The perfect Queenstown Golf Itinerary

If you’re a golfing tragic and you’ve never planned a Queenstown golf holiday, you’re leaving one of the world’s great golf trips on the table. This is one mighty destination for golf lovers.

Queenstown (and the wider Wakatipu Basin stretching out to Arrowtown and Wānaka) is a place where you can play genuinely world-class golf in the morning, be on a lake, a mountain, or in a winery that afternoon, and still be back in town for a proper meal and a great glass of Central Otago Pinot Noir at night (or a Speight's beer - my personal choice).

It’s not just “nice golf with nice views.” It’s a concentrated cluster of standout courses—each with its own personality—set in scenery that makes you pause mid-fairway and laugh because it feels unreal. I know that it's important to keep up the pace when you play, but boy, when you play here, a few sneaky photo breaks may be necessary.

I've been golfing for over 40 years, and Queenstown ranks right up there as one of my favourite golfing destinations.

Below is my golfer-to-golfer guide for the Queenstown golf holiday you’ll still be talking about for years — covering Millbrook, Jack’s Point, Queenstown Golf Club, Arrowtown, Wānaka, and The Hills.

Note on pricing & yardages: Green fees and course set-ups can change by season, tee selection, and whether you’re booking direct, through a stay-and-play package, or as an international visitor. I’ve given realistic “typical” ranges and approximate lengths so you can plan confidently—then you can confirm current rates when you lock dates in.

why queenstown is a golfing mecca for golf tragics

With five courses (each with their own personality) within thirty minutes of town, and another (Wanaka) around one hour away, Queenstown offers something for golfers of all skill levels. Mates that play off scratch love the challenge of Jack's Point, and others rave about the hometown feel of club courses like Queenstown and Wanaka.

Combine this with a huge range of accommodation, places to eat and drink, and an almost endless variety of "non-golf" activities, and Queenstown offers everything for a perfect golf getaway.

Here's a more detailed look at why you need to bring your clubs to Queenstown:

1) Variety in a tight radius

In a single trip you can play:

• Resort-style championship golf (Millbrook).
• Dramatic, modern cliff-and-lake golf (Jack’s Point).
• Classic, local-member vibes on a lakefront peninsula (Queenstown Golf Club).
• The quirky tree-lined fairways and rocky outcrops of Arrowtown.
• Pure, relaxed Central Otago golf energy (Wānaka).
• Ultra-premium, bucket-list private golf (The Hills).

2) Scenery that’s not a gimmick

These aren’t “pretty holes” sprinkled among average ones. The landscapes are a constant presence—The Remarkables, Coronet Peak, Lake Wakatipu, Kawarau River, the Crown Range, big Otago skies.

3) Off-course hits just as hard

Non-golfers love it here, too (which matters if you’re travelling with a partner or group): hikes, lakes, skiing in winter, wineries, restaurants, jet boats, Milford Sound day trips… it’s a complete holiday, not just golf.

4) Conditions and presentation

Queenstown courses generally present very well, with excellent turf standards through peak seasons. And even when the wind arrives (because it will), it’s the fun kind of challenge.

A note about Winter

Please be aware that some of our courses may take a short break during the winter months. Please check with each course before arranging your trip.

5) A wide selection of accommodation

With everything from holiday parks and hostels to spacious apartments and luxury 5 star lodges, you will find excatly what you are looking for in Queenstown. Have a look at our dedicated accommodation page for some ideas.

For groups of golfers we always recommend self contained apartments or holiday homes close to the centre of town. This often works out cheaper than individual hotel rooms, and gives you the convenience of full cooking and washing facilities. Pepper's Beacon is our usual preference. The lake view apartments are fabulous.

6)  It's not just golf (or is it?)

One of Queenstown's biggest attractions is its versatility as a holiday destination. Yes it's known as the "Adventure Capital" (think bungy jumping, jetboats, and whitewater rafting), but it's also a place where you can simply sit and enjoy some of the best scenery imaginable. And you can enjoy that scenery at a lakefront bar or restaurant (like the Flame Bar and Grill), or cruising Lake Wakatipu on a historic steamer. Wherever we are in Queenstown, those views constantly force us to stop and take a moment to take them in.

