How to decide?

New Zealand is famous for it's exclusive, uber luxury lodges with just a handful of suites, outstanding restaurants, extremely high service levels and absolute stunning locations.  They are among the world's finest accommodations and consistently deliver a very satisfactory experience. 

Interestingly, most people think travel in New Zealand is inexpensive.  Well,  it is for many of the standard locations, such as small hotels, restaurants can be had a quite a low price.  But the famous Kiwi lodges are VERY EXPENSIVE, and average over $1000 per person per day double occupancy.  So you and your companion will pay over $2000 a night and upwards!

Keep in mind however, that most of the lodges include breakfast, drinks and gourmet dinners in the price, plus many gratis activities and one of a kind experiences. 

Is it worth it?  Well, if you consider that you will probably only go once to New Zealand, and if you are a connoisseur of good living, we think it is!  The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs is perhaps "the world's best small golf resort" as told by Wide World of Golf President Bill Hogan. 

"I just can't think of any place that delivers such an outstanding balance of total quality golf, accommodations, dining and service" says Hogan, one of the Golf Magazine World Top 100 Golf Course Panelists. "The overall experience is just off the charts!"

Eagles Nest Lodge in the Bay of Islands near Kauri Cliffs is another stunner.  Less expensive than it's neighbor across the bay, the five private villas offer sensational views across the ocean toward the Cavalli islands. 

The Farm at Cape Kidnappers probably has a better golf course, and the Tom Doak designed track is built on 800 foot cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean.  Golf Magazine ranks it as the 33rd best golf course in the world! The rooms are more "country sheep ranch" in feel, but elegant at the same time, and very comfortable. 

Matakauri Lodge near Queenstown is spectacular too, and is a sister property to Kauri Cliffs and Cape Kidnappers. Although it does not have a golf course onsite, it does have relationships with local top courses and has views across an alpine lake and The Remarkables mountain range that are unsurpassed in New Zealand. 

Blanket Bay Lodge about 25 miles from Queenstown is similar to Matakauri, yet more remote.  If you really want to get away to recharge your batteries, this stunning 10,000 acre property has it all. 

Huka Lodge by Lake Taupo is another world class destination, and it has been for many, many years. Chances are that your favorite movie star of captain of business has stayed here in the past.  The fishing is superb, and it has been regarded as kind of a valhalla for fly fishermen over the years. Heck, you can practically fish from your bedroom on the river! The nearby golf courses at Wairakei and Kinloch GC are excellent too, should your flies lie unnoticed on the river surface, which is highly unlikely around there!

Near Taupo is also Dunalistair House, although technically not offerning the same lodge service amenties as those above, is one of the nicest four-bedroom properties available.  We love the location on the Kinloch GC, and evenings around the large table drinking Kiwi wines and tasting the local flavors is as good as it gets!  

Nearby is Poronui Lodge which has 16,000 acres of pure fly fishing bliss.  Here you can catch lifetime Rainbows and Browns on the property, or take one of the lodges helicopters to nearby streams.  You will catch supergb fish at Poronui and be spoiled in the lodge surroundings.

Treetops Lodge on Lake Rotorua is set on it's own 2500 acre estate, and is a fly fisherman's dream.  The service levels are legendary and the eight villas are all a little different, yet all extremely high standard. 

There are more, of course, but those listed above are all near nice golf courses and satisfy our customers time and time again!  They are not inexpensive, but they are certainly world-class!

Hogan's Alley: What I Would Do

For me the selection of which Kiwi Lodges to select depends on what kind of a trip I was planning.  What I do know is that all of them will have great food, superb accommodations and natural, serene settings comparable to any of the most beautiful places in the world. 

For pure golf, nothing gets better than 3 nights at each of Kauri Cliffs, Cape Kidnappers and either Huka Lodge or for the right cozy group, Dunalistair House on Kinloch GC.  The golf is GREAT, the lodges are proven, and you would see three different regions and topographies of New Zealand.  If you have the time, add on another three night segment in Queenstown at Matakauri or Blanket Bay.  Golfers are best advised to visit November through March for best weather, although prices at the lodges are during peak season. 

With my wife, who loves to fly fish, I would have to include Treetops Lodge or Poronui, plus a visit to Kauri Cliffs and Matakauri near Queenstown, where we spent our honeymoon, many moons ago.  I would fish one day, golf the next, then do it all over again.  Every night would be a great meal and some fantastic Kiwi wines like Te Awa, Kim Crawford, Kumeu River, Craggy Range and Cloudy Bay.  Fishermen might consider going in the shoulder seasons (April or October) for lower prices when the fishing is quite good too. 

Bill Hogan is the President of Wide World of Golf and has traveled the world researching golf and luxury properties for over 25 years. Follow him on Twitter: @wideworldofgolf or contact him at bill at wideworldofgolf dot com