Overview
Arikikapakapa is the home of Rotorua Golf, an 18-hole all-weather links-style course in Whakarewarewa that the club says has been voted among the top 25 in New Zealand. Its name means the gentle sound of plopping mud, and active thermal areas run through the course, with bubbling mud pools and steam vents to avoid, especially left of the 9th green, and a sulphur mound to the right of it.
The course plays to 5,799 metres off the blue tees at par 70, with two par 3s and one par 5 on each nine. The club publishes a New Zealand course rating of 7 and a slope of 120, and four tees on every hole. Holes 3, 4 and 5 cross a warm-water stream, the bunkerless 5th is described as the most feared hole, and the par-3 9th has featured on a New Zealand postage stamp. Holes 14, 15 and 16 run across or beside a lake and are known locally as Amen Corner.
Visitors pay $75 for 18 holes if affiliated to a golf club or $85 if not, $110 for international visitors and $60 for Rotorua residents. Nine holes cost $40, $50, $60 and $35 on the same basis, juniors pay $25 or $15, and cart hire is $50 for 18 holes. The Kanuka Cafe holds a collection of golf clubs that the club calls one of the finest in the Southern Hemisphere, including two clubs dating from 1836.
The course is less than a three-hour drive from Auckland and 9 km from Rotorua Airport, next to the Whakarewarewa Thermal Reserve and Te Puia.
Tees & scorecard
| Tee | Metres | Par | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | 5,799 | 70 | 7 | 120 |
The club publishes 5,799 metres off the blue tees at par 70, a New Zealand course rating of 7 and slope 120.
Source: official scorecard
Green fees & prices
- 18 holes, affiliated golfer$75
- 18 holes, non-affiliated golfer$85
- 18 holes, international visitor$110
- 18 holes, Rotorua resident (primary residence only)$60
- 9 holes, affiliated golfer$40
- 9 holes, non-affiliated golfer$50
- 9 holes, international visitor$60
- 9 holes, Rotorua resident$35
- Junior, 18 holes$25
- Junior, 9 holes$15
- Cart hire, 18 holes$50
- Cart hire, 9 holes$35
- Trundler (pull cart)$5
- Regular club hire$35
Prices checked 4 November 2026 on the official website. Prices may change; confirm with the course before you book.
Facilities
Good to know
Casual players and visitors are welcome seven days a week. The club lists a lower rate for BOP Passport holders and members of Springfield and Lakeview, and a rate for Rotorua residents playing from their primary residence.
Tee bookings are taken online through the club's booking page or by phone on +64 7 348 4051, pressing 1. Group bookings and packages are offered for 8 or more players.
Kanuka Cafe serves cabinet food, daily specials and coffee, with a veranda over the 18th green. The Pukaki Lounge and Bar hosts functions for up to 120 guests.
The Greenkeepers Cottage has three bedrooms, sleeps six and looks down the third fairway, from $200 per night for two people.
A fully stocked shop offering clubs, apparel, GPS and rangefinders, repairs and regripping, and hire of clubs, carts and trundlers.
History & highlights
Rotorua Golf Club was established in 1906, and the course on the Arikikapakapa Reserve dates from 1912, when the club finally settled there after three earlier homes.
Initially only nine holes were open, and a second nine opened in 1918; the present clubhouse was built in 1930.
The course was later remodelled by Charles Redhead, a golf course architect whose work influenced New Zealand courses and who served three terms as club president.
The club celebrated its centenary in 2006, and the club lists visits by Gene Sarazen in 1934 and Bobby Locke among its guests.
Mud pools, steam vents and a thermal crater beside the 14th.
A par 3 that has appeared on a New Zealand postage stamp.
A 5,799-metre blue-tee layout with tees for every standard.
The Greenkeepers Cottage overlooks the 3rd fairway.
Tips for first-timers
- Keep clear of the mud pools and steam vents, and do not descend into the thermal crater by the 14th.
- Accuracy matters more than length on most holes.
- Bring ID if you claim a Rotorua resident rate: it applies to a primary residence only.
- Book a tee time ahead of your visit.
Map & location
Arikikapakapa, 399 Fenton Street, Whakarewarewa, Rotorua, New Zealand.
The club is about 3 km south of Rotorua and 9 km from Rotorua Airport; head south on Fenton Street and the entrance is on the right, with a large car park.
FAQ
How much is a green fee at Arikikapakapa?
On the club's fees page an affiliated golfer pays $75 for 18 holes and a non-affiliated golfer $85, with $110 for international visitors and $60 for Rotorua residents. Nine holes cost $40, $50, $60 and $35 respectively.
How long is the course and what is par?
It stretches to 5,799 metres off the blue tees and plays to par 70, with a rating of 7 and a slope of 120.
Why is it called a geothermal course?
Active thermal areas run through the layout, with bubbling mud pools, steam vents, a sulphur mound and a geothermal crater beside the 14th.
Can I stay at the course?
Yes. The Greenkeepers Cottage sleeps six, with rates from $200 per night for two people.
How do I book a tee time?
Book online through the club's booking page or call +64 7 348 4051 and press 1.
Sources
Facts checked 4 November 2026. We only list details we could confirm on the sources above; anything else is left out.