The widget below will give you a snapshot of the variety of activities here.

The courses:your queenstown hitlist

1) Millbrook Resort (Arrowtown / near Queenstown)

Address Malaghans Road Arrowtown

Phone  +64 3 441 7000

Website

Best for

Resort luxury, multiple courses, top-tier conditioning, groups.

Location

Millbrook sits just outside Arrowtown, about 20–25 minutes from Queenstown’s centre. It’s incredibly convenient and feels like a self-contained golf village with mountains wrapped around you.

Course options & length (approx.)

Millbrook is famous for having multiple 18-hole experiences. The main layouts are commonly referred to as:

• The Remarkables Course (approx. 6,500–6,800 yards / 5,950–6,200 m depending on tees).
• The Coronet Course (often similar championship length ranges).
• There are also additional nines/loops used to create different 18-hole combinations, depending on operations and season.

Typical cost (green fees)

Remarkables Course roughly NZD $200–$300+ per round, and the Coronet Course NZD$300-$400 (often better value through stay-and-play packages). Prices vary by season and whether you’re a resort guest, and discounts usually apply to return rounds.

Course quality & vibe

Millbrook proudly claim to be the "Home of the New Zealand Open", so this is a course to be admired. This is polished resort golf—excellent fairways, consistent greens, slick facilities, and a sense that everything is taken care of. If you like arriving early for a proper warm-up on great practice facilities, and then finishing with a drink overlooking the mountains, Millbrook is that place.

Design details

Millbrook’s courses have been developed and refined over time with contributions from well-known golf architects and shaping teams. Because the resort has evolved in stages, it’s best to check the current official course notes if you want the exact attribution for each loop. What matters in play: it’s strategic, playable, and beautifully framed.

Why you’ll love it as a tragic

You can stack rounds without the trip feeling repetitive. With a range of great on-course accommodation, it’s also a brilliant base if you want golf-first days and restaurant/winery nights. And you can ease those golfing aches and pains in the guest only hot pools. 

2) Jack's Point

Address McAdam Drive, Jack's Point, Queenstown

Phone  +64 3 450 2050

Website

Best for

Jaw-dropping scenery, dramatic modern holes, “pinch me” backdrops.

Location

Jack’s Point is about 20–25 minutes from central Queenstown, just a few kilometres from Frankton and the airport. You drive toward The Remarkables and suddenly you’re in this rugged, exposed, cinematic landscape.

Course length (approx.)

Championship tees are typically around 7,000+ yards (about 6,400+ m), with forward tees making it comfortably playable for all.

Typical cost (green fees)

Usually around NZD $200–$350+ depending on time/season. Discounts for second round.

Course quality & vibe

Modern, bold, and scenic in a way that feels almost unfair. It’s not a “gentle stroll”—there’s real contour, real hazard, and holes you’ll remember for years. Presentation is generally strong, and the overall experience feels premium without being stuffy.

Designer details

Designed by John Darby, a respected New Zealand golf architect known for letting the natural environment do the talking.

Why you’ll love it as a tragic

This is the round you’ll describe hole-by-hole back home. The risk-reward decisions are legit, the wind can change everything, and the views are genuinely world-class. The pictures below simply don't do it justice.

3) Queenstown Golf Club

Address 759 Peninsula Rd, Kelven Heights, Queenstown

Phone +61 3 442 9169

Website

Best for

Classic local feel, lakefront golf, unbeatable “Queenstown golf day” convenience. Welcoming locals.

Location

On the Kelvin Heights peninsula, about 10–15 minutes from Queenstown. You’re basically playing on land that sits out into Lake Wakatipu—water and mountain views are a constant distraction lol.

Course length (approx.)

Generally shorter than the big modern championship layouts—often around 5,800–6,200 yards (5,300–5,700 m) depending on tees.

Typical cost (green fees)

Often around NZD $150–$250+ (varies by season, visitor rates, and tee times). It’s commonly one of the better-value rounds in the region. Discounts for return round.

