Tee off in the mountains
Golf
Queenstown is one of the world's great golf destinations — championship courses and welcoming club links, all within a short drive and all framed by the Southern Alps.
Eight courses sit within about 20 minutes of town — from the exclusive championship layouts that host the NZ Open to friendly, affordable club courses on the lakeshore. Here are the ones worth planning a round around.
The courses
Jack's Point
Jack's Point — 20 min south
18 holes · designed by John Darby
Strung along the Lake Wakatipu shoreline beneath the Remarkables, with dramatic mountain views on nearly every hole. Consistently ranked among New Zealand's very best.
⛳ Green fees from ~NZ$300 (summer) — book ahead
Millbrook Resort
Arrowtown — 25 min
36 holes — Coronet & Remarkables 18s · Bob Charles / Greg Turner
Two acclaimed championship eighteens laid across a working-farm valley, with five tee positions for every level. Long-time host venue of the NZ Open.
⛳ Visitor & resort rates; stay-and-play packages
The Hills
Arrowtown — 25 min
18 holes · sculpture park · co-host of the NZ Open
An exclusive, art-dotted course over 500 acres of alpine valley, created by Sir Michael Hill. Access is limited — largely by invitation, member guest, or during tournament week.
⛳ Private — limited public access
Queenstown Golf Club
Kelvin Heights Peninsula — 10 min
18 holes · lakeside links-style
Almost entirely wrapped by Lake Wakatipu on its own peninsula, this is one of the most scenic club courses in the country — and visitors are welcome year-round.
⛳ Visitor green fees; affordable local memberships
Arrowtown Golf Club
Arrowtown — 20 min
18 holes · historic, tree-lined
Nicknamed “Narrowtown” for its tight, tree-lined fairways — a characterful, great-value course beside the historic gold-mining town. Stunning in autumn.
⛳ Affordable green fees & memberships
Planning a round
- • Book tee times ahead in summer (Dec–Mar) and over the NZ Open.
- • Green fees vary by season — the club courses (Queenstown, Arrowtown) are the most accessible; the championship courses sit at a premium.
- • Clubs and pro shops hire clubs, carts and trundlers — no need to fly your own.
- • Most courses have a relaxed smart-casual dress code; check the private courses first.
Membership
Locals have real choice. The club courses offer genuinely affordable annual memberships, while Millbrook and Jack's Point run resort-style memberships with lifestyle perks. Worth a call to compare.
Golf events
No golf events listed right now. The NZ Open returns to Millbrook & The Hills each autumn — we'll list it here. Running an event? List it free.