The Hills Golf Club
Sir Michael Hill's private championship course carved into a glacial valley outside Arrowtown, The Hills is a par 72 of about 6,596 metres designed by John Darby and opened in 2007. A regular New Zealand Open host, it sets golf among large scale sculpture with the Remarkables as a backdrop.
Photo: The Hills Golf Club via Google.
The verdict
The Hills is the private vision of jeweler Sir Michael Hill, a championship course carved into a glacial valley outside Arrowtown with the snow capped peaks of the Remarkables and Coronet Peak as its backdrop. Opened in 2007 and a regular host of the New Zealand Open, it is among the most exclusive rounds in the country, as much sculpture park and high country estate as golf course. For a golfer building a Queenstown trip, a round here is the prize.
Designed by John Darby, who also shaped nearby Jacks Point, The Hills plays to a par of 72 over about 6,596 metres across roughly 500 acres of tussock, water and rock. There are no parallel fairways and no two holes alike, and large scale artworks by New Zealand sculptors stand among the wetlands and lakes. It is a course that wants to be experienced as much as scored, and it pairs naturally with the other great courses of the Southern Lakes.
The Hills at a glance
- Opened
- 2007
- Designer
- John Darby
- Type
- Parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 6,596 m
- Green fee
- Private
Designer, opening year, par and length verified June 2026 from The Hills Golf Club and leading course databases. The Hills was designed by John Darby and opened in 2007, a par 72 of about 6,596 metres near Arrowtown. The Hills is a private club; visitor access is limited and usually arranged as part of a golf package, with fees on application. Always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Darby's routing uses the valley floor and its terraces so that every hole has its own outlook, framed by mountains on all sides. Elevated tees give the player a clear view of the challenge ahead, while glacial streams and constructed lakes thread through the property and gather any loose shot. The ground moves constantly, and reading the slope on both the drive and the approach is the key to a good round.
Water is the principal defense, in play on a string of holes where the brave line over a lake shortens the hole and the safe route lengthens it. The greens are large and boldly contoured, rewarding the player who lands in the correct section, and the high country wind can turn a short iron into a committing decision. The par 5s tempt the long hitter, but the smart play is often to lay back and wedge it close.
What lingers is the setting. The sculptures, the tussock and the constant mountain horizon make The Hills one of the most photographed courses in New Zealand, and the closing holes, played back toward the clubhouse with the Remarkables ahead, are a fitting end. It is a course that flatters a camera and tests a swing, and a day here is the centerpiece of any Queenstown golf week.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Private members club; a limited number of visitors are hosted, usually as part of a golf package with accommodation or transfers |
| Green fee | On application; a premium private club rate, often packaged (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Arrange well ahead through the club or a Queenstown golf specialist; pair with Jacks Point and Millbrook for a Southern Lakes trip |
| On the day | Carts are used across the rolling terrain; a smart dress code and a striking modern clubhouse |
| Getting there | Near Arrowtown, about 25 minutes from Queenstown and its international airport |
| Best months | November to April for the long Southern Hemisphere summer days; winter brings snow to the surrounding peaks |
Access and fee details verified June 2026; visitor policies and rates at private clubs change, so always confirm directly before planning a visit with the club or a Queenstown golf specialist.
Where to stay nearby
The Hills sits beside the historic gold mining town of Arrowtown and a short drive from Queenstown, the adventure capital of New Zealand, so the lodging ranges from boutique hotels in Arrowtown to lakefront resorts and luxury lodges around Queenstown. Many visiting golfers base themselves at Millbrook Resort next door, which has its own courses and keeps tee times within minutes.
From a Queenstown base you can pair The Hills with Jacks Point on the shore of Lake Wakatipu and the resort golf at Millbrook, then fill the evenings with the region's restaurants, wineries and scenery. The Southern Lakes is one of the most beautiful golf regions on earth, and it anchors a New Zealand tour that can run north to Cape Kidnappers and Kauri Cliffs.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near The Hills.
Build a Queenstown golf trip
We work to secure a round at The Hills, pair it with Jacks Point and Millbrook, and book the Queenstown lodging around your dates. Tell us roughly when and who is traveling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
The Hills questions
Who designed The Hills Golf Club?
The Hills was designed by New Zealand architect John Darby, who also shaped nearby Jacks Point, and opened in 2007 on Sir Michael Hill's estate near Arrowtown.
What is the par and length of The Hills?
The Hills plays to a par of 72 over about 6,596 metres, routed across a glacial valley of tussock, water and rock with no two holes alike.
Can visitors play The Hills Golf Club?
The Hills is a private club that hosts a limited number of visitors, usually as part of a golf package with accommodation or transfers. Arrange access well ahead through the club or a Queenstown golf specialist.
Does The Hills host the New Zealand Open?
Yes. The Hills has been a regular host of the New Zealand Open since 2007, often in partnership with nearby Millbrook Resort, which is part of why it is regarded as one of the country's premier courses.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and length verified June 2026; access and indicative fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.