Course quality & vibe

This is a proper community club course in a world-famous location. The layout is enjoyable, not brutal, and the setting does a lot of the heavy lifting in the best way. It’s ideal for a relaxed round when you still want that “Queenstown magic.” In our experience, the members are always very welcoming, so see if you can play a competition round with a couple of locals. 

Designer details

It’s a traditional club course (not marketed primarily by architect name). The charm here is more about setting and variety than modern signature design.

Why you’ll love it as a tragic

It’s the perfect contrast to the big-ticket rounds: walkable, friendly, scenic, and it gives you a different type of satisfaction—more “pure golf day” than “luxury event.”

4) Arrowtown Golf Club

Address 166 Centennial Avenue Arrowtown, New Zealand

Ph  +64 3 442-1719

Website

Best for

Heritage feel, tree-lined holes, a grounded “Kiwi golf” experience. Rated in the Top 10 courses in New Zealand and by Golf.com in their "25 best short courses worldwide".

Location

Just outside Arrowtown (and around 20–25 minutes from Queenstown). You can pair it with an Arrowtown wander, coffee, and a slow afternoon.

Course length (approx.)

Typically in the 5,800–6,200 yard range (about 5,300–5,700 m), depending on tees.

Typical cost (green fees)

Often around NZD $130 –$200 — another strong value option compared with the resort and premium courses.

Course quality & vibe

Arrowtown is friendly, unpretentious, and very “real golf.” You’ll find a more traditional parkland feel with tree-lined holes and a classic club atmosphere. It’s a great course for pacing, scoring, and enjoying the rhythm of a round. It's a quirky layout with some holes featuring large rock outcrops, and some narrow fairways, making placement crucial.

Designer details

As with many long-standing local clubs (established in 1911), the design isn’t typically sold on a single star architect. It’s more about the club’s history and the course’s natural maturity.

Why you’ll love it as a tragic

It’s a challenging appetiser to the more well known courses, and a very satisfying place to post a number if your swing is behaving.

5) Wanaka Golf Club

Address 12 Ballantyne Rd Wanaka, New Zealand

Ph  +64 3 443 7888

Website

Best for

Relaxed holiday round, lake and mountain vibe, classic Kiwi clubhouse feel.

Location

In the town of Wānaka, roughly 60–75 minutes from Queenstown depending on traffic and stops (and you will stop—because the drive via the Crown Range Road is ridiculous). If your trip allows a day or two in Wānaka, do it.

Course length (approx.)

Often around 5,700–6,100 yards (5,200–5,600 m).

Typical cost (green fees)

Commonly between NZD $50–$120+.

Course quality & vibe

Wānaka Golf Club has that welcoming, easy-going energy that makes a golf holiday feel like a holiday. It’s a place you can walk, laugh, play fast, and still feel like you’ve had a proper round. The views are beautiful in a quieter, less “event” way than Jack’s Point or Millbrook—more laid-back, more local. See if you can play a comp with some locals, everyone is friendly and there's always time for a couple of beers at the 19th.

Designer details

Traditional club course; typically not branded by a single architect name.

Why you’ll love it as a tragic

Because not every round needs to be a championship test. Some rounds are about pace, flow, and enjoying golf in a place you’d happily live.

6) The Hills, Arrowtown

Address 

Ph +64 3 409 8290

Website

Best for

Premium bucket-list golf, immaculate conditions, world-class finishing touches.

Location

Near Arrowtown, around 20–30 minutes from Queenstown. Close enough to combine with other Arrowtown-based golf, but it definitely stands on its own as a “main event” round.

Course length (approx.)

Championship tees can stretch to around 7,000+ yards (6,400+ m), with multiple tee options.

Typical cost (green fees)

The Hills is positioned as a high-end experience. Green fees are not published on their website, and the last time we enquired, they were up around NZD$900 per round. It has historically operated with limited access (often through members, packages, or selected visitor opportunities), so you’ll want to plan ahead. You will need to contact the club directly to see what's available, and current cost.

Course quality & vibe

Immaculate. This is where everything feels dialled—turf, bunkers, greens, service, and the overall sense of occasion. It’s the kind of place where you take a few extra photos but still end up obsessed with the shot values because the design gives you real questions to answer. The Hills has hosted the New Zealand Open, and consistently ranks in New Zealand's top courses.

