Te Arai Luxury Golf Tournament – 22 to 28 November 2026
(7 days - 6 nights)
Tour Cost AUD 11,900/Couple (AUD 5,950 pp Twin Share)
Single AUD 7,900 pp
You are invited to join Trendsetter Travel Golf Tour’s Te Arai Links golf tour which includes attendance in our 72 hole singles and pairs golf tournament with 2 rounds on each of Te Arai South (2022) and Te Arai North (2023) Golf Courses. Single mens, ladies and pairs competitions will be held for the individual 18 hole games and for the overall 72 hole event. Te Arai South was designed by world-renowned US golf architects Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, joint designers of Barnbougle Lost Farm, known for favouring minimalist, links-inspired courses. Te Arai North was designed by Tom Doak, another leading international golf architect and designer of Barnbougle Dunes.
Both Te Arai golf courses now rank in the top 100 golf courses in the world across most rating organisations. They are adjacent golf courses, very walkable and with excellent practice facilities, dining options and accommodation. From our perspective of having played the famous, walking-only Bandon Dunes, we believe Te Arai Golf Resort provides a superior golf experience, with much better restaurants and accommodation. Again, in our opinion, we believe the Te Arai golf courses, accommodation and restaurants are materially superior to Tasmania’s Barnbougle Dunes and Lost Farm facilities which most of you would have experienced.
Te Arai Links is owned and developed by a USA based financier, Rick Kane, as is nearby Tara Iti. Tara Iti also ranks in the world’s top 100 links courses however play is restricted to members, and members’ guests. There are less than 300 members, most of them resident outside of NZ and thus access is not possible for our group.
Te Arai is strictly walking only but with very good 3 wheel pull trollies. There are no electric trollies. There are two motorised carts available with a medical certificate but these must be driven by a caddy, must remain on any cart paths/roads and require the golfer to generally walk 50-80M up or down or across to the ball. We have been strongly advised that this is not a feasible option to using pull trollies. Upon request, caddies are readily available for all our tour party but are not included in the tour cost.
We are staying at Te Arai within 4 weeks of the longest day on 22 December, thus you will enjoy daylight from 6 am until after 8.00 pm. While it is the middle of the peak summer season, we have been offered special discounted group pricing as Te Arai traditionally experiences a small pre-Christmas lull in bookings over this week.
The average temperatures in late November are 20/21 degrees (high) 16/17 degrees (low). November typically is one of the lowest rainfall months in this area, however it is New Zealand and there is no guarantee of brilliant weather regardless of the time of the year!
Your tour hosts will be Adrienne Witteman and David Cooper who experienced in December 2025 all aspects of Te Arai which are included in this golf tour. They played both golf courses without caddies.
ITINERARY SUMMARY
Fly into Auckland on Sunday 22 November 2026 and independently transfer to our 5-star hotel in time for included welcome drinks and dinner.
On Monday morning, we will coach to Te Arai, a 75 – 90 minutes scenic journey from downtown Auckland hotel for a 5-night stay in Te Arai’s Ocean View rooms. These rooms are advertised as luxurious, offering a serene escape with contemporary details. Located in the heart of the property, they overlook the South Course and provide views of the Pacific Ocean and islands beyond. The South Clubhouse and its two restaurants are only a short walk away.
We will play a total of 4 rounds of golf on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Wednesday is a scheduled rest day from golf with lunch (wine included) at a local vineyard before a late afternoon golf putting competition on The Playground at Te Arai.
Two acres in size, The Playground is the largest putting green in the world and is perfectly located in front of Ric’s Restaurant. It will be set up exclusively for our group and promises to be a lot of fun.
Te Arai Resort has two restaurants. With a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, Ric’s offers a casual bar and dining experience perfect for unwinding after a round of golf. It is also where breakfast is served each morning. The second restaurant, Ocean, has postcard views of the South Course’s 18th fairway to the Pacific Ocean and beyond. It provides a more elevated dining experience to complement the incredible location and is where we will have our farewell group dinner.
Dinner is not included on four of the five nights at Te Arai and is independent of the group. Apart from Ric’s and Ocean, you may consider restaurants outside of Te Arai though these will be around 30 minutes by taxi or Uber.
Upon completion of the Te Arai tour, we will coach to Auckland International Airport and Auckland Domestic Airport for connection to late Saturday afternoon/early evening flights to Melbourne/Sydney/Brisbane (Flights should not be booked to depart earlier than 3.00 p.m.).
Upon completion of the Te Arai tour, we will coach to Auckland International Airport and Auckland Domestic Airport for connection to late Saturday afternoon/early evening flights to Melbourne/Sydney/Brisbane (Flights should not be booked to depart earlier than 3.00 p.m.).
Those continuing to Queenstown for our 8-night golf tour, 28 November/6 December 2026 Golf Tour, will enjoy a mid-afternoon, complimentary economy class flight, including golf club carriage and group transfer to our Queenstown hotel. Details of the Queenstown golf tour programme will be released shortly.
DAY BY DAY ITINERARY
Sunday 22 November 2026
Fly to Auckland and transfer independently to our 5-star downtown Auckland hotel (hotel is currently under negotiation). Tonight meet your fellow golfers at a welcome function.
