\n investor Ric Kayne and luxury real estate broker Jim Rohrstaff, has become a favourite of Auckland A-list names like the Mowbrays, Sir John Key, Israel Adesanya and various All Blacks, as well as international visitors like Ronan Keating and – just last week – Justin Bieber<\/a>.\n <\/p>\n
But you don\u2019t need to be a multimillionaire to get an insider\u2019s glimpse at life beyond the golf greens. <\/p>\n
Less than 90 minutes north of central Auckland, you can visit for a night or two, or simply a lunch or spa appointment to see the world-class views for yourself. <\/p>\n
You might spot a celebrity, although it\u2019s almost impossible to tell. The vibe is relaxed so yes, that could be a billionaire sitting at the table next to you, but unless you ask (don\u2019t), you\u2019ll never know. <\/p>\n
It\u2019s for this reason that mere mortals shouldn\u2019t worry about feeling out of place. Having travelled to many of the country\u2019s luxury lodges, the main lesson I\u2019ve learned is that other guests don\u2019t pry into who you are or why you\u2019re there, and hope you\u2019ll show them the same respectful distance.<\/p>\n
Visiting the week before school holidays, I was surprised at the family atmosphere at Ric\u2019s at the Ocean, Te Arai Links\u2019 casual all-day restaurant. Big family groups dined next to me, and it was buzzy, an atmosphere not always found in luxury lodge dining rooms.<\/p>\n
I\u2019d arrived after dark, so had no idea of the view beyond the wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling ranch slider doors; it wouldn\u2019t be until breakfast the next morning that I got a sense of the resort\u2019s epic outlook.<\/p>\n
Te Arai Links has two golf courses, both of which have featured on the world’s top 100 lists. Photo \/ Ricky Robinson<\/p>\n
Perched on the edge of the South Course\u2019s 18th fairway, the green gives way to Te Arai coast\u2019s wild dunes, just hiding the expanse of white sand beach lapped by the Pacific Ocean beyond. Bream Head and Little Barrier Island are in the distance, and on very clear days you can see as far as the Coromandel. <\/p>\n
For accommodation guests, that epic coastal view follows you everywhere, whether in one of the ocean view rooms, a two-bedroom cottage, a four-bedroom villa, or Whaitere, the five-bedroom home offering \u201celevated stays\u201d. <\/p>\n
My ocean-view cottage was near perfect. Designed by Studio John Irving Architects, with interiors by Californian designer Jenni Kayne, it felt like I\u2019d been transported to the Hamptons and deposited carefully within the dunes. <\/p>\n
Many other NZ lodges, often designed by the acclaimed Virginia Fisher, share a central DNA through their look and feel, whether that\u2019s Rosewood Kauri Cliffs, Huka Lodge, or the new Roki Collection in Queenstown. <\/p>\n
Te Arai Links has a feel all of its own. <\/p>\n
The Ocean Cottages at Te Arai Links luxury golf resort. Photo \/ Jono Parker<\/p>\n
There\u2019s no artwork on the walls in my cottage, just natural wood panel walls and ceiling, blonde wood floors, and off-white bedroom walls. The view is the star here \u2013 as it should be, when you\u2019ve got a world-renowned golf course just beyond your back doorstep and rolling dunes down to one of NZ\u2019s most pristine, undiscovered beaches. <\/p>\n
Northeast-facing, with the entire back wall of the cottage made up of floor-to-ceiling glass, leave your curtains open and you can fall asleep to star-filled skies and awaken to magnificent sunrises.<\/p>\n
The cottages are set up for relaxation and comfort, with open-plan kitchen, dining and living room, flowing out to a private outdoor area complete with its own gas firepit and lounge chairs. <\/p>\n
Inside, there\u2019s a dining table for six, and a couch that could comfortably seat four, plus two armchairs with sheepskins, cushions and blankets for cosy comfort. <\/p>\n
Te Arai’s Ocean Cottages come with private fire pits set among the dunes. Photo \/ Jono Parker<\/p>\n
The bedroom has a super king bed, ample storage, armchairs and a huge freestanding mirror positioned to reflect the dunes outside, for an even greater sense of space. <\/p>\n
The bathroom is spacious and tranquil, with a deep bathtub, walk-in double-head shower, twin vanities, and underfloor heating set to a constant 22 degrees. Toiletries are from New Zealand brand Ashley & Co, and in large refillable containers. <\/p>\n
In fact, most amenities and added extras are sourced locally \u2013 either nearby, like Bennetts of Mangawhai chocolates and Sawmill beers, or made in NZ, like Proper crisps, Nuttz cashews, and Higgins cookies.<\/p>\n
