The Kinloch Club, set on the tranquil shores of Lake Taupo on New Zealand’s North Island, features a superb 18-hole Jack Nicklaus designed golf course, luxury cabin-style villas and suites, and a fabulous spa.
The ultimate secluded retreat with world-class food and service, this lodge-style resort, a three hours’ drive south of Auckland, is perfectly placed for guests to experience some incredible outdoor activities.
Jack’s Golf Course
The resort is set in vast rolling countryside and the resident golf course was created in homage to the great links courses of the British Isles. It’s Jack’s only design in New Zealand and opened in 2007 to worldwide acclaim. Flanked by rugged hills with panoramic views of the crystal clear waters of Lake Taupo, New Zealand’s largest fresh-water lake, it undulates across rural farmland and has built a reputation as one of the country’s toughest challenges.
It’s picture perfect with eye-catching elevation changes and has an emphasis on a sound approach game into well guarded greens. It’s one of Jack’s best designs, and there’s also a resident PGA pro on hand for instruction.
Luxurious Accommodation
A short walk from the main lodge building, the 18 junior suites and one and two bedroom villas are calm and sophisticated with beautiful oak floors, carbon-neutral fireplaces, handmade New Zealand rugs, stand-alone bathtubs, and outdoor patios or furnished terraces with views over the golf course and Lake Taupo. All room options provide comforting, luxurious tranquility.
The stunning main lodge building, with local stone exteriors echoing a Scottish castle, features floor to ceiling windows framing dramatic vistas of the golf course and Lake Taupo, and a lush central courtyard with an outdoor fireplace and pool. It’s warm and welcoming and houses the incredibly stylish bar and world-class restaurant.
Spa & Wellness
The Kinloch Spa is also in the main lodge and has two treatment rooms. You can choose from Swedish, sports or deep-tissue massages, customised facials and signature treatments, including the Manuka body scrub and massage, which uses a local honey blend. If you’re feeling active, there’s an infinity pool and tennis court.
Dining
The resort is eco-friendly and the restaurant follows an ‘estate to plate’ philosophy which uses grown-on-site and locally sourced organic produce and ingredients. Multi-course dinners are created every evening and a wide choice of breakfast options are served daily. Guests can also enjoy High Tea in the afternoon.
The stylish bar, clad in dark wood with velvet and leather furnishings, is a great setting to cosy up with a bottle of New Zealand wine or a blended whiskey from Auckland-based Thomson distillery. Pre-dinner drinks and canapés are served each evening.
Incredible Activities
Bike and car hire are available at the property, as well as horse-riding trails, but the resort is also a great base to get really adventurous! Activities in the region include lake cruises, fishing trips, white-water rafting, skiing, skydiving and cycling trails along the lake and through native forests. You can also enjoy New Zealand’s most popular day hike – the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, which features spectacular volcanic vistas.
