Golf in Australia
Australia punches well above its weight on the global golf stage, and the three regions covered by Golfing Getaways showcase the very best the country has to offer. Melbourne’s Sandbelt is the jewel in the crown, a compact stretch of sandy southern suburbs that hosts an astonishing cluster of world-ranked courses built on terrain purpose-made for golf. Royal Melbourne’s West Course is consistently ranked among the top courses in the world, and its neighbours Kingston Heath, Victoria Golf Club and Metropolitan Golf Club would headline the best-course lists of most countries on their own.
Perth offers a contrasting experience, with courses set among Western Australia’s distinctive native bushland where kangaroos graze the fairways and the Indian Ocean provides a backdrop to some genuinely spectacular coastal layouts. Joondalup Country Club is the state’s premier club and one of the most popular, while the links-style courses south of the city at The Cut and Kennedy Bay offer some of the most authentic seaside golf in the country.
Queensland’s subtropical sunshine makes it a golfer’s year-round paradise, with the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast hosting a remarkable concentration of resort courses designed by the game’s biggest names. Greg Norman’s fingerprints are across some of the state’s finest layouts, while Sanctuary Cove’s Pines course, designed by Arnold Palmer, remains one of the most prestigious resort golf experiences in Australia.
Recommendations for Australia Golf
Australia’s three golf regions each offer a rich off-course experience that matches the quality of the golf. Melbourne is one of the world’s great food and culture cities, with a café culture, live music scene and restaurant landscape that is genuinely world class. The laneways of the CBD, the bayside suburb of St Kilda, the Yarra River dining precinct and the world-famous Melbourne Cricket Ground make the city as compelling away from the fairways as on them.
Perth is Australia’s sunniest capital, and its pristine beaches at Cottesloe and Scarborough, the Swan Valley wine region, the stunning Kings Park overlooking the city skyline, and the short ferry ride to Rottnest Island make it an ideal base for a relaxed golf holiday.
Queensland’s Gold and Sunshine Coasts offer world-class beaches, theme parks, stunning hinterland rainforests and some of the best seafood in the country, with Noosa, Surfers Paradise and the Whitsundays all easily accessible for those wanting to extend their stay beyond the fairways.
Must See in Each Region
Melbourne
Melbourne consistently ranks among the world’s most liveable cities, and a day away from the Sandbelt reveals a city of extraordinary depth and character. The CBD’s famous network of laneways, hidden behind the main streets, is lined with independent cafes, street art, boutique bars and some of the finest coffee in the world, in a city that takes its coffee more seriously than almost anywhere on earth. For sport, the Melbourne Cricket Ground is a pilgrimage site for any Australian sports lover, and on match days the MCG comes alive with the unique energy of Australian rules football. A short drive on the Mornington Peninsula opens up some of the finest cool-climate wine country in Australia, with outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay produced by boutique wineries set against rolling green hills running down to the Bass Strait coast.
Perth
Perth is one of Australia’s most underrated cities, a sun-soaked, relaxed and genuinely beautiful capital with a lifestyle that is difficult to match anywhere in the country. Cottesloe Beach is arguably the finest metropolitan beach in Australia, it’s clear turquoise water and golden sand backed by a low-rise beachfront strip of excellent cafes and restaurants. Kings Park and Botanic Garden, perched on a natural escarpment directly overlooking the city skyline and the Swan River, covers 400 hectares of natural bushland and manicured gardens and is one of the largest inner-city parks in the world. Fremantle, at the mouth of the Swan River, adds a distinctive, heritage-rich dimension to any Perth visit with its beautifully preserved Victorian port architecture, famous markets, craft breweries and one of Australia’s best fish-and-chip cultures.
Queensland
Queensland’s Gold Coast is Australia’s most popular holiday destination, and for good reason. Sixty kilometres of unbroken beach stretch from Coolangatta to the Spit, with Surfers Paradise at its heart offering everything from high-rise hotels and world-class restaurants to theme parks and buzzing nightlife. The Gold Coast Hinterland, just a 45-minute drive inland, provides a striking contrast with ancient volcanic rainforests, waterfalls and the spectacular Lamington and Springbrook National Parks offering excellent walking trails and natural swimming holes. An hour north of the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast delivers a more laid-back, nature-focused experience centred on the beautiful beach town of Noosa, where Hastings Street’s restaurants and boutiques give way to Noosa National Park’s pristine headland walking tracks.
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