The best places to play golf in Australia this summer.
Sun, sand, sea breezes and perfectly manicured greens – Australia’s summer is a siren call for women golfers who want more than just a round. Whether you crave dramatic coastal links, sheltered parkland layouts, luxe resort facilities or even outback novelty, the summer months gift long days and endless playing opportunities. Here’s a stylish, practical guide to the best golf travel destinations for women this summer in Australia, plus two outstanding trips across the Tasman to round out a memorable golf getaway.
Moonah Links Mornington Peninsula, Victoria
Why go: Two courses that feel like coastal masterpieces, only an hour from Melbourne.
What to expect: Moonah Links sits on windswept dunes and beside native vegetation, offering two contrasting 18s that call for thoughtfulness off the tee and precision into the greens. The setting is pure coastal: gorse, native ti-tree, and long seaside vistas. For women who love variety, one layout rewards aggressive shot-making (the Open course) while the other offers strategic risk-reward holes where placement matters more than power (the Legends).
Off-course: The Mornington Peninsula is built for leisurely post-round rituals – vineyards, spas, seaside villages and delicious local produce. Moonah’s location makes it ideal for a girls’ weekend combining golf, wine and wellness – especially if you base yourself at the swish Peppers Moonah Links Resort.
Tips: Book early-morning tee-times to catch gentler, wind-free conditions and bring layers – coastal weather changes fast. Check with the pro shop on the availability for hire clubs if you’re not bringing your own and look for ladies’ clinics or group packages that often run in summer.
Woodlands Golf Club Melbourne
Why go: A classic Sandbelt gem for players who thrive on thrilling shot-making and tackling smaller, sculpted greens.
What to expect: Woodlands is a course that rewards imagination. Treelined fairways, demanding short-game shots around well-bunkered greens and subtly contoured lies create a thought-provoking test. It’s an environment where accuracy trumps length and where players who enjoy precision and variety will relish every hole.
Off-course: Woodlands is close to Melbourne’s CBD yet owns a peaceful, semi-rural feel. It’s a great single-game destination if you want to combine city nights with country golf days.
Tips: Woodlands values etiquette and traditional golf standards. Phone ahead for visitor access and tee-time windows. Pack a yardage book and practise your short game before the visit – those greens bite.
Port Fairy Golf Links Shipwreck Coast, Victoria
Why go: Old-school seaside charm and a rugged coastal links that feels gloriously remote.
What to expect: Port Fairy is the kind of classic seaside course where the wind and the elements are as much a playing partner as your actual playing companions. Expect wide fairways framed by native grasses, some elevated tees with ocean views and a handful of iconic holes that reward bravery. The course suits players who enjoy the links-style experience – ground play, creative shots and a little unpredictability.
Off-course: The town of Port Fairy is a boutique delight – historic cottages, artisan cafés and galleries, plus friendly locals. This is a perfect destination for women who enjoy finishing a round with local seafood and a stroll along a quiet bay.
Tips: Coastal winds make club selection tricky; pick tee-times based on the forecast and settle in for the kind of golf where recovery shots are part of the fun.
Mollymook Golf Club South Coast, NSW
Why go: An undulating test, wide views and a convivial club atmosphere – tennis, beaches and boutique dining are close by.
What to expect: Perched near expansive beaches, Mollymook’s Hilltop course offers fairways that roll with the steep terrain and others sheltered by native bush. The course is walkable and social, ideal for groups where conversation is as valued as score. Canted fairways and accessible greens make it fun for players of varying abilities. Meanwhile, the club’s renovated Beachside course is a short-but-fun challenge that acts as the ultimate complement to the more testing Hilltop layout.
Off-course: Mollymook’s nearby hotels, beachside cafés and the famous coastal dining scene (including world-class seafood) make this a well-rounded getaway. Yoga mornings, spa appointments and surf lessons are easy add-ons.
Tips: Summer is busy, so book tee-times and dinner reservations ahead. Many local pro shops offer group lessons and women’s clinics – great for building confidence before a holiday round.
Rich River Golf Club Murray River
Why go: Resort-style convenience beside the Murray River, which is perfect for relaxed group getaways.
What to expect: Rich River blends a pair of well-maintained championship courses with easy resort access. The twin 18s sit on attractive parkland and are forgiving layouts that encourages enjoyable play rather than relentless pressure. It’s ideal for multi-generational trips where golf sits alongside river cruises and vineyard visits. Alongside the two pristine courses, enjoy first-class facilities including The Range (a 16-bay undercover driving range), a state-of-the-art golf simulator and multiple putting greens to sharpen your short game.
Off-course: The resort’s accommodation options, pools and dining spaces are geared towards groups. A 63-room motel sits adjacent to the clubhouse, set among beautifully manicured gardens and features an outdoor pool and spa. Looking ahead to 2026, Rich River will open “Reflections”, a new 4-star accommodation experience. Combine golf with paddle-steamer trips, boutique wineries in the region and historic township exploration.
Tips: Rich River specialises in group packages and social golf events. Ask about ladies’ twilight tee-times and combined spa-and-golf offers in summer to make a long day feel luxurious.
Port Stephens region, New South Wales
Why go: Top-tier golf paired with dolphins, sand dunes and coastal luxury. It’s a top pick for an all-encompassing summer escape.
What to expect: Pacific Dunes Golf Club’s twin settings of woodlands and lakeside nines delivers a pure and dynamic experience golf. It’s bold, dramatic and often influenced by ocean breezes, making it a thrilling test for daring players. Adding rounds at
nearby Horizons and Nelson Bay golf clubs makes for a complete three-day golf escape.
