Frequently asked questions

• Custom Made Trips - We will dial into your travel preferences and design each trip specifically to your desires. We don't do pre-packaged tours.
• Accountability - You will work directly with one of the owners. We travel to the USA at least 3 times a year and will try to catch up in person if we can. If we cannot meet, we will set up a video call to understand how to create your ultimate experience.
• Excellence - We are committed to excellence.
• Experience - We have an intimate knowledge of golf in New Zealand and the logistics required to ensure a seamless and thoroughly enjoyable trip.
• Access - We have access to all the best courses, lodges, hotels, transport options and culinary experiences.
• Professionalism - Chris and Steve have an attention to detail and have fine-tuned our service to ensure it's top-notch.
• We Care - The finer details matter. We listen and then we create a bespoke trip so that you get maximum enjoyment from your New Zealand experience. We add the small touches before or after golf that make a difference.
• 24/7 Access to Chris or Steve - We are available night and day. We know when to give you space and know when to help.
• Premium Experience - Everest Golf provides unparalleled golf experiences and facilitates the best of the best in terms of golf courses, hotels, lodges, transport and excursions.
• Safe and Easy - New Zealand is a safe and easy place to travel around. English is the primary language, food is similar to in the USA, and while we drive on the other side of the road, we can do that - so you can sit back, relax and take in the scenery. Your biggest risk is taking a selfie!

New Zealand is consistently ranked as one of the safest countries in the world for international visitors. Visitors are often surprised by how relaxed and safe New Zealand feels. Violent crime against tourists is very uncommon, and visitors generally feel comfortable exploring cities, small towns, and rural areas. In saying that, common sense should always prevail to ensure that you don't leave valuables lying around in plain sight.

To quantify how safe New Zealand is, the Global Peace Index (GPI) annually published by the Institute for Economics & Peace (IEP) ranks 163 countries using 23 indicators across three broad categories:

• Safety and security
• Ongoing domestic and international conflict
• Militarisation

According to the 2026 Global Peace Index, New Zealand is the 2nd safest country behind Iceland in #1 position and ahead of Switzerland in 3rd.

You may be familiar with the music group Crowded House. They had a song called 'Four Seasons in One Day'. That aptly describes the weather in New Zealand! New Zealand has a temperate climate with sharp regional contrasts and a lot of micro climates. Golf is played year round, but we recommend avoiding the winter months of late May to September from a golfing perspective. New Zealand's summer months are the exact opposite to the USA with the most settled weather in December to the end of March. Shoulder seasons are in October and November and April and early May.

Typically in December to March you will be in shorts and shirts, with typical temps in the 70's and 80's. However, we recommend you have a jacket close by just in case.

New Zealand has daylight savings times in the summer months and in January in Queenstown it is light until 10 pm and Auckland until around 9 pm.

The sun in New Zealand can be very strong with a high UV. It is highly recommended that you wear sun protection (sunscreen and hat) to prevent sunburn.

When visiting New Zealand as a tourist for a stay of less than three months it is unlikely that you will need a Visa. Passport holders from the USA have a Visa waiver agreement with New Zealand.

Most international visitors to New Zealand will require a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA). This can be obtained online or via the relevant app (which is slightly cheaper) and a small fee is charged.

For full details and to apply, visit Immigration New Zealand's official NZeTA page.

We strongly recommend taking out travel insurance when booking your holiday. It should cover lost baggage, flight delays, medical coverage, injury, etc.

The annual New Zealand Summer Holidays are between 25 December and 6 January. This period is significantly busier with accommodation and golf courses more highly patronised by locals during those times. If possible, you should avoid these dates.

No! New Zealand is an island that fortunately does not have any snakes or poisonous insects to worry about. You can look for your golf ball in the rough knowing that there is nothing that will hurt you. Our biosecurity teams do a fantastic job ensuring such animals do not enter New Zealand. You have more chance of danger taking a selfie than from New Zealand's wildlife!

