Plan Your Perfect Golf Weekend in Hawke’s Bay
Plan Your Perfect Golf Weekend in Hawke’s Bay
Hawke’s Bay is a golfer’s playground, offering some of New Zealand’s most renowned courses alongside exceptional food, wine, and adventure experiences. For a long weekend focused on golf, Porters Boutique Hotel in the heart of Havelock North village provides the perfect base. Centrally located, this boutique hotel gives easy access to the region’s premier golf courses and leisure activities, while offering personalised service to ensure a seamless stay.
Day 1: Arrival and Cape Kidnappers Golf Course
Start your weekend with a stay at Porters Boutique Hotel, ideally positioned for access to
Cape Kidnappers. This iconic course is considered a must-play in New Zealand, with 18 holes perched atop dramatic cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The combination of challenging terrain, sweeping views, and strategic design makes it an unforgettable experience for golfers. After your round, explore local wineries, or take a stroll through Havelock North village before returning to Porters for an evening of relaxed comfort.
Day 2: Hastings Golf Course
Your second day takes you to Hastings Golf Course, an 18-hole gem that balances challenge
and accessibility. Its fairways are maintained to perfection, making it a favourite for both experienced and casual golfers. Following your game, immerse yourself in the surrounding area—perhaps visit nearby wineries or enjoy lunch at a boutique café. The location of Porters Boutique Hotel ensures minimal travel time, leaving you free to enjoy the afternoon exploring the region’s orchards, art galleries, or cycling trails.
Day 3: Explore Hawke’s Bay Beyond the Greens
A Hawke’s Bay weekend isn’t complete without experiencing its wider attractions. Cycle along scenic trails or explore Te Mata Peak for panoramic views. Visit renowned wineries such as Craggy Range, Mission Estate, or Black Barn, where tastings and cellar door experiences provide the perfect complement to your golf weekend. Porters serves as the ideal hub, offering easy access to both the courses and the region’s experiences, so you can curate a full weekend of leisure and activity.
Planning Tips for a Hawke’s Bay Golf Weekend
Book your tee times in advance at Cape Kidnappers and
Hastings Golf Course, particularly during peak periods.
Combine activities: golf, wine, cycling, and local dining
provide a full experience of Hawke’s Bay’s offerings.
Stay central: Porters Boutique Hotel’s location in Havelock North village
keeps you close to everything, reducing travel time and maximising enjoyment.
Tailor your itinerary: consider local events, seasonal highlights,
and preferred activities when planning your weekend.
With the combination of world-class golf, Hawke’s Bay’s culinary and wine experiences, and the personalised service at Porters Boutique Hotel, a golf-focused weekend in this region is effortless to plan and unforgettable in execution. Whether it’s a long weekend with friends or a special getaway, Porters offers the perfect central base to explore the best of Hawke’s Bay, from the first tee to the last glass of wine.
Cape Kidnappers Golf Course
Set high above the Pacific Ocean, Cape Kidnappers is widely regarded as one of the world’s great golf experiences. Designed by renowned architect Tom Doak, the course follows dramatic ridgelines and cliff edges, with sweeping coastal views from nearly every hole.
The course itself is both visually spectacular and strategically challenging, attracting golfers from around the world to Hawke’s Bay. Despite its international reputation, it remains only a short drive from Havelock North, making it an easy addition to a weekend stay at Porters Boutique Hotel.
Before or after your round, spend time exploring the nearby coastline, local cellar doors, or enjoy a relaxed evening dining in Havelock North Village.
Hastings Golf Course
Established in 1898 and on its Bridge Pa site since around 1912, Hastings Golf Club is one of the region’s oldest and most highly regarded clubs, known for its classic parkland layout and consistently excellent course conditions.
Located near the Bridge Pa wine district, the course places visitors close to several acclaimed cellar doors and restaurants, making it well suited to those looking to combine golf with Hawke’s Bay’s wider food and wine experiences.
A visit to Hastings Golf Club pairs particularly well with an afternoon exploring some of Hawke’s Bay’s renowned wineries and vineyard restaurants.
Napier Golf Club “Waiohiki”
Established in 1896, Napier Golf Club — known locally as Waiohiki
— is the oldest golf club in Hawke’s Bay and hosted the very first
New Zealand Open back in 1907.
Set on State Highway 50 between Napier and Hastings, the tree-lined, easy-walking 18-hole championship course rewards thoughtful shot-making while remaining enjoyable for players of every level. Its central position makes it a straightforward addition to a weekend based at Porters Boutique Hotel, around 20 minutes’ drive away.
With a fully stocked pro shop, club and cart hire, and a relaxed clubhouse restaurant overlooking the fairways, it’s an easy round to
pair with a Hawke’s Bay wine tour or a visit to nearby Taradale.
Maraenui Golf Club
Just off Marine Parade in Napier, Maraenui Golf Club is one of Hawke’s Bay’s most enjoyable courses
— a flat, easy-walking 18-hole layout of around 6,100 metres, cooled by a gentle sea breeze through summer.
Tightly sculpted, tree-lined fairways and creative green complexes give the course real character without being punishing, making it well suited to golfers of all abilities. It sits roughly 20 minutes from Porters Boutique Hotel, an easy run across to the coast.
Practice nets, club and cart hire, a pro shop and a relaxed clubhouse lounge make it a comfortable round
to combine with a stroll along Napier’s seafront or an afternoon in the city’s art deco centre.
Beyond the Fairways
Part of what makes a golf weekend in Hawke’s Bay so appealing is everything that comes after the round. Long lunches at vineyard restaurants, evenings spent in Havelock North Village, and quiet mornings overlooking the region’s landscapes all form part of the experience.
Whether you’re visiting for a dedicated golf trip or simply fitting in a round during a wider Hawke’s Bay escape, Porters Boutique Hotel offers premium accommodation in the heart of Havelock North with easy access to many of the region’s leading golf courses.
