friends in Dargaville, a town I enjoy and a visit to the Northern Wairoa Golf Club, another very nice highly rated layout. Kerikeri was our next stop for two nights but we were unable to play the golf course as it was closed for coring of the greens. So we built up expectation for our three rounds beckoning at Kauri Cliffs.

We have played Kauri Cliffs several times, but this was going to be extra special as we were staying two nights for the annual mixed pairs' tournament which alternates between there and Cape Kidnappers in Hawke’s Bay. This experience warrants a separate story in this issue. So after a fabulous time there it was one night in Whangarei then our second bucket list indulgence, Te Arai.

After hearing and reading various glowing reports on the South Course we were looking forward to playing South and the new North course on the second day open to the public. A separate story of our three nights there is also warranted as it is like another world. 

We were a little sad to leave and headed for Tieke Estate Golf course near Cambridge which we enjoyed last year and wanted to play again. Unfortunately it didn’t work out despite Richard Ellis’ efforts to accommodate us. So we decided to make it all the way to Putaruru for a night then check out the golf course which  proved to be another gem and this too will be featured in a later issue.

Next day we chose to make it to Palmerston North for the night as we wanted to spend some time in the Greytown in the Wairarapa area and play the Featherston course before the ferry sailing. This course had good references but to our surprise we found it had closed five years ago because of declining membership. Shows how up to date my references were.

That being the case we backtracked to Carterton Golf Club and played what turned out to be a most enjoyable 18 holes and a course that will receive a review in a future edition. Our two nights in Greytown were a nice wind down with golf at Carterton and time enjoying one of neatest and most eclectic towns in New Zealand with its unique shops and attractions.

The Cobblestones Museum and working historic village are a must as you learn how Wairarapa’s early settlers lived, worked and played in the 1800s and 1900s. It is open every day and is $10 well spent. 

For those who enjoy a tipple a visit to the Greytown Distillery Company will not disappoint. Founded and started up a little over two years ago by Adam and Millie Blackwell this business is one of those genuine community companies with many delighted local shareholders. Their gins have already won awards. Not bad for a town with less than 3000 residents.

Leaving Greytown we enjoy the drive over the Rimutaka hills on probably the smoothest road surface in the country before arriving at the most inviting Te Marua Golf Club with lush green fairways on the outskirts of Upper Hutt. This course definitely warranted our attention which you can read about in the future.

So it was time to say farewell to another most productive and enjoyable northern road trip and head for the Cook Strait ferry. Yet again we could play, some for the first time, and be impressed by more of those many wonderful golf courses that inhabit little old New Zealand.