Wairakei International Golf Course

Originally built by the New Zealand government’s Tourist Hotel Corporation, the Wairakei International Golf Course is set midway between Auckland and Wellington, in the heart of the spectacular scenery of the Lake Taupo region. Built as a green fee facility, rather than club facility, the course, is open to all who spend their holidays in the neighbourhood of Lake Taupo.

Offically opened in 1970, the course lies on 450 acres of natural rolling countryside and was developed to meet the rigorous design standards required for world class championship competition. The difficult job of design was put in the hands of the late Commander John Harris, Michael Wolveridge and Peter Thomson. Commander Harris was England’s leading and most travelled golf course architect, whose family had been involved in the construction of Moor Park, Wentworth and Sunningdale. Wolveridge, an Englishman who appreciated the subtleties of golf course architecture, was enriched by a spell on the US professional tour. This pair was enhanced by the involvement of one of the world’s greatest ever playing professionals, Australian Peter Thomson, 5 times winner of the British Open plus many other tour events. With the aim of producing New Zealand’s first international recognised golf course, there is little doubt in any New Zealander’s mind that this trio exceeded all expectations.

A don’t miss experience.