Cape Wickham Links
Mike DeVries and Darius Oliver routed Cape Wickham on the northern tip of King Island in 2015, and the result was instant: a coastal links where every one of the eighteen holes carries an ocean view, several of them played right along the Bass Strait sand. A par 72 of about 6,725 yards, it is rated the finest public access course in Australia and sits high on every list of the great modern links.
Photo: Cape Wickham Golf Links via Google.
The verdict
Cape Wickham opened in October 2015 on a wild headland at the top of King Island, midway across the Bass Strait between Victoria and Tasmania, and it arrived as one of the most talked about new courses in the world. Mike DeVries and Darius Oliver shaped a links that uses the full drama of the site, a lighthouse on the point, a curving white sand beach in play, and the ocean somewhere in view on every hole.
What makes it special is variety inside that grandeur. There are cliff top par 3s, fairways tumbling toward the beach, and a closing stretch that runs along the strand to a green hard by the sand. It is remote and it is exposed, so the wind is part of the test, but the conditioning is superb and the welcome is genuinely public. For a links pilgrim, Cape Wickham is reason enough to cross to King Island.
Cape Wickham Links at a glance
- Opened
- 2015
- Designer
- Mike DeVries and Darius Oliver, 2015
- Type
- Coastal links
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 6,725 yds
- Green fee
- From A$270
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the club and leading course databases. Cape Wickham was designed by Mike DeVries and Darius Oliver and opened in October 2015 on the northern tip of King Island in the Bass Strait. A par 72 of about 6,725 yards where every hole has an ocean view and several run along the beach, it is rated the finest public access course in Australia. Indicative fees change by season and year, so always confirm access and any green fee directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Cape Wickham asks you to read the wind before anything else. The fairways are generous where they need to be and the greens are bold and contoured, but the exposure means the same hole can play two clubs different morning to afternoon. The routing keeps the ocean constantly in frame, building from the cliff tops to the beach.
The short holes are the heart of it, led by the par 3 played out toward the lighthouse and the run of holes that flirt with the beach itself. The drivable temptations and the half par holes reward a clear head over raw length.
It closes as well as any modern links, the eighteenth bending around the curve of the bay with the sand right of the fairway and the green set against the water. Play it firm and low when the wind is up, and let the contours feed the ball, and Cape Wickham gives back the purest big sky links golf in the southern hemisphere.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Open to the public; book a tee time in advance, especially over the warm season |
| Green fee | Indicative 18 hole rate around A$270 for international visitors in peak season, lower interstate and off peak (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Reserve through the course; pair the round with on site or King Island lodging as tee times and flights are limited |
| On the day | Walking links with carts available; bring wind and rain layers as the headland is exposed |
| Getting there | King Island by short flight from Melbourne or Tasmania, then about 30 minutes north to Cape Wickham |
| Best months | October to April for the warmer, drier Bass Strait season |
Access arrangements verified June 2026; policies change, so always confirm directly before planning a visit with the club or your trip planner.
Where to stay nearby
Most visiting golfers stay on King Island itself, either in the lodging near Cape Wickham or in the island town of Currie, both within easy reach of the course and the island's other links at Ocean Dunes. The island is small, friendly and built around its produce, so plan dinners around the local beef, crayfish and cheese.
Because flights and beds are limited, a King Island golf trip rewards early planning. It pairs naturally with the Melbourne sandbelt on the mainland for a two centre Australian tour, the classic parkland of the sandbelt against the raw coastal links of the strait.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Cape Wickham Links.
Build a King Island golf trip
We secure the Cape Wickham Links tee times where access allows, pair them with the best of the region and book the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Cape Wickham Links questions
Who designed Cape Wickham Links and when did it open?
Cape Wickham was designed by Mike DeVries and Darius Oliver and opened to the public in October 2015 on the northern tip of King Island.
What is the par and length of Cape Wickham?
Cape Wickham is a par 72 of about 6,725 yards, a coastal links where every hole has an ocean view and several run along the beach.
Can visitors play Cape Wickham?
Yes. Cape Wickham is a public access course; tee times should be booked in advance, particularly over the warmer October to April season.
How do you get to Cape Wickham?
King Island is reached by a short flight from Melbourne or Tasmania, and Cape Wickham is about 30 minutes north of the airport on the island's northern tip.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.