The mini bar snacks and non-alcoholic drinks are complimentary, but its wines are high-end, with prices to match \u2013 a Pyramid Valley 2020 Pinot Noir for $90, Tony Bish 2021 Synergy Chardonnay for $75, and Victoire Prestige champagne for $145. If price is a consideration, but you want to enjoy a few drinks in your cottage, you\u2019re best to stock up on your way. <\/p>\n
I said near-perfect, and the missed marks were minor annoyances: I\u2019ve never met a hotel or lodge room that didn\u2019t have one rogue light switch you can\u2019t quite work out \u2013 Te Arai Links is no different.<\/p>\n
And I was surprised there was no dedicated desk in the cottage, meaning I had to work from the kitchen table or sofa. Most guests visiting Te Arai can probably afford to take a day off, but for those who need to put in some solid hours, it\u2019s not the best set-up. <\/p>\n
My advice? Turn off your laptop and sit back to enjoy the views, the peace, the quiet. Get out for a walk \u2013 you can stretch your legs on the resort trails, ranging from 7.8km to 15.5km. I\u2019m often directionally challenged on walking trails, and this was no different \u2013 I found the resort\u2019s paper map and the signs next to Ric\u2019s to get down to the beach quite difficult to follow. Perhaps you\u2019ll have a better sense of direction.<\/p>\n
The North Clubhouse is open for lunch and dinner, with former Mr Morris chef Zane Neustroski at the helm. Photo \/ Ricky Robinson<\/p>\n
I had no trouble finding my way to The North Clubhouse for lunch and dinner \u2013 regular shuttles run there and back from the South Clubhouse.<\/p>\n
Situated at the 18th fairway of the North Course, it\u2019s only accessible to club members or accommodation guests but is one of the main reasons you should consider a Te Arai Links stay. <\/p>\n
Head chef Zane Neustroski has created a menu of seasonal, local products with a focus on simplicity and a family-style feel. It was buzzing with happy golfers as I arrived on a Friday afternoon for lunch, with a more intimate, romantic feel when I returned for dinner with my partner.<\/p>\n
Formerly the head chef at Michael Meredith\u2019s Britomart restaurant Mr Morris, Neustroski is from a farming family near Invercargill. He says his move to Mangawhai came from a desire to \u201cescape the rat race and get back to a lifestyle that was closer to my roots\u201d. <\/p>\n
Living in Mangawhai and working at the North Clubhouse has allowed him to create \u201ca harmonious work-life balance\u201d which he says has given him a lot of confidence. <\/p>\n
That shows in his food. The Trust the Chef menu we had for dinner was one of the best meals I\u2019ve eaten this year, from the smoked olives accompanying our cocktails, to the melt-in-your-mouth Southland lamb ribs, the kingfish ceviche, a mushroom tart, chicken breast, Brussels sprouts, roast potatoes, and two divine desserts \u2013 an apple friand and a light-as-air meringue.<\/p>\n
Neustroski says he learned a lot from Meredith\u2019s approach to food, from unexpected flavour combinations to letting high-quality products speak for themselves.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe utilise some awesome local suppliers, and we do our very best to hero their products as best we can,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n
I leave slightly heartbroken that the North Clubhouse isn\u2019t on my doorstep in Auckland. <\/p>\n
The Bunker Bar at Te Arai Links. Photo \/ Ricky Robinson<\/p>\n
Another highlight of my stay is the Bunker Bar, available exclusively to club members and guests staying in the cottages, villas and Whaitere house. <\/p>\n
Burrowed in a dune next door to Ric\u2019s at the Ocean, you\u2019d never know it\u2019s there from the outside. But descend a staircase and press a buzzer, and the door opens into a light, bright cocktail bar with a sunken lounge that looks on to the South Course\u2019s 18th fairway.<\/p>\n
Studio Irving Architects designed The Bunker Bar at Te Arai Links, an exclusive cocktail bar that looks out onto the South Course’s 18th fairway. Photo \/ Ricky Robinson<\/p>\n
There, manager Tim Juergensen and his team offer a seasonal cocktail menu, but they\u2019ll also make your favourite classic, or create something unique.<\/p>\n