Tipping in New Zealand is not customary. However, for exceptional service a tip is always appreciated.

All our tours are fully escorted - so you don't need to drive in New Zealand. You can sit back and relax while Chris and Steve do all the driving. It also depends how you would like to travel, some will prefer helicopters while others are happy in luxury vehicles.

Yes, we recommend you do. You also need to make sure your golf shoes are cleaned before you fly to New Zealand. The country has strict biosecurity controls and New Zealand Customs will inspect the soles of your shoes when you arrive into New Zealand, checking for dirt and grass brought in from the USA.

The New Zealand Dollar (NZD) is our national currency. You can exchange USD for NZD at banks, airports, and many hotels around New Zealand. We recommend that you do not exchange cash as the rates offered at hotels and some banks are extremely unfavourable. We suggest using your credit cards which will be accepted at all venues we take you to. If you require cash, as long as you have a pin number (PIN) on your credit card, then you can withdraw cash at ATM's situated in all towns around the country.

In New Zealand the electricity voltage is 230/240 volts and uses a 2 or 3 pin plug. A cheap power converter or adapter will be required for any USA power plug. These are inexpensive and if you forget one, we will have a spare you can borrow for the trip.

Yes. We often fill up our water bottles from tap water to take with us onto the course.

With the rare exception, all of our clubs offer a no play, no pay policy so you'll be refunded for tee bookings that you cannot meet.

The Hills Golf Course is currently closed for renovations that are expected to take 18 to 24 months. These began in April 2026 so reopening is a few months away.

In simple terms flying around New Zealand is relatively easy. Some of our customers will fly by helicopter and private jet and others will use the national carrier, Air New Zealand who are part of the Star Alliance (the same as United Airlines). Check-in for domestic flights in New Zealand and bag drop closes 30 minutes prior to your flight departure but we recommend allowing at least an hour prior to your departure time. There are not always direct flights between regional airports so you may have to transit via one of the city airports. The airports around New Zealand tend to be smaller than in the USA and more like a Burbank or John Wayne than LAX.

Once you have made contact, Chris or Steve will touch base to work through your wish list and help produce an itinerary specifically for you and your group. To plan your trip we will ask about how much golf you would like to play, what accommodation level you would like and how you would like to move around the country. We can either do that via a phone or video call. If Chris or Steve are in the USA, we will try and meet with you to work through this in person, maybe over a New Zealand wine. After that, we will prepare a detailed daily draft itinerary for you to review, that can be tweaked as necessary to become your final itinerary.

Once the itinerary has been finalised we will outline the final cost so you can arrange to pay the deposit. Closer to the trip, we will get back in touch and invoice you for the balance. This can be paid by wire transfer or by major credit card.

Most guests travel to New Zealand between November and April in the warmer summer months. The typical temps will be in the mid 60's to 80's. Many courses are on the coast and while it should be warm, New Zealand is an island and the weather can change quickly, so it's important to bring a sweater and windbreaker type golf jacket and a lightweight jacket for the evenings.

All of the courses are like typical American Private Courses where smart-casual golf attire is expected. In January to March you should be comfortable in shorts, but it would pay to bring at least one pair of long pants just in case.

If you have any specific questions, please don't hesitate to touch base and we can assist you.

Given the time and distance involved in travelling to New Zealand, we always recommend staying a little longer if your schedule allows. While we can design exceptional golf itineraries in as little as 7-10 days, most of our guests choose to spend 12-14 days exploring the country.

This allows you to experience more of New Zealand's world-class golf courses, luxury lodges, spectacular scenery, and renowned food and wine without feeling rushed.

Ultimately, every itinerary is tailored to your schedule. Whether you have one week or three, we'll create a seamless journey that makes the most of your time in New Zealand.

Of course! In all the locations there is so much to see and do for the non-golfer. Let us know and we can draw up a few suggestions at each location to ensure they have a memorable trip.