No matter if you’re visiting from some other country or live in New Zealand and want to escape your everyday monotony, you might be thinking about going on a golf and casino vacation. Although there are many casino resorts all over the world that also come with a golf course, they are not as common in New Zealand. While you might not be able to combine these two in a single place easily, you can still have an amazing time simply by doing some research and seeing which two options would work best for you.
Best golf courses to visit
For starters, let’s go over some of the best golf courses that New Zealand has to offer. Seeing as how there are more than 400 in the country, opting for just one can be difficult, but here are a few to consider.
Gulf Harbour Country Club
Auckland is home to the Gulf Harbour Country Club and one of the best courses in the country. It has actually hosted the New Zealand Open and the World Cup of Golf. Here, you will find world-class facilities and a 6400-meter, par-72 course that is sure to challenge you. The variety and elevation changes will surely make for a great experience. The course’s signature hole is the 16th, which is a par 4. If you book this place for your vacation, remember to show up a bit early to use the practice facilities and get to grips with the course. Also, take a cart as some distances between holes are rather long.
Tara Iti Golf Club
About 100 kilometres north of the largest city in New Zealand, in Mangawhai, you will find Tara Iti golf club. It is actually a private club, but you might be allowed a “once-in-a-lifetime” visit that comes with booking accommodation on site. You can get some pointers on how to improve your game and rely on knowledgeable caddies. The place is easy to walk and every hole is one-of-a-kind. Keep an eye out for the signature 6th hole while the 12th is also a memorable one.
Jack’s Point Golf
Located in Queenstown, Jack’s Point Golf is certainly among the best courses you can find in New Zealand. The views are sure to leave you breathless as the course is situated between Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables. The layout comes with wide generous fairways and fast undulating greens, which will test your skills at every step of the way. The par-3, 7th hole is a favourite among golfers.
Best casinos to visit
When it comes to casinos, there are also some great ones to put on your bucket list. See which one of these options fits best with the golf courses you opt for.
SkyCity Hamilton
SkyCity has several locations in NZ and Hamilton is one of them. While there, you can visit the Hamilton Golf Club while you can also stay indoors if you run into some bad weather and practice your swing on the X-Golf simulator that they offer. The venue also comes with a bowling alley, 8 bars and restaurants, and more than 300 gaming machines and table games. If you get tired of the crowds, you can also retire to your room and play at the best live casino in New Zealand as the SkyCity online casino is filled with games as well.
Queenstown SkyCity Casino
If you opt for Jack’s Point Golf, you can combine this trip to Queenstown with a visit to SkyCity Casino too. Here, you will find dozens of gaming machines as well as table games like roulette, blackjack, and baccarat. In addition to enjoying some of the most popular games out there, you can also have a delicious meal. Plus, before you go, check if there are any special offers taking place and make the most of them. There is also the ‘Learn to Play’ package that will teach you about different games and improve your skills.
Auckland’s SkyCity Casino
Seeing as how there are several golf courses in and around Auckland, you might decide to visit this city. In that case, don’t miss the SkyCity casino that’s located in the tallest freestanding structure in the Southern Hemisphere. There are more than 150 table games to choose from as well as 2100 gaming machines. It’s open 24/7 and has a bar, a private smoking area, learning packages, and so much more.
Dunedin's Casino
South Island’s Otago Harbour is home to Dunedin’s Casino which has been remodelled to resemble the casinos of Monte Carlo. That means that it now offers a modern gaming experience with old-world charm. Open from 11 am to 3 am, you can play fun games like baccarat, poker, blackjack, roulette, and different electronic games.
Before going into a casino, remember that you have to be 20 years of age in order to enter one in New Zealand. Moreover, you want to look into their dress code. Above all else, have fun exploring the golf course and casino you choose.