Juergensen is endlessly passionate about his job and will talk you through ingredients, get to know what you like and perhaps convince you to try something new. After hearing I love negronis but can\u2019t abide whisky, he made me a Vieux Carr\u00e9 with French Cognac, 144 Islands sweet vermouth, bourbon, Benedictine, and Angostura bitters, and I was sold.<\/p>\n
Te Arai Links has two golf courses, both of which have featured on the world’s top 100 lists. Photo \/ Ricky Robinson<\/p>\n
Te Arai Links is of course best known for its walking-only golf courses. The Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw-designed South Course is ranked No 79 on the 2025\/26 Golf Magazine Top 100 Courses in the World List, and the Tom Doak-designed North Course is at No 98. Doak\u2019s neighbouring Tara Iti was ranked No 19, and Cape Kidnappers, the only other NZ course to make the list, at No 65.<\/p>\n
Day visitors can book to play the courses, with green fees ranging from $300 to $500 for NZ and Australian residents.<\/p>\n
Yes, that might be a step up from a round at your usual club \u2013 for context, Takapuna Golf Club charges from $40 \u2013 but to play a global top 100 course, with views beloved by billionaires, is no doubt worth it. <\/p>\n
I could never even pretend to be a golfer, so I took my leave at the spa, which first opened to resort guests in December and to the public in May. My 60-minute relaxation massage with Filipino therapist Barbara was heavenly, but my favourite part of the experience was the Hydrotherapy Garden at the end. <\/p>\n
The spa at Te Arai Links luxury golf resort. Photo \/ Jono Parker
Te Arai Links hydrotherapy garden. Photo \/ Jono Parker<\/p>\n
A secluded outdoor space at the back of the spa, it\u2019s surrounded by Te Arai\u2019s towering pine trees, with new native plantings steadily growing to keep up. There\u2019s a large sauna, cold plunge pool, two hot tubs at different temperatures, and outdoor showers and lounge chairs. <\/p>\n
Spa bookings include an hour\u2019s complimentary use, or you can book an individual session for $60. <\/p>\n
There\u2019s no shade over the hot tubs \u2013 perhaps it will be introduced as we get closer to the scorching days of summer \u2013 but sunscreen is provided, along with robes, slippers, lockers and Dyson hairdryer and straighteners for post-visit use.<\/p>\n
I loved my hydrotherapy visit so much I returned the next day with my partner after checkout. We spent a good hour soaking and relaxing, while I mentally diarised a Te Arai Links return. I might only be able to stretch to visiting for lunch, but that\u2019s more than enough to make me feel a billion dollars. <\/p>\n
Need to know <\/p>\n
Two-bedroom Ocean View Cottages are priced to reflect the resort\u2019s luxury and privacy, ranging from $1950 per night to $4960 per night, depending on the season. <\/p>\n
If that\u2019s out of reach, consider an Ocean View room. The views are almost as good \u2013 you\u2019re just further away from the beach \u2013 but the prices are more affordable, starting from $590 per night. When you consider the access to world-class facilities and dining, it\u2019s well worth the cost. <\/p>\n
Nightly rates include breakfast at Ric\u2019s at the Ocean.<\/p>\n
Golf club memberships are limited to 600 people, with costs available on inquiry.<\/p>\n
The writer travelled courtesy of Te Arai Links<\/p>\n
More luxury travel<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"You might not be a billionaire, but you can still get an inside look at Te Arai Links.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":636030,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[62037,1975,13475,138,136856,18126,2944,302,13840,2442,13457,206,5978,111,139,69,5970,531,762,115538,2069,6100,8690,223,61,6923],"class_list":["post-636029","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-business","tag-arai","tag-at","tag-billionaire","tag-business","tag-dine","tag-golf","tag-inside","tag-its","tag-like","tag-links","tag-look","tag-luxury","tag-might","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-really","tag-resort","tag-review","tag-spa","tag-stay","tag-still","tag-te","tag-the","tag-to","tag-what"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/636029","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=636029"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/636029\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/636030"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=636029"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=636029"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=636029"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}