Cape Kidnappers: 2026 Access and Booking Update
Tom Doak's clifftop masterpiece in Hawke's Bay runs its fairways out along fingers of land high above the Pacific. Here is where Cape Kidnappers stands in 2026, what it costs and how to book.
Photo via Google.
The news: a world top 100 course on the cliffs
Cape Kidnappers is the Tom Doak design completed in 2004 on a clifftop sheep station near Te Awanga in Hawke's Bay, on New Zealand's North Island. It plays as a par 71 of roughly 7,119 yards, routed across long fingers of farmland that run out toward the Pacific, with greens perched near cliff edges that fall hundreds of feet to the sea.
The story for 2026 is continuity and standing rather than change. There is no rebuild here: Doak's routing is mature, the course remains a fixture in the world top 100 and the public access top tier, and it is run as part of the luxury lodge estate. The practical news for travellers is around tiered pricing and booking, which we cover below.
The ridges, and the Pirate's Plank
The land does the talking at Cape Kidnappers. After an inland opening, the course climbs onto the ridges where the fairways narrow into spines of turf with sheer drops on either side. Standing on the higher tees, you look out over Hawke Bay with nothing but ocean beyond, a setting that few courses on earth can match.
The hole everyone talks about is the long par 5 15th, nicknamed the Pirate's Plank, which runs out along a tapering ridge toward the cliff edge and a green that seems to hang over the sea. The full facts box, signature holes and our verdict sit on our Cape Kidnappers course page.
Indicative 2026 green fees and access
Cape Kidnappers takes visitor tee times every day, but advance booking is essential and a valid handicap is required. Pricing is tiered by season, and international visitors pay more than domestic players. The bands below use the most recent published international rates and should be treated as indicative.
| Season | Months | Indicative international 18 holes |
|---|---|---|
| High season | January to March | around 739 NZD |
| Shoulder | April to May | around 517 NZD |
| Low season | June to August | around 370 NZD |
Indicative 2025 international rates; domestic fees are lower and prices change each season. Always confirm directly before booking.
The best value sits in the shoulder and low seasons, when the fee drops sharply and Hawke's Bay can still serve calm, clear days. Most golfers travelling this far stay on the estate at the Rosewood lodge, which makes early and late tee times and a second loop far easier to arrange.
Our take
Our take is that Cape Kidnappers is a bucket list round and worth building a New Zealand trip around. The fee is steep at the top of the season, and the wind can make the cliff holes brutal, but the scale of the setting and the quality of Doak's routing justify the journey. Pick a shoulder month, take a buggy if the legs are tired, and give yourself time to simply look.
Pair it with Kauri Cliffs up north and the exclusive Tara Iti for a once in a lifetime North Island itinerary. Set the wider picture with our best golf courses in New Zealand ranking and the New Zealand golf hub, then use plan my trip to put it together.
Plan your New Zealand golf trip
Cape Kidnappers anchors a great North Island golf escape. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge builds and costs a trip around the country's clifftop courses and lodges, with no obligation.
Questions
Who designed Cape Kidnappers and where is it?
Cape Kidnappers is a Tom Doak design completed in 2004, on a clifftop estate near Te Awanga in Hawke's Bay on New Zealand's North Island. It plays as a par 71 of about 7,119 yards across fingers of farmland that run out toward the Pacific, with greens set near cliff edges that fall away to the sea.
Can visitors play Cape Kidnappers in 2026, and what does it cost?
Yes. Cape Kidnappers takes visitor tee times daily, advance booking is essential, and a valid handicap is required. Pricing is tiered by season: in 2025 the international green fee ran around 739 NZD in the January to March high season, about 517 NZD in the April to May shoulder and near 370 NZD in the June to August low season. Treat these as indicative and confirm current rates before booking.
What is the signature stretch at Cape Kidnappers?
The closing stretch along the ridges is the headline, none more so than the long par 5 15th, nicknamed the Pirate's Plank, which runs out along a narrowing spine of land with cliffs falling away on both sides to the ocean far below.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts, history and indicative fees verified June 2026 from club, golf travel and ratings sources; rates, seasons and access change, so always confirm directly before booking. Last reviewed June 2026.