Kauri Cliffs
bay of islands
4-COURSE CLASSIC
2026 Copthorne Bay of Islands 4-Course Golf Classic
Sunday 24 May – Friday 29 May 2026
Copthorne Bay of Islands Resort
Kia Ora and Welcome
Want to tick Kauri Cliffs off your golfing bucket list?
Now’s your chance to play the 55th-ranked course in the world (Golf Digest’s World’s 100 Greatest Courses, 2025) and enjoy a fine dining experience at the award-winning Kauri Cliffs Lodge during the 9th annual Bay of Islands 4 Course Golf Classic. Join golfers from New Zealand, Australia, and beyond for this iconic Northland event – Sunday 24 May – Friday 29 May 2026.
The Tournament
The Copthorne Bay of Islands 4 Course Classic is played over five days and features four rounds of golf at some of Northland’s finest courses:
• Kauri Cliffs – world-renowned and exclusive access at a special player rate
• Bay of Islands Kerikeri Golf Club
• Waitangi Golf Club
• Whangaroa Golf Club
A rest day on Wednesday gives players the perfect chance to relax and explore the stunning Bay of Islands region.
Discover the Bay of Islands
New Zealand’s famous Bay of Islands is not only a world-class golf destination but also a natural paradise. Enjoy:
• Sheltered white-sand beaches, marine life and island cruises
• Ancient kauri forests
• Boutique vineyards
• Rich Māori culture and history – where in 1840, the foundations of modern New Zealand were laid.
Tournament Partners
For 2026, we’re proud to partner with the Copthorne Bay of Islands Resort as our official accommodation and tournament headquarters. Exclusive rates are available to book online with your tournament entry.
CLICK HERE to Book online direct at special tournament prices. Free cancellation. Conditions apply.
Our local wine partner this year is The Dancing Petrel Vineyard, based on Paewhenua Island overlooking the Mangonui Harbour. The warm microclimate and north-facing slopes produce wines that are fresh, vibrant, and full-bodied – which you’ll enjoy at tournament functions and clubhouses. There’s also a special guided tour of the Dancing Petrel Vineyard on the rest day for those wanting a taste of local wine varietals.
Social Programme
The Copthorne Bay of Islands 4 Course Classic is more than just golf – it’s a week of great food, local flavour, and good company.
Highlights include:
• Welcome Function at the iconic Charlotte’s Kitchen Restaurant
• ‘Fish & Chips’ Pub Quiz Night featuring locally caught seafood
• Ferry adventure to Russell for dinner at the historic Duke of Marlborough Hotel (est. 1827)
• Farewell Prize-Giving Dinner at the Copthorne Resort
• Lunch with wine at Kauri Cliffs Lodge
Competition Details
• Open to: Men and women golfers aged 20+
• Format: Stableford and Gross scoring
• Rounds: Four tournament rounds over five days
• Prizes: Daily and overall awards by handicap and gender
Entries Now Open
• Entries open: Enter online at www.parnz.co.nz/kiwi-golf
• Earlybird offer: Enter online before 20 December 2025 and go in the draw to win a dozen bottles of Dancing Petrel Bubbles in time for Christmas.
• Tournament entry: NZD$899 – pay a NZD$350 deposit now, with the balance (and any extras) due by 1 April 2026.
• Copthorne Bay of Islands Resort: 6-night packages start from NZD$486 per person – book online
Join Us
Come and enjoy a spectacular week of golf, great food, and delicious local wines in one of New Zealand’s most beautiful regions. We can’t wait to see you there!
Denise, Kim & Nicky
Kim, Denise & Nicky
Kim@parnz.co.nz | nicky@parnz.co.nz | denise@parnz.co.nz
Copthorne Bay of Islands 4-Course Golf Classic
Sunday 24 May – Friday 29 May 2026
Waitangi
PROGRAMME
The 2026 Copthorne Bay of Islands 4 Course Classic takes place over five days, with play on four courses – Kauri Cliffs, Waitangi, Bay of Islands Kerikeri, and Whangaroa – on Monday 25 May, Tuesday 26 May, Thursday 28 May, and Friday 29 May 2026, with a rest day on Wednesday 27 May 2026.
