Wairakei International Golf Course

Few courses in New Zealand carry the reputation of Wairakei, long regarded as the country's finest inland layout and regularly ranked among the top courses in the Southern Hemisphere. Designed by Commander John Harris and opened in 1966, it was built on the volcanic plateau of the central North Island, a landscape already extraordinary for its geothermal energy — the nearby Wairakei Power Station was one of the first in the world to harness steam from the earth. That otherworldly setting seeps into the course itself, with native toetoe, thermal streams, and the dramatic terrain of the Waikato River gorge framing several holes in a way that no scorecard statistic can capture.

The design is considered a classic of its era — strategic, honest, and demanding without resorting to artificial difficulty. Tree-lined fairways give it a parkland feel unusual for New Zealand, and the course rewards precise positioning off the tee rather than raw power.

Taupō sits at the heart of the North Island, beside the country's largest lake and surrounded by volcanic peaks. The region draws visitors year-round for its geothermal wonders and outdoor adventures, and Wairakei has long been the natural centrepiece of golf in that world.