Golf is more than simply getting the ball in the hole; it is a sensory experience that engages sight, sound and touch, and the surrounding elements—food, drink, lodging, people and activities—shape the memories that last for years.
Nowhere is that truer than at Kauri Cliffs on New Zealand’s North Island. Since the resort opened in 2000, writers and guests have lavished praise on the place, and few leave disappointed. The trip requires commitment — a long flight from Los Angeles to Auckland followed by either a scenic four-hour drive or a short domestic flight to Matauri Bay — but the journey becomes part of the adventure.
Air New Zealand makes the long-haul portion comfortable: friendly crew, New Zealand wine and food, and the odd challenge of resetting your watch after crossing the International Date Line. Arriving after dark has its perks; it lets you wake up refreshed and ready to enjoy the early morning light.
The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs sits amid trees and features 11 cottages, each with two suites. Warm, comfortable rooms with deep lounge chairs and fireplaces welcome guests, and the main lodge offers a cozy dining experience with expertly prepared local seafood and lamb. The lodge exterior evokes a plantation house, while the interior features wide-plank floors, leather chairs, large fireplaces and Maori art. The atmosphere blends masculine comfort with refined amenities, and the resort also caters to relaxation and wellness with a spa, indoor lap pool and programs tailored to varying interests.
Transforming a remote 6,000-acre sheep farm into a top-tier resort required vision and resources. Julian Robertson and his late wife, Josie, had both, and they chose golf architect David Harman to shape the course. Harman made dozens of trips to the property and worked with the landscape, enhancing natural features while leaving much intact. The result is a course that feels like a masterpiece shaped by both human craft and nature.
The view from the veranda at dawn is compelling and makes lingering over breakfast difficult. A gauzy fog often drapes the Bay of Islands while rocky promontories rise from the water, creating a dramatic backdrop. Emerald fairways sweep across the terrain, with ravines and clusters of Norfolk pines adding contrast. Fifteen holes command views of the ocean, and several play along cliffs that drop about 250 feet to the sea. Each hole is distinct, memorable and thoughtfully routed; even the inland holes demand attention while you anticipate the seaside stretches.
Hole 1 Takou | 471 yards, par 4
Named for Takou Bay, the sacred resting place of one of the canoes that brought Polynesians to New Zealand a millennium ago, this opening hole sits at the highest elevation on the course. It provides an enticing overview of what lies ahead. The hole plays relatively straightforward, descending to a green that slopes off to the left and rear.
Hole 7 Cavalli | 220 yards, par 3
Taking its name from the Cavalli Islands on the horizon, this par 3 requires a carry over a ravine to a green that drops toward the sea on the right and rear. Ocean breezes can complicate club selection. Harman shaped a bowl on the left side of the green, giving players a chance to bank a shot onto the putting surface. From the tee you can see Pink Beach, colored by millions of tiny shells—worth a later hike and a picnic for those who want to explore.
Hole 8 Warrior | 539 yards, par 5
This uphill par 5 asks for bravery. The fairway climbs to a long, narrow, tiered green, with foliage ready to catch errant shots on the left. The green’s contours make it a demanding target and three-putts are a real possibility.
Bay of Islands, looking back from the ninth tee © Donnelle Oxley
Hole 9 Giant Steps | 386 yards, par 4
A brush-filled chasm in front of the tees sets a dramatic tone, but the true test is the steep uphill climb to the green. The putting surface is deep and generous in size, yet bunkers at the rear discourage an overly aggressive approach.
Hole 14 Waiaua Bay | 230 yards, par 3
This long, downhill par 3 punishes shots that stray left or fly long. Wind off the ocean can either aid or frustrate, and the sweeping view of the sea and coastline offers some consolation when a shot doesn’t land as hoped.
Hole 18 Tane Mahuta | 539 yards, par 5
The iconic cliff-top sequence, holes 14 through 17, is a sensory highlight, but the 18th—Tane Mahuta, “Lord of the Forest” in Maori—brings the round to a reflective close. It requires another climb across a ravine to an uphill fairway crowned by the lodge and cottages. The finishing hole can make or break your score, though on a layout this spectacular the score feels secondary to the experience. With tee times spaced at least 30 minutes apart, there’s no rush; take time to savor the cliff-side views or search, perhaps vainly, for a ball the sea breeze carried away. And resist the urge to play from the 7,119-yard back tees unless you relish time in the rough—this course rewards thoughtful play more than brute length.
Kauri Cliffs
139 Tepene Tablelands Road
Matauri Bay 0478
Kaeo, Northland
New Zealand
tel 64 9 407 0010
kauricliffs.com