The tournament week begins on Sunday 24 May with check-in at the Copthorne Bay of Islands Resort and a Welcome Function & Registration at Charlotte’s Kitchen. The restaurant boasts the best location in town, with stunning views overlooking the Pacific Ocean from the Paihia Wharf. This will be your first chance to meet your fellow competitors and enjoy local food presented tapas-style by the award-winning chefs, perfectly matched with wines from Dancing Petrel.
Monday night features our popular ‘Fish & Chips’ Pub Quiz Night at the Copthorne Hotel – your chance to enjoy delicious local seafood with your team of four and have some trivia fun! Yes, there are prizes to be won.
Mid-week, Wednesday 27 May, is your rest day with plenty of great local experiences to choose from. New this year is an optional self-drive tour (or catch the bus) to the Dancing Petrel Vineyard for tastings and lunch, along with visits to the Butler’s Point Whaling Museum.
In the evening, join us on the Russell Ferry to visit the historic Duke of Marlborough Hotel for dinner. Enjoy a wonderful threecourse fine dining experience in New Zealand’s oldest hotel, where stories of pirates, sailors, and whalers abound.
A sumptuous buffet lunch is included after your round at Kauri Cliffs, dining in the Kauri Cliffs Lodge overlooking the Cavalli Islands – complete with a glass of Dancing Petrel Wine. Golf doesn’t get much better than this!
We finish the week on Friday at the Copthorne Resort in the Waitaha Events Centre with a two-course Prize Giving Dinner (“Everyone Loves a Sailor” theme) included in your package.
PROGRAMMNE
Sunday 24 May 2026 – Welcome Function & Registration (Charlotte’s Kitchen, Paihia)
• “Drop-in” registration including local tapas and Dancing Petrel Wines (1:00pm – 5:00pm)
• Copthorne Hotel check-in from 2:00pm (pre-tournament nights also available)
Monday 25 May 2026 – Round 1
• Tournament registration at your Round 1 course from 8:30am (for those not already registered)
• Tee times from 8:30am
~ Kauri Cliffs, Waitangi GC, Whangaroa GC
~ Lunch included at Kauri Cliffs after your round, with Dancing Petrel Wine
• Clubhouses open for lunch after golf
• From 6:30pm: ‘Fish & Chips’ Pub Quiz Night at the Copthorne Hotel (optional extra)
Tuesday 26 May 2026 – Round 2
• Tee times from 8:30am
~ Kauri Cliffs, Bay of Islands GC, Whangaroa GC
~ Lunch included at Kauri Cliffs after your round, with Dancing Petrel Wine
• Clubhouses open for lunch after golf
Wednesday 27 May 2026 – Rest Day
• From 9.00am – Optional self-drive (or coach option depending on numbers at a shared cost) wine tour to Dancing Petrel Vineyard and Butler’s Point Whaling Museum (optional extra)
• 5:30pm: Catch the ferry from the Copthorne Hotel or Paihia Wharf to Russell
• 6:30pm: Dinner at The Duke of Marlborough Hotel, Russell (optional extra)
Thursday 28 May 2026 – Round 3
• Tee times from 8:30am
~ Kauri Cliffs, Bay of Islands GC, Whangaroa GC
~ Lunch included at Kauri Cliffs after your round, with Dancing Petrel Wine
• Clubhouses open for lunch after golf
Friday 29 May 2026 – Round 4
• Tee times from 8:30am
~ Kauri Cliffs, Bay of Islands GC, Waitangi GC
~ Lunch included at Kauri Cliffs after your round, with Dancing Petrel Wine
• Clubhouses open for lunch after golf
• 6:00pm – 7:00pm: Happy Hour at the Copthorne Hotel
• 7:00pm: Prize Giving Dinner at the Copthorne Hotel (included) – “Everyone Loves a Sailor” theme
Saturday 30 May 2026 – Departure
• Stay on for extra nights in the Bay of Islands, or enjoy a safe journey home by road or air. Thank you for joining us for the Bay of Islands 4 Course Classic!
