Video:
Green
Fees:
10
10
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Ngawi Hitaround Links
Auckland Tāmaki-makau-rau
In short: Ngawi Hitaround is a brief, breezy, beautifully off‑the‑grid golf experience paired with one of the country’s most dramatic coastlines.
Ngawi Hitaround Golf Links is a rugged nine‑hole beachfront course, perched at the southern tip of the North Island in the tiny fishing settlement of Ngawi. It stakes the claim as the southernmost golf course on the North Island, with its quirky square greens carved directly into dunes and beachside grasses. You don't need bookings—just show up and tee off. The course is unpretentious and fun, with uneven terrain and hearty coastal winds in a distinctly wild‑New Zealand setting.
Ngawi itself is famous for its fleet of vintage bulldozers—still used today to pull fishing boats ashore thanks to the absence of a proper wharf on its rugged coastline. Just a short walk away sits the Cape Palliser Lighthouse. Built in 1897 and accessible via a steep climb of over 200 steps, it rewards visitors with sweeping views across Palliser Bay overlooking the roaring Pacific. Here, you’ll often spot a lively fur seal colony basking on rocky reefs below.
For a post‑round adventure, the stunning Putangirua Pinnacles are a must. These tall, ethereal rock spires were formed through centuries of erosion and rise out of the landscape like something from a fantasy film. A morning walk through the cuttings delivers surreal light plays and dramatic scenery—plus it’s a great leg‑stretch after 9-holes of golf.
Why should you play here? Beyond the novelty of seaside dunes golf and no booking hassles, this is a true escape into raw coastal beauty. It’s a great add‑on to a Wairarapa weekend trip—mixing the peaceful rhythms of vineyards, seaside village charm, a lighthouse climb, seal‑spotting, and rugged hiking. All within easy reach of popular centres like Martinborough and Featherston. It’s a refreshing and soulful golf outing you won’t forget.
It’s a superb side‑trip playground after a round, offering a languid contrast between golf, nature, and small‑town New Zealand culture.
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Yes Life Review
Ngawi Hitaround Links
5.13
/ 10
Condition
The greens are guarded from sheep and bulldozers by wire, which helps to keep them in good conditionm the fariways are mown and the rough provides a great challenge. The golf course is good, it's fun to play and the information is kept up-to-date. An enjoyable golf course.
Challenge
There are some good elevation challenges, as well as very thick rough if you hit into the wrong areas, making it an interesting challenge. The greens are exciting, as you can see in our video, and so offer an interesting focal point for the course and your round. If you can emulate our last putt, send us a video!
Facilities
Due to its location there is not much here at Ngawi Hitaround, but there is a notice board with all the information you'll need, a toilet (don't expect much), and a decent 9-hole course. If the views and experience were part of the facilities, it would have scored much higher. To be honest, you don't really need much more than is here for a nice round of golf.
Value for Money
$10 to play this golf course in the beautiful surroundings of Cape Palliser? Bargain. It's a fun few hours and absolutely worth stopping for the fresh air and views on the way to, or from, the lighthouse and seal colony. Fun!