Golf Travel to Queenstown, New Zealand
Queenstown offers extraordinary golf and an equally extraordinary range of experiences beyond the fairways, making it a destination that satisfies golfers and non-golfing travelling partners in equal measure. For groups visiting the region, Golfing Getaways can arrange private transfers and guided experiences across some of the South Island’s most spectacular attractions. Full and half-day options from Queenstown include coach tours to Milford Sound — widely regarded as the eighth wonder of the natural world — jet boat rides through the Shotover River canyon, wine tours through the Gibbston Valley and Central Otago, scenic helicopter flights over the Southern Alps, and day trips to the historic gold-rush town of Arrowtown.
For groups staying at Millbrook Resort, the convenience is particularly outstanding, two championship courses sit on the resort grounds, Arrowtown is just up the road, and a regular shuttle connects guests to Queenstown town centre without the need for a car. A sunset cruise on Lake Wakatipu aboard the historic TSS Earnslaw steamship, stopping for dinner at Walter Peak High Country Farm, is one of the most popular group dining experiences in New Zealand and an ideal way to wind down after a day on the course. Golfing Getaways caters for groups of all sizes and, as golfing tragics, can arrange intra-group competitions across your rounds to keep the contest alive right to the final hole.
Recommendations
Queenstown is one of the world’s great all-round travel destinations, and the range of experiences available beyond the golf is as impressive as the courses themselves. The Skyline Gondola ride to Bob’s Peak is a must — 450 metres above the town, the panorama across Lake Wakatipu, the Remarkables, and the surrounding ranges is breathtaking in every season and provides the perfect orientation for a first-time visitor. The historic gold-rush town of Arrowtown, just 20 minutes from Queenstown, is one of the most charming villages in New Zealand, particularly in autumn when its tree-lined streets turn vivid gold and red; the Lakes District Museum brings the region’s goldmining heritage vividly to life, and the main street’s cafes and restaurants are excellent. The Gibbston Valley wine region, often called the Valley of the Vines, runs through dramatic schist-rock canyon country along the Kawarau River gorge and produces the Central Otago Pinot Noir that has earned an international reputation as one of the world’s great expressions of the variety. A day trip to Milford Sound, reached by coach through Fiordland’s extraordinary landscape, is the excursion most often cited by visitors as the highlight of their entire New Zealand trip.
The Best Time to Visit Queenstown
Golf in Queenstown is playable from October through to April, covering New Zealand’s spring, summer, and autumn. This window represents the best combination of long daylight hours, dry weather, and excellent course conditions. Summer — December through February — brings warm days averaging 25 to 28°C, and the extended evenings allow for late afternoon rounds and long, leisurely post-golf dinners. Spring (October and November) and autumn (March and April) are particularly spectacular for golf, with the surrounding mountains shifting through blossom and golden foliage and the courses at their most photogenic. Autumn is arguably the finest time to visit for golfers who appreciate both great conditions and stunning scenery, and the courses are generally less busy than the summer peak. Winter (June to August) brings cold temperatures and snow to the high country, and while Queenstown transforms into a world-class ski destination, golf takes a back seat during these months. For serious golf groups, March and April offer some of the finest conditions of the year — settled weather, autumn colours, and courses in outstanding shape after the summer season.
Queenstown Activities
Queenstown has earned its reputation as the adventure capital of the world, and the options available away from the golf course are genuinely staggering. The Shotover Jet is the iconic Queenstown experience — a high-speed jet boat that threads through the narrow rocky walls of the Shotover River canyon at exhilarating speed, and it remains one of the most thrilling rides in the country. The original commercial bungy jump at the Kawarau Bridge, established in 1988, is still a rite of passage for the more adventurous in your group. For those who prefer their thrills at a more measured pace, the Walter Peak High Country Farm cruise aboard the TSS Earnslaw is a quintessentially New Zealand evening — an elegant old coal-fired steamship crossing Lake Wakatipu as the mountains glow at sunset.
Central Otago wine is one of the great pleasures of a Queenstown trip. The region is famous for producing world-class Pinot Noir from vineyards in the Gibbston Valley, Bannockburn, and beyond, and guided wine tours through the valley are a hugely popular afternoon activity for golf groups. Wineries such as Amisfield, Chard Farm, and Peregrine are all within easy reach and offer excellent cellar door experiences. For non-golfing travelling partners, Queenstown’s compact town centre delivers excellent shopping, a vibrant restaurant scene, and the Skyline Luge for those wanting some gentle fun. A full-day excursion to Milford Sound, whether by coach, scenic flight, or helicopter, rounds out any Queenstown itinerary with one of the most awe-inspiring natural experiences on earth.
Explore the Best Queenstown Golf Courses
