The world top ten golf of the Melbourne sandbelt, the wild Tasmanian links of Barnbougle, the clifftop drama near Sydney, and three of the world's great cities in between. The ultimate long haul buddies trip, planned end to end by one concierge.
Photograph: Barnbougle Dunes Golf Links, Tasmania, via Google
A buddies trip to Australia is the once in a lifetime golf tour, the one a group plans for years and never forgets. Few destinations on earth hold this many world top 100 courses, and fewer still spread them across three regions as distinct and rewarding as the Melbourne sandbelt, the Tasmanian coast and the headlands around Sydney. It suits the serious group that wants the very best, that does not mind the long flight, and that values the cities, the food and the easy Australian welcome as much as the golf. Most groups go for ten days to a fortnight and treat it as the centrepiece of their golfing lives.
The natural spine of the trip is Melbourne and its fabled sandbelt, the densest run of classical courses in the southern hemisphere. From there a short flight reaches Tasmania and the Barnbougle links, two of the best modern courses anywhere, with King Island's Cape Wickham within reach for the truly committed. Sydney rounds it off, the harbour city pairing its sights with the cliffside MacKenzie golf of the New South Wales Golf Club. Three cities, three styles of golf, and a tour your group will be reliving at the bar for decades.
The headline round and the finest course in Australia, an Alister MacKenzie masterpiece inside the world top 10, defined by its firm, fast greens and sprawling bunkering. Private, with limited and prized visitor access; pair it with the East course where you can.
The other great sandbelt course and many good judges' favourite, a Dan Soutar layout of 1925 with celebrated MacKenzie bunkering, hosting the Presidents Cup in 2028. The two together are the heart of any Melbourne golf trip.
Two of the best modern links on earth on a remote stretch of the Tasmanian coast: the Dunes by Tom Doak and Michael Clayton, and Lost Farm by Coore and Crenshaw, plus the brilliant Bougle Run short course. A stay and play pilgrimage in its own right.
A spectacular clifftop MacKenzie design on the headland at La Perouse, with holes running along Botany Bay and the open Pacific. The pick of Sydney golf, paired neatly with The Lakes for a harbour city leg of the trip.
Designers, pars and opening years verified June 2026 from the clubs and leading course databases. The private sandbelt clubs have limited visitor access; plan and confirm well ahead. Always confirm fees and access directly before booking.
Base in Melbourne and play the sandbelt, Royal Melbourne, Kingston Heath, Victoria and Metropolitan, with the city's bars and restaurants for the evenings.
A short flight to Launceston and on to Barnbougle for two or three days of links golf on the Dunes, Lost Farm and Bougle Run, staying on site by the sea.
Fly to Sydney for the clifftop golf of the New South Wales Golf Club and The Lakes, with the harbour, the beaches and the city in between rounds.
A last round or a relaxed morning in Sydney before the long flight home, or extend with King Island's Cape Wickham for the keenest groups.
Australia is vast, so a multi state tour uses efficient domestic flights between Melbourne, Launceston and Sydney rather than long drives. The sandbelt courses sit close together southeast of Melbourne. Flight connections and transfer times are confirmed for each itinerary.
| Style | Per person, 2026 | What it usually includes |
|---|---|---|
| Melbourne sandbelt week | From around £2,500 to £3,500 | 5 to 6 nights, the sandbelt courses, city hotel, transfers |
| Melbourne and Tasmania | From around £3,500 to £5,000 | Sandbelt plus Barnbougle stay and play, internal flights, most golf |
| The grand three city tour | From around £5,000 upward | Melbourne, Tasmania and Sydney, the best courses, premium lodging |
Indicative third party operator and resort package ranges for the 2026 season, excluding long haul international flights, shown to set expectations only. We are a guide, not an operator, and never quote our own pricing. Always confirm directly before booking.
The southern spring and autumn, roughly September to November and March to April, are the sweet spots for the Melbourne sandbelt and Tasmania, with mild temperatures and the courses at their firm, fast best, and these are the prime windows to target. The southern summer of December to February is warm and the busiest. Winter, June to August, is cool but very playable on the sandbelt and a good value option. Sydney golf plays well for much of the year. The single hardest thing to secure is access to the private sandbelt clubs, so book that first, then the Barnbougle rooms, then build the cities around them.
Tell us the group size, the courses you want and roughly when. One concierge secures the sandbelt access and the Barnbougle rooms, costs the whole trip to the head, and replies within one working day, with no obligation.
Australia offers a concentration of world top 100 courses that few destinations can match, across three distinct regions: the Melbourne sandbelt, the wild Tasmanian links, and the clifftop courses near Sydney. The golf is bucket list quality, the cities are superb for a group's downtime, and the relaxed, welcoming culture suits a buddies trip perfectly. It is a long haul from Europe and North America, so groups make it the trip of a lifetime, often two weeks long, and play the very best.
The Melbourne sandbelt is the core: Royal Melbourne West, the finest in the country and inside the world top 10, Kingston Heath, and Victoria. In Tasmania, the Barnbougle links, Dunes by Tom Doak and Lost Farm by Coore and Crenshaw, are among the best modern courses on earth, with Cape Wickham on King Island nearby. Near Sydney, the MacKenzie designed New South Wales Golf Club and The Lakes complete a dream itinerary.
Indicative packages run from around 3,500 to 7,000 pounds or more per person for a ten day to two week trip, depending on the courses, the lodging, internal flights and the season, and excluding long haul international flights. Access to private sandbelt clubs and a multi state itinerary lift the total. The golf and lodging are good value once you arrive; the flights are the main cost. All figures are indicative; always confirm directly before booking.
The southern spring and autumn, roughly September to November and March to April, are the sweet spots for the Melbourne sandbelt and Tasmania, with mild temperatures and the courses at their firm, fast best. The southern summer of December to February is warm and busy. Winter, June to August, is cool but playable on the sandbelt. Sydney plays well much of the year. Book the marquee sandbelt access and the Barnbougle rooms well ahead. Always confirm before you travel.
Sandbelt access, Barnbougle releases and the trips worth taking. Every other week.