Inclusions – Accommodation, welcome function with pre-dinner drinks, group dinner, including drinks
Monday 23 November 2026
Following breakfast at our hotel, transfer by coach to Te Arai, 75 – 90 minutes north of Auckland. Tee off commences from 11.00 a.m. on the South course. Enjoy extensive practice facilities and/or coffee prior.
Tonight enjoy independent dining, at either Ric’s or Ocean (onsite) or try one of twelve local restaurants at Mangawhai, 30 minutes by taxi or uber.
Inclusions – Accommodation, breakfast, golf, drinks post golf and prize giving
Tuesday 24 November 2026
Tee off this morning commences from 10.00 a.m. on the North Course. Note that the North Course is a 5-minute drive by Te Arai Links mini coach transfer from the South Course clubhouse. You will not return to the North Course clubhouse after 9 holes and may like to buy a snack and or drink (own expense) at the excellent halfway house, where most usually stop for short break.
Again, this evening, enjoy independent dining.
Inclusions – Accommodation, breakfast at Ric’s, golf, drinks post golf and prize giving
Wednesday 25 November 2026
Today is a non-golf day, offering the chance for a leisurely breakfast before leaving late morning, for a wine tasting and lunch (including wine) at a leading nearby vineyard.
At 6.00 p.m. there will be a putting competition at The Playground. Measuring 2 acres in size, The Playground is the largest putting green in the world and features an 18-hole course which will be set up just for our group. Pre and post round drinks will be included. Cash prizes for the putting competition will be awarded over post putting competition drinks.
Independent dining this evening.
Inclusions – Accommodation, breakfast, visit to winery including wine tasting, winery lunch (including drinks), putting competition (including drinks) and prizegiving
Thursday 26 November 2026
Today we play the third round of the tournament and our second game on the North Course with tee off from 10 am – again with ample time to refine your golf game on the extensive practice area.
Inclusions – Accommodation, breakfast, golf, drinks post golf and prize giving
Friday 27 November 2026
Our tournament concludes today with the fourth round at Te Arai to be played on the South Course. Tee off will start at 10.00 a.m., with the leading groups hitting off last. Post golf game, and a refreshing drink in Ric’s, enjoy a few hours free time before we meet at Ocean Restaurant at 7 p.m. for drinks, our farewell dinner and tournament prizegiving.
Inclusions – Accommodation, breakfast, golf, drinks post golf, final tour dinner (including drinks) and prizegiving
Saturday 28 November 2026
Late morning, we will coach the approximate 2 hours to Auckland International Airport, for those returning to Australia and Auckland Domestic Airport, for those travelling to Queenstown to join the commencement of our Queenstown golf tour (Please do not book your international flight to depart before 3.30 p.m.).
Inclusions – Breakfast, late morning transfer to Auckland Airports, and for those joining the 8 night Queenstown tour an economy class flight to Queenstown and transfer to our Queenstown hotel.
Finer Details
Inclusions
- Welcome event with pre-dinner drinks, dinner with drinks
- 1 night accommodation and breakfast in a 5-star, downtown Auckland hotel
- 5 nights accommodation and breakfast at Te Arai
- 72 hole, 4 rounds of golf at Te Arai links with drinks pre and post competition
- 18 hole putting competition with drinks pre and post competition on day 4
- Cash prizes for each golf event including all 4 x 18 hole games and 72 hole competitions
- Farewell event with pre-dinner drinks, dinner with drinks
- Coach transfers from downtown Auckland day 2 and to Auckland airports on day 7
- Rest day winery lunch with drinks, and winetasting on day 4
Not Included
- Airfare to and from New Zealand
- Meals and drinks unless specified
- Travel Insurance
- Items of a personal nature
Payment Terms and Conditions:
- Total Price Payable: AUD 11,900/couple/pair and AUD 7,900 per single golfer
- Deposit – AUD 3,000/couple/pair and AUD 2,000 per single payable at the time of booking with the balance due 4 months prior to departure on 22 July 2026
- Payment may be made either by bank transfer/credit card as follows:
- Trendsetter Travel & Cruise Centre Pty Ltd, BSB 012 003, ACC NO. 8334 12763 or
- by credit card using the following link (or by contacting Trendsetter Travel to process payment) – http://pay.travelpay.com.au/trendset reference is your surname (credit card surcharges apply):
- If for whatever reason you need to cancel from the tour pre your final payment, we will refund AUD 2,000 (couple/pair) and AUD 1,000 (single) of your deposit payment subject to a replacement guest being found to take up your place.
- The AUD tour price is calculated at current exchange rates. There will be a price adjustment for final payment (only) if the mid point AUD/NZD exchange rate falls below 1.14 (price increase) or increases above 1.18 (price reduction) at the time of sending out final invoices.
For further information, please contact David Cooper by either email david@trendsettertravel.com.au or on mobile 0413 010 638.
Please contact Trendsetter Travel Golf Tours for further information
Tel. + 61 (0) 413 010 638
Email david@trendsettertravel.com.au
Website http://www.trendsettertravel.com.au/golf-cruises/
Images by Photographer Ricky Robinson
