Wairakei Golf and Sanctuary
Commander John Harris, with Peter Thomson and Michael Wolveridge, designed Wairakei in 1970 on rolling, tree lined country just north of Taupo, and it has ranked among New Zealand's finest parkland courses ever since. A par 72 of about 6,460 yards with more than a hundred bunkers, it is now ringed by a predator proof fence as the country's first golf sanctuary, home to kiwi and takahe.
Photo: Wairakei Golf and Sanctuary via Google.
The verdict
Commander John Harris, working with Peter Thomson and Michael Wolveridge, laid out Wairakei in 1970 on beautiful rolling land just north of Taupo in the central North Island. A par 72 of about 6,460 yards through stands of mature trees, with more than a hundred bunkers, it has long been rated among the very best parkland courses in New Zealand.
In recent years it has become something rarer still. A predator proof fence now encloses the property, making Wairakei the country's first golf sanctuary, with native birds including kiwi and takahe living among the fairways. The course is open to visitors and the experience, golf inside a thriving wildlife reserve, is unlike anywhere else, an essential stop on a North Island golf trip alongside the great clifftop courses of the region.
Wairakei Golf and Sanctuary at a glance
- Opened
- 1970
- Designer
- Harris, Thomson and Wolveridge
- Type
- Parkland
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 6,460 yds
- Green fee
- From about NZ$260
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Wairakei Golf and Sanctuary and leading course databases. The course opened in 1970, designed by Commander John Harris with Peter Thomson and Michael Wolveridge, a par 72 of about 6,460 yards. Indicative visitor green fees are from about NZ$260, with higher rates for overseas visitors. Always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Wairakei is a thinking player's parkland course, the trees and the many bunkers framing tee shots that demand a chosen side of the fairway. The greens are subtle and well defended, so the approach must be precise, and the routing makes clever use of the rolling land for a varied, rhythmic round.
It is a fair test rather than a brutal one, which lets you enjoy the setting, and the setting is the star. Birdsong fills the air inside the sanctuary, and it is common to share the course with native wildlife found almost nowhere else.
Pair it with the famous clifftop courses to the east for one of the world's great parkland and links contrasts. Few rounds anywhere combine championship golf with a genuine wildlife reserve the way Wairakei does.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public; visitors welcome to book, with green fees tiered for local and overseas players |
| Green fee | Indicative from about NZ$260, higher for overseas visitors (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Book online or through the club; reserve ahead in the summer peak from December to February |
| Sanctuary | A predator proof fence encloses the course; native birds including kiwi and takahe live on site |
| Getting there | Wairakei, just north of Taupo, about an hour from Rotorua and under three hours from Auckland |
| Best months | November to April for the warmest, driest central North Island weather |
Green fees verified June 2026 and reported from about NZ$260, with higher rates for overseas visitors; figures are indicative and change by season and year, so always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
Most visiting golfers base in or near Taupo, on the lake, with the Wairakei resort and a range of hotels close to the course, plus the geothermal attractions of the region on the doorstep. A Taupo base makes Wairakei an easy round on a wider North Island tour.
For a fuller trip, pair Wairakei with the celebrated clifftop courses to the east and the golf around Auckland to the north. The central North Island is at its best from late spring through summer.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Wairakei Golf and Sanctuary.
Plan a New Zealand golf trip
We pair Wairakei with the great clifftop courses of the North Island and sort the lodging and logistics around them. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Wairakei Golf and Sanctuary questions
Who designed Wairakei Golf and Sanctuary?
Wairakei was designed by Commander John Harris with Peter Thomson and Michael Wolveridge and opened in 1970, a par 72 of about 6,460 yards near Taupo.
Can visitors play Wairakei?
Yes. The course is open to visitors, with green fees tiered for local and overseas players. Book ahead in the summer peak from December to February.
How much does it cost to play Wairakei?
Indicative green fees start from about NZ$260, with higher rates for overseas visitors. Pricing changes, so always confirm directly before booking.
What makes Wairakei a sanctuary?
A predator proof fence now encloses the course, making Wairakei New Zealand's first golf sanctuary, with native birds including kiwi and takahe living among the fairways.
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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.