Cape Kidnappers Golf Course Golf Course

— About

About Cape Kidnappers Golf Course Golf Course

Cape Kidnappers Golf Course in Hawke's Bay is one of the most visually breathtaking golf courses ever built — a Tom Doak masterpiece perched on dramatic ridge-top cliffs above the Pacific Ocean in New Zealand's North Island. The course was named one of the world's top ten courses immediately upon opening and consistently ranks among the top 20 globally. Doak's routing pushes to the very edge of the coastal cliffs on multiple holes, where fairways end abruptly at 100-metre drops to the Pacific far below. The 6th hole — a par-4 with the ocean visible far below on three sides — is widely cited as one of the most dramatic individual golf holes on earth. The Gannet Colony at Cape Kidnappers, one of the world's largest mainland gannet nesting colonies, is visible from several holes. The Farm at Cape Kidnappers provides luxury lodge accommodation on the property, making this a complete resort experience in one of New Zealand's most spectacular natural environments. Access from Napier and Havelock North is straightforward, and Hawke's Bay's extraordinary food and wine scene adds to an already exceptional destination proposition.

— History

History of Cape Kidnappers Golf Course

Cape Kidnappers Golf Course was commissioned by American businessman Julian Robertson, who purchased farmland on the clifftop peninsula in Hawke's Bay and engaged Tom Doak to design a course that would make full use of the extraordinary site. Robertson's brief was simple: design a world-class course that responds to the landscape rather than imposing upon it. Doak's solution was to push holes to the very edge of the cliffs — an approach that created the course's signature drama but also required significant earthmoving to create stable playing surfaces on terrain where the cliff edge drops 100 metres to the Pacific. The course opened in 2004 and was immediately ranked in the world's top ten, the fastest ascent to elite ranking of any course in the modern era. The Farm luxury lodge opened alongside the course to provide the resort accommodation that made Cape Kidnappers a complete destination.

— Signature Holes

Signature Holes at Cape Kidnappers Golf Course

The par-4 6th at Cape Kidnappers is the most dramatic individual hole — three sides of the peninsular fairway drop away to the Pacific Ocean far below, creating a tee shot and approach played with a visceral awareness of the exposure that is unlike any other golf hole on earth. The hole is widely cited as one of the top ten individual holes in the world. The par-3 15th plays from an elevated tee over a Pacific-facing cliff to a green where any miss short-left finds a hundred-metre drop — Doak's use of the natural drama here is at its most uncompromising. The par-5 18th finishes with a sweeping second shot toward a green above the Pacific, ending the round with the full panorama of the Hawke's Bay coast.

— Best Time to Visit

Best Time to Visit Cape Kidnappers Golf Course

October through April is Hawke's Bay's long, warm summer — temperatures of 20–28°C with New Zealand's highest sunshine hours outside Nelson. November through March is the ideal window for Cape Kidnappers: consistent weather, maximum daylight, and the Hawke's Bay food and wine scene at its best. May through September is cooler (12–18°C) and windier on the cliffs, but the course is open year-round. Hawke's Bay's Art Deco Napier, winery trail, and gannet colony combine with the golf for an exceptional North Island itinerary.

— Practical Tips

Tips for Playing Cape Kidnappers Golf Course

Cape Kidnappers is a resort course open to all visitors — book tee times through the Farm at Cape Kidnappers website. Green fees range from NZD 350 to 450. Staying at The Farm luxury lodge is the recommended experience; day visitor tee times are available but limited. The nearest airport is Hawke's Bay Airport, Napier — approximately 30 kilometres from the course. Caddies are available and recommended for first-time visitors unfamiliar with the cliff-edge holes.

— Highlights

Why Play Cape Kidnappers Golf Course

• ▸ Ranked consistently in the world's top 20 — Tom Doak's most celebrated New Zealand design
• ▸ Clifftop holes drop 100 metres to the Pacific — among the world's most dramatic golf landscapes
• ▸ 6th hole cited globally as one of the most spectacular individual holes in golf
• ▸ Cape Kidnappers Gannet Colony visible from multiple holes — one of the world's largest mainland colonies
• ▸ The Farm luxury lodge on-site — New Zealand's finest golf and accommodation combination

— FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions about Cape Kidnappers Golf Course

How much does it cost to play Cape Kidnappers?

Green fees range from NZD 350 to 450. Staying at The Farm luxury lodge on-site is the recommended approach and includes priority tee time access.

Can day visitors play Cape Kidnappers without staying at The Farm?

Yes — day visitor tee times are available at Cape Kidnappers, though lodge guests receive booking priority. Book directly through the Cape Kidnappers website.

Why is the 6th hole at Cape Kidnappers so famous?

The par-4 6th has the Pacific Ocean dropping away on three sides of the fairway — a hole of extraordinary visual drama that is consistently cited among the world's top ten individual golf holes.

How do I get to Cape Kidnappers?

Hawke's Bay Airport in Napier is approximately 30 kilometres away — around 30 minutes by car. Air New Zealand flies Napier-Auckland (1 hour) and Napier-Wellington (1 hour). The resort provides transfers from Napier.

What is the Cape Kidnappers Gannet Colony?

Cape Kidnappers is home to one of the world's largest accessible mainland gannet colonies — around 20,000 birds nest on the clifftops visible from the golf course. The colony is accessible by guided tour from Te Awanga.