Bay of Islands Kerikeri
Whangaroa
Kauri Cliffs
Copthorne Bay of Islands 4-Course Golf Classic
Sunday 24 May – Friday 29 May 2026
Tournament Overview & Inclusions
Limited to the first 220 golfers entered, the tournament is open to men and women golfers aged 20 and over. Maximum handicap limits of 36.0 for men and 40.4 for women apply. The competition format is single Stableford, played in handicap divisions, with an additional Gross competition for low markers. There are fun daily prizes as well as an overall prize table.
Let us know with your entry if you are travelling with friends, and we will ensure you play on the same course rotation throughout the week. For the daily draws, all players will be mixed. For your special round at Kauri Cliffs, we will draw you with your friends or partners.
On your journey north to the Bay of Islands, why not try out New Zealand’s two new courses – Te Arai Links South (Coore & Crenshaw) and Te Arai Links North (Doak) – or visit the Far North to play Carrington Resort?
Northland activities available on the rest day include a Hole in the Rock Dolphin Cruise, a Cape Reinga Day Trip with Fullers Great Sights, and the opportunity to visit the fascinating Waitangi Treaty Grounds and Māori War Museum. You can also take a ferry day trip for dolphin watching to Otehei Bay on Urupukapuka Island.
Copthorne Bay of Islands Resort
Bay of Islands Kerikeri
Tournament Inclusions – NZD$899 Per Person
• Tournament entry to the 2026 Copthorne Bay of Islands 4-Course Golf Classic
• Four rounds of golf: one round at each course:
~ Kauri Cliffs with cart included
~ Bay of Islands GC, Kerikeri
~ Waitangi GC
~ Whangaroa GC
• Welcome function with Dancing Petrel Wine at Charlotte’s Kitchen in Paihia on Sunday 24 May
• Prize giving dinner at The Copthorne Bay of Islands Resort on Friday 29 May
• Sumptuous lunch included with Dancing Petrel Wine at the Kauri Cliffs Lodge after your round
• Player gift
• Entry into the Titleist PRO V1 2’s
• Daily fun prizes, lucky draws, as well as an overall prize table valued NZD$20K
Added optional extras
• ‘Fish & Chips’ Pub Quiz on Monday 25 May at the Copthorne Resort @ NZD$60pp
• Gourmet 3-Course Dinner on Wednesday 27 May at The Duke of Marlborough Hotel @ NZD$99pp
~ Ferry return tickets @ NZD$20pp
From the Copthorne Waitangi Wharf or Pahia Wharf
• Optional self-drive (or coach option depending on numbers at a shared cost) tour to Butler’s Point Whaling Museum, and finishing at The Dancing Petrel Vineyard for wine tasting & lunch
• Non-golfer partner final dinner @ NZD$89
• Non-golfer partner Kauri Cliffs Lodge Lunch with wine @ $90pp
• Tournament FootJoy shirt @ NZD$79 (including logo)
• Tournament jersey @ NZD$120 (including logo)
• Trundler or Push Trolley hire @ NZD$11 per course
• Cart hire
~ NZD$26 half share each course
~ Please note carts are already included for all players at Kauri Cliffs
~ In the event where carts are oversubscribed, priority allocation will be given to those with medical needs. Players may be asked to produce a medical certificate upon request. Please note on your entry if your request for a cart is medical or preference.