Designer details

Designed by Darby Partners (with John Darby involved), and widely regarded as one of New Zealand’s premier modern courses.

Why you’ll love it as a tragic

It’s aspirational golf—pure, beautiful, exacting. If you like the feeling of playing somewhere “special,” The Hills delivers. In addition to the stunning scenery, the course also features a variety of sculptural masterpieces.

7) Over The Top Golf

Could this be the prefect ending to your Queenstown golf adventure?

Imagine catching a helicopter for a scenic flight, and concluding with perhaps the most memorable par 3 on the planet.

Over The Top Golf fly you high above Queenstown to a tee perched some 1400 metres (4,500 ft) above your target green.

At the time of publication, there had never been a hole in one here. Could you be the first?

This is not cheap, but boy, what a way to wrap up your time in Queenstown.

For more information head over to their website.

Tips for building that perfect Queenstown golf holiday

Here are some tips to help you organise your hassle-free Queenstown golf adventure:

• Book premium rounds early: Jack’s Point, Millbrook, and especially The Hills can fill up fast in peak season.
• Pack layers: Queenstown weather can change mid-round—wind and temperature swings are normal.
• Consider a stay-and-play base: Staying around Arrowtown can make Millbrook + The Hills + Arrowtown extremely efficient. But central Queenstown is the hub, with over 100 bars, pubs and restaurants. 
• Don’t skip the “value” clubs: Queenstown Golf Club, Arrowtown, and Wānaka are not “filler.” They’re the rounds that make the trip feel balanced.
• Beware peak seasons like summer (Dec-Feb) and the New Zealand school holidays. Everything (accommodation, activities, rental vehicles) can book out 6-12 months in advance at these peak times. Start planning now.

Two Itinerary ideas

Option 1 - 7 Days in Queenstown (with 4 games of golf and a rest day)

If you’ve got 7 days, here’s a selection of four courses with a rest day in the middle:

• Day 1: Arrive Queenstown and check in to your accommodation - here's some ideas. We love Pepper's Beacon. A couple of minutes flat walk to the town centre, a good selection of room types with everything from hotel rooms to 4 bedroom apartments. Perfect for golfing groups.
• Day 2: Jack’s Point (your first “wow” day).
• Day 3: Millbrook (resort day + dinner/wineries nearby).
• Day 4: Rest day (perhaps a Milford Sound tour or just enjoy Queenstown).
• Day 5: Arrowtown (relaxed, classic, scoreable).
• Day 6: The Hills (premium main event), or Queenstown Golf Club.
• Day 7: Head home.

Option 2 - 9 Days in Queenstown (with 5 games of golf and two rest days)

If you’ve got 7 days, here’s a selection of four courses with a rest day in the middle:

• Day 1: Arrive Queenstown and check in to your accommodation - here's some ideas.
• Day 2: Jack’s Point (your first “wow” day).
• Day 3: Millbrook (resort day + dinner/wineries nearby).
• Day 4: Rest day (perhaps a Milford Sound tour or just enjoy Queenstown).
• Day 5: Arrowtown (relaxed, classic, scoreable).
• Day 6: The Hills (premium main event), or Queenstown Golf Club.
• Day 7: Wanaka golf, stay in Wanaka for two nights. You can search Wanaka accommodation here. Our go to favourite is The Moorings. Modern, clean, and a two minute walk to the restaurants, bars and shops in the town centre.
• Day 8: Rest day to explore Wanaka.
• Day 9: Drive to Queenstown then head home.

Are you convinced yet about a Queenstown golf holiday?

Queenstown is one of those rare places where the golf and the holiday both feel world-class. You’re not choosing between “a great destination” and “great courses”—you get both, and you get them close together. 

And if you’re the type who replays shots in your head at dinner (you know who you are), Queenstown will give you a full week of moments worth replaying.

If you need some help planning your Queenstown golf adventure, please contact us. We would love to hear from you.

Yours in Golf

Vacation Queenstown