Imagine the experience of playing golf on a world class championship course, immersed in the natural beauty of a wildlife sanctuary. The ambitious project is the brainchild of owner Gary Lane and has seen a dedicated five kilometre ‘Xcluder’ fence installed and the entire course perimeter. The fence stands more than 2 metres tall and has been specially designed to keep out predators like rates, mice, stoats, weasels, hedgehogs, feral cats and possums.

Consultant for the project, Rotorua ecologist Tim Day said monitoring in the wake of an eradication programme in July 2010 indicated that the sanctuary was virtually pest free which had enabled restoration work to begin in earnest.

Other initiatives include removal of blackberry and scrub from the course perimeter and the re-planting of around 25,000 native trees and five thousand exotics. Two hundred mixed colour pheasant and a small herd of around 15 fallow deer and a stag are being reared on site, within a deer fenced area.

  "We've already had golf course staff reporting a noticeable increase in insect life and tree seedlings and native birds like tui," said Dr Day.

Discussions are also underway with conservation agencies regarding the evetual release of some endangered species - like kiwi and brown teal - on to the property.

Dr Day said the project offered a "unique opportunity" to blend recreation with restoration and conservation.

"The restoration work being done at Wairakei will enable golfers to enjoy the game in a really beautiful environment."

The Wairakei golf course property sprawls over 180 Hectares within Wairakei Geothermal Park just 10 kilometres north of New Zealand’s largest lake, and the resort township of Taupo.

The Course is located a stones throw from the mighty Waikato River so that the roar of the powerful Huka Falls can almost be heard, and around its borders plumes of superheated steam can be seen rising through mature forest.

To the East rolling farmland extends to a skyline dominated by another extinct volcano Mt Tauhara.

This area is known as the Central Volcanic Plateau and for good reason. Lake Taupo was formed by one of the biggest volcanic eruptions known to man, and to the South Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe are still live volcanoes.

Maori culture is alive and well in this region. The local Iwi Tuwhuretoa are a powerful tribe who are vibrant and active in the community. The Pouwhenua pole carving in the entrance way to the course was designed and built locally by members of the Iwi.