• Kauri Cliffs Practice round special rate @ NZD$295pp including a cart
~ Available Saturday 23 or Sunday 24 or Wednesday 27 May 2026
~ Tee times from 9.00am – 10.00am. Pre-bookings via PaR nz Golfing Holidays
• Tourist activities in the Northland region upon request
• Add-on golf options to Te Arai or Carrington Resort upon request
• Practice rounds at each course, contact the golf clubs direct
Waitangi
The Dancing Petrel vineyard
Sponsors & Partners
Copthorne Bay of Islands 4-Course Golf Classic
Sunday 24 May – Friday 29 May 2026
Copthorne Bay of Islands Resort – Tournament Hotel Partner
Stay at the tournament hotel for the week – the Copthorne Bay of Islands Resort, our naming sponsor and Tournament HQ. This 4-star property is located right on the harbour with stunning ocean views and is central to four golf courses, cafés, restaurants, and local tourist attractions.
The Resort offers over 180 rooms with Garden View, Harbour View, and Sea View accommodation packages. Enjoy wonderful facilities, including a pool, spa, walking trails, tennis courts, a restaurant, and a lively bar, along with complimentary parking and electric car charging stations. The Resort is conveniently located next to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds and the Māori War Museum. Website: www.millenniumhotels.com/en/bay-of-islands
CLICK HERE to Book online direct at special tournament prices. Free cancellation. Conditions apply.
Dancing Petrel Vineyards – Our Wine Partner
We are delighted to introduce our new wine partner for the 2026 Copthorne Bay of Islands 4 Course Classic. In keeping with our philosophy of supporting local business and tourism, we are excited to help promote Northland as a great boutique winegrowing region through our event.
The owners of Dancing Petrel Vineyard, Kim and Graham Wilkinson, fell in love with Paewhenua Island when they visited the area in 2012. They purchased a home and vineyard and set about creating unique wines. The microclimate of Paewhenua Island, combined with its location, provides fantastic growing conditions that produce wines the owners are truly proud of.
Dancing Petrel Wines have received excellent reviews. Michael Cooper awarded the Dancing Petrel Tannat a 5-star rating, while the Cabernet Franc and Viognier 2019 received 4.5 stars. The Rosé, Pinot Gris, and Viognier 2018 each earned 4 stars and are excellent drinking. You can purchase Dancing Petrel wines at the winery, local bottle stores, and via the tournament. Website: www.dancingpetrel.co.nz
Copthorne Bay of Islands
Resort
Kauri Cliffs
Designer: David Harman, Course Opened: 2004
Address: 139 Tepene Tablelands Rd, Matauri Bay, Kaeo 0478 | Pro Shop Phone: +64 9 407 0060 | Pro Shop Email: proshop@kauricliffs.com | Website: www.kauricliffs.com
We are delighted to have a world-class golf course (ranked #55) at Kauri Cliffs as part of our four-course tournament line-up. Gaining exclusive access to the course and lodge is one of the main reasons golfers enter – and keep coming back – year after year. Prepare to be amazed: this is golf at its most spectacular. The location is simply magical, and no matter which way you look, the undulating and expansive layout offers views of stunning ocean vistas, cliff-edge fairways, deep forested ravines, coastal headlands, rocky offshore islands, and white sandy beaches. American architect David Harman of Golf Course Consultants in Orlando, Florida (a protégé of Jack Nicklaus), created not only a fabulously sculpted course but also a fair challenge – provided the wind doesn’t blow.
Kauri Cliffs, a short drive north of the Bay of Islands, is one of the most spectacular settings for golf anywhere in the world. Fifteen holes feature panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and the Cavalli Islands. The course winds through marsh, forest, and bucolic farmland to a breathtaking closing set of clifftop holes. On the outward nine, the par-3, 7th hole plays along a cliff edge and is one of the most spectacular short holes in New Zealand. On the inward nine, the cliff-edge par-5, 15th and par-4, 16th holes are equally stunning. The golf complex includes a world-class practice range, putting and chipping greens, and a classy pro shop. Don’t miss the 900-year-old Kauri tree at the driveway entrance.
