Wairakei Golf & Sanctuary: A Guide to Your Helicopter Tour Experience

For many, the perfect Sunday morning involves the smooth swing of a gold club and a clean, manicured fairway stretching out to the horizon. For others, it’s the perfect peak of adrenaline as you soar over unbeatable views. If you just so happen to be that rare combination of both, then the Wairakei Gold & Sanctuary Helicopter Tour is for you.

Located in the heart of the North Island’s volcanic zone, Wairakei is a world-class ecological project housing a gorgeous 18-hole course. Bypass the traffic, arrive by air, and begin your game with a 60-minute aerial overture of one of Aotearoa’s most memorable landscapes.

Considering this package for your next luxurious Sunday, or planning a corporate retreat? Here is what you can expect from our Wairakei Golf package.

Your Wairakei Golf & Sanctuary Helicopter Tour: Step-by-Step

While the drive down Wairakei way has its charms, hopping aboard a helicopter completely shifts your mindset. Leave the stress of the Auckland CBD behind and find yourself at that first tee by 10:15am, refreshed and ready.

1. Kick Off with a Journey in the Air

The extent and course of your flight from Auckland to the Wairakei Golf course is ultimately up to you. If you choose a direct route from Auckland to the sanctuary, your day will begin at the water’s edge in downtown Auckland. We lift off from Mechanics Bay, with the skyline quickly giving way to the gorgeous expanse of the Waikato.

On your journey to Wairakei, you’ll witness the winding silver thread of the Waikato below and the steaming vents of the Taupō Volcanic Zone. No matter how good your driving skills are, there’s simply no match for the level of pre-game inspiration you can enjoy from the air.

You can also select a more indirect route from Auckland to the course, dropping scenic detours en route to take in Rotorua’s geothermal valleys or the surrounding geological features. We want your flight to showcase the beauty you’re interested in seeing, setting the tone for a fantastic day on the links.

2. Touch Down at the Sanctuary

Before we talk about the bunkers and the greens, we have to talk about the fence. Wairakei is home to a two-metre-high, five-kilometre-long "Xcluder" predator-proof fence. This boundary has transformed the course into a literal sanctuary for New Zealand’s most endangered birdlife.

As you descend toward the course, you’ll see the 18 holes carved into 450 acres of native bush. Once on the ground, the silence of the game is only broken by the song of the Tui, the Bellbird, and the Kereru. It is one of the few places in the world where you might spot a North Island Brown Kiwi or the prehistoric-looking Takahē while lining up a putt.

3. Play the Course

Once you land, all that’s left is to enjoy the green. Ranked consistently as one of the finest courses in New Zealand, Wairakei Golf Course was designed by a powerhouse trio: Commander John Harris, Michael Wolveridge, and five-time British Open winner Peter Thomson.

The course itself is championship-level, so it demands a certain amount of precision from you. That said, the sanctuary surroundings and the pristine turf take the pressure all the way down. It’s just you, your club, and the towering pines separating you from the hustle of the rest of the world.

How to Tailor Your Wairakei Golf Package

While our baseline Wairakei Golf & Sanctuary Helicopter Tour includes everything you need to have a great day on the green, you can work with us to create a bespoke package. After all, we design this experience to be as flexible as your schedule requires, including any potential add-ons you may need.

When it comes to the standard package, you’re paying for the flight, your expert pilot, and room for your gear. But to allow for maximum flexibility, your green fees and equipment rentals will need to be arranged separately. This way, you can choose exactly how long you’d like to spend on that elusive 19th hole.

That said, if you would like assistance planning or preparing for your charter, we can help. We can accommodate parties of various sizes thanks to our array of helicopter models, and our extensive connections in the luxury tourism industry allow us to help you make your dream charter flight to this sanctuary a reality.

There you have it! An in-depth look at the Wairakei Golf & Sanctuary Helicopter Tour. It’s rare to find a luxurious experience that also directly supports conservation, but at Wairakei, the two are inextricably linked. The sanctuary is a vital fixture in New Zealand’s conservation scene, and by visiting via helicopter on your own or with your team, you are supporting a hugely important facility.

Take to the skies for your Wairakei Golf & Sanctuary Helicopter Tour.

We are Helicopter Me, a luxury helicopter charter company providing stunning flights across Auckland (and beyond). Lean into an individual experience, or arrange a corporate charter to celebrate a milestone with your team. Our experienced concierge team and expert pilots will help you to arrange it all.

Reach out to book your Wairakei Golf charter and tour today.