Millbrook Resort
In the Wakatipu Basin near Arrowtown, ringed by The Remarkables and the Crown Range, Millbrook is one of the South Island's marquee resort courses. The original eighteen by John Darby and Sir Bob Charles opened in 1992, and the resort now spreads to 36 holes and co-hosts the New Zealand Open.
Photo: Millbrook Resort via Google.
The verdict
Millbrook is the kind of place a golf trip is built around. It sits on a historic farm site in the Wakatipu Basin, twenty minutes from Queenstown and a short stroll from old gold rush Arrowtown, with The Remarkables filling the skyline behind almost every shot. The original course was a collaboration between architect John Darby and the great left hander Sir Bob Charles, New Zealand's first major champion, and it opened in 1992.
Since then the resort has grown into a 36 hole property, with Greg Turner and Scott Macpherson revamping holes and adding a further nine, and it shares hosting of the New Zealand Open, the country's flagship professional event. The combination of championship pedigree, a full resort around the golf and one of the most beautiful settings in the game makes Millbrook a natural anchor for a Queenstown trip.
Millbrook at a glance
- Opened
- 1992
- Designers
- Darby, Charles, Turner
- Holes
- 36
- Championship par
- About 72
- Hosts
- NZ Open
- Access
- Resort and visitors
Designers, year and layout verified June 2026 from the resort and leading course databases. The original course by John Darby and Sir Bob Charles opened in 1992; Greg Turner and Scott Macpherson later extended the resort to 36 holes, and Millbrook co-hosts the New Zealand Open. Green fees and stay and play rates vary by season, so always confirm current access and any fees directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The original Remarkables and Arrow nines wind across the old farm flats and up into gentler rises, with the Arrow River, mature trees and stone walls giving the holes a settled, established feel that belies the course's relative youth. The Turner and Macpherson additions climb higher into the basin and open up some of the most dramatic mountain views on the property, a reminder of why Millbrook photographs so well.
For all the scenery it is a genuine test when the tournament tees are in play, which is why it earns its place on the New Zealand Open rota. The greens are well contoured and the wind funnels through the basin, so position and patience matter, but from the everyday tees it is fair and thoroughly enjoyable for the visiting golfer.
With four nines to mix and match, no two days at Millbrook need play the same, and the resort routes its championship eighteen, around par 72, to give a fitting examination while keeping the mountains in view from first tee to last green.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Resort course open to guests and visiting golfers; priority and rates favour resort stays |
| Green fee | Visitor green fees and stay and play packages apply (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Book tee times and rooms ahead; summer and tournament weeks fill early |
| On the day | Carts and walking both available; full resort facilities, pro shop and dining; smart golf dress |
| Getting there | Wakatipu Basin near Arrowtown, about 20 minutes from Queenstown Airport |
| Best months | November to April for the warmest South Island playing season |
Access and fees verified June 2026 from Millbrook Resort where published; rates and tee sheet policy change, so always confirm current access and any fees directly before planning a visit.
Where to stay nearby
The obvious choice is Millbrook itself, a full resort with villas, suites, spa and restaurants set among the fairways, so you can play, dine and unwind without leaving the property. It is purpose built for a golf group that wants everything in one place beneath the mountains.
For a livelier base, Queenstown is twenty minutes away with its lakefront hotels, restaurants and adventure, while historic Arrowtown next door offers a quieter, characterful stay. From any of these you can pair Millbrook with the region's other Otago courses for a memorable South Island golf trip.
Looking for a base? See our recommended stays and packages at and around Millbrook.
Build a Queenstown golf trip
We build Millbrook into a Queenstown and Arrowtown itinerary, pairing it with the region's best courses and booking the lodging, dining and transfers around your group. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Millbrook Resort questions
Who designed Millbrook Resort golf course?
The original course was created by John Darby and Sir Bob Charles and opened in 1992. The resort was later extended by Greg Turner and Scott Macpherson, who revamped holes and added a further nine, growing Millbrook to 36 holes.
Can visitors play Millbrook Resort?
Yes. Millbrook is a resort course open to resort guests and visiting golfers, with green fees and stay and play packages. Book a tee time in advance, and always confirm current access and any fees directly before booking.
Does Millbrook host the New Zealand Open?
Yes. Millbrook Resort co-hosts the New Zealand Open, the country's flagship professional tournament, sharing the event with a neighbouring Arrowtown course.
Where is Millbrook Resort?
Millbrook is in the Wakatipu Basin near Arrowtown, about 20 minutes from Queenstown in the Otago region of New Zealand's South Island.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designers, year and layout verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.