Bay of Islands Golf Club, Kerikeri GC
Designer: Club Members
Course Opened: 1936 / Re-established 1970
Address: Golf View Rd, Kerikeri 0230 | Pro Shop Phone: +64 9 407 8837 | Pro Shop Email: kerikeri@golf.co.nz | Website: www.bayofislandsgolf.co.nz
The Bay of Islands GC (formerly Kerikeri GC) was built by club members in 1936 on farmland donated by Mr. Alec Riddell, who became a life member of the club. Interestingly, at that time, coaching at the club was provided by three-time New Zealand Open champion Alex Murray. In 1937, he brought South African golfer Bobby Locke to play at Kerikeri. Perhaps it was here that Bobby, still recognized as one of the game’s best putters, first said, “You drive for show but putt for dough.”
The Kerikeri GC operated until 1941, when it went into recess due to World War II. Interest in the club resurfaced, and it was officially reformed in 1970. New land was purchased, and dedicated volunteer working bees followed over several years. The design by Merv Andreason was for an 18-hole course of championship standard. Proceeds from the sale and subdivision of housing land near the club entrance funded the completion of the second nine holes in 1977, as well as the construction of the bridge in 1979 and the clubhouse in 1985.
The course appears undulating as it winds through hilly countryside, but it’s surprisingly flat, with a few thrilling exceptions: the plummeting 3rd and 13th holes, followed by three great undulating par-4 holes on the back nine. The club’s name was changed to Bay of Islands Golf Club Kerikeri in 2010 to promote tourism to the area.
Bay of Islands Kerikeri
Kauri Cliffs
Whangaroa GC
Designer: Club Members
Opened: 1985 (exact date unknown)
Address: 1745 State Highway 10, Whangaroa 0479 | Pro Shop Phone: +64 9 405 1808 Pro Shop Email: info@whangaroagolf.co.nz | Website: www.whangaroagolf.co.nz
Whangaroa Golf Club is the “hidden gem” of our four-course tournament line-up. This picturesque 18-hole course is situated in the idyllic Far North of New Zealand, between Kerikeri and Kaitaia. The club boasts well-maintained fairways flanked by mature native and exotic trees, ravines, and a creek winding through. Keep an eye out for the garden gnomes hidden along the creek beds!
While the par-70 course is short, its challenge lies in the small greens and undulating fairways, providing interesting risk-andreward opportunities. The 200-strong membership is a friendly, social group who are happy to host visitors each year. Whangaroa is one of those small country clubs with a big heart, run entirely by volunteers–including the famous kitchen crew, who serve arguably the best roast pork lunch in the country!
Waitangi GC
Designer: Club Members
Opened: 1947
Address: Tau Henare Dr, Paihia, Northland 0200 | Pro Shop Phone: +64 9 402 8207 | Pro Shop Email: waitangigolf@xtra.co.nz | Website: www.waitangigolf.co.nz
The Waitangi course is a popular holiday destination for both locals and visitors. While it is not a championship layout in terms of length, the views of the Pacific Ocean from most holes are spectacular. Before the rise of leading New Zealand resort courses such as Kauri Cliffs, Cape Kidnappers, Millbrook, and Jacks Point, Waitangi was considered one of the country’s top courses and held a high ranking.
The club and course were built in 1947, soon after the war, and attracted a strong membership. Notably, the course was constructed on the historic Waitangi Treaty Grounds, where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed by 50 Māori Chiefs and representatives of the Crown (Queen Victoria) in 1840 – a defining moment in New Zealand’s history.
Today, the course has two distinct nines: a pleasant, parklandstyle front nine with sparsely tree-lined, undulating fairways, and a more open, wind-prone back nine with rolling fairways and highly photogenic scenery. Tee boxes on the par-3 12th and short par-4 15th holes place you right at the water’s edge. A round at Waitangi GC is sure to be a memorable one.
Waitangi
Whangaroa
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