Off-course: Port Stephens is an activities playground. Dolphin-watching cruises, stand-up paddleboarding, long sandy beaches, sandboarding on the dunes and elegant waterfront dining make this an ideal multi-activity base.
Tips: Combine a round of golf with a spa day and a dolphin cruise. Book tee-times in advance in summer and plan for early starts to beat the heat and afternoon winds. There are excellent local instructors and clinics tailored to women who want to sharpen their game.
Noosa Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Why go: Beautiful golf courses amid all the attractions of Noosa – beaches, boutique shopping and relaxation.
What to expect: Noosa Springs is a polished, treelined resort course with generous practice facilities and an architectural style that rewards strategy over length. It’s accessible and welcoming, suitable for social rounds and serious play alike. Nearby Noosa Golf Club is a little more low-key in terms of flamboyance, but nevertheless oozes charm in a setting that’s replete with mobs of kangaroos and native flora. The two contrasting courses make for a perfect double during a stay in the glamorous beachside locale.
Off-course: Noosa is famously a magnet for relaxation and active recreation: boutique shops on Hastings St, coastal walks through Noosa National Park, beachfront yoga and world-class dining make this a superb partner to time spent on the course. Resorts in the area offer spa and wellness programs that are perfect for women travelling together.
Tips: Noosa is family friendly and ideal for combining golf with non-golf activities. Check for ladies’ clinics or twilight packages and consider staying within walking distance of the beach to mix ocean swims with your rounds.
Mount Isa Golf Club Outback Queensland
Why go: For golfers who want an unforgettable outback twist – red dust, hospitality and a very different kind of memory.
What to expect: Mount Isa’s course is a reminder that the pleasure of golf can be found anywhere. Wide fairways, sturdy greens and a friendly local membership make for a social, relaxed round. The town’s mining heritage and authentic outback culture offer experiences you won’t find in coastal resorts.
Off-course: Outback tours, a mining museum, indigenous cultural experiences and local cuisine make for compelling off-course days. If you’re seeking a less conventional summer break, Mount Isa combines novelty with genuine warmth.
Tips: Summers in the outback can be extreme. If you choose Mount Isa this summer, schedule tee-times at first light or in the late afternoon, hydrate, wear sun-protective clothing and check local weather alerts. Consider combining the trip with nearby attractions to build a full outback itinerary.
Glenelg Golf Club Adelaide
Why go: All of South Australia buzzes during summer when LIV Golf Adelaide provides the fulcrum for the sport. It might be a men’s tournament, but it definitely holds plenty of appeal for all spectators – females, males and kids. Glenelg Golf Club, just a few kilometres away from The Grange Golf Club where LIV is held, is in the final stages of an impressive course renovation that
will have it on everyone’s must-play
list in 2026.
What to expect: The Glenelg layout occupies a compact parcel of land, which asked the course designers to use all their grey matter to weave 18 holes into the site that sits opposite Adelaide Airport. Most striking are the revetted-face bunkers, towering pines, chains of ponds and sandy waste areas.
Off-course: Known as being one of the friendliest clubs in Adelaide, Glenelg also offers ample places to relax after a round, including an arcing verandah that overlooks the 18th hole and an impressive selection of food and beverage options.
Tips: Here’s one course so full of strategy and nuance that you might want to consider playing it twice.
CROSS THE TASMAN
If your summer break can stretch into New Zealand, our neighbour offers two very different but equally enticing experiences: the raw coastal links of Te Arai up north and the alpine panoramas of Queenstown’s golf scene in the south.
Te Arai Links Auckland region
Why go: A true links experience without crossing continents – wild dunes, ocean exposure and firmer coastal conditions.
What to expect: Te Arai embraces its natural dunescape like a bear hug; so expect firm fairways, undulating surfaces and holes that reward ground shots, imagination and tolerance for the wind. It’s the type of place that gives you a memorable photo opportunity on nearly every hole – perfect for a women’s golf trip that doubles as a scenic tour.
Off-course: The area is blessed with beautiful beaches, boutique coastal towns and relaxed cafés that complement a day on the links. Staying in the on-site lodging opens the door to Te Arai’s best golf packages and gives you access to both the North and South courses.
Tips: Links golf is different to parkland golf. Call upon bump-and-run shots and play the ball a little further back in your stance for lower, more controlled flights if it’s windy. Te Arai is a bucket-list stop for firm-ground players and photo-hungry travellers alike.
Queenstown, South Island
Why go: Alpine backdrops, lake vistas and a variety of courses, from high-end private layouts to relaxed lakeside clubs.
What to expect: The Queenstown region is a golf-lover’s dream for scenery. Standout courses include:
• Jack’s Point: Dramatic mountain and lake panoramas, expansive fairways and strategic holes that feel as much a landscape experience as a golf test.
• The Hills: An exclusive, impeccably presented course set among manicured parkland and terraced fairways – it’s a luxury golf day complete with high-end clubhouse facilities.
• Millbrook Resort: A resort-style offering with excellent practice complexes, comfortable lodges and a welcoming atmosphere. The two courses are ideal for mixed-ability groups and women who want to combine pampering with play.
• Queenstown Golf Club: Occupies the prime piece of real estate in the whole town, sitting right on the tip of the peninsula in stunning Lake Wakatipu. Recent sensible tree removal has improved the condition of the turf thanks to the additional sunlight and amplified the views.
• Arrowtown Golf Club: Rocky outcrops across the course remove the need for bunkers in this quaint and quirky but must-play layout.
Off-course: Queenstown is the adventure capital – hiking, wine tours in Gibbston Valley, lake cruises and spas are all on offer. For many women travellers, the blend of world-class golf and non-golf adventure is the perfect recipe for making memories.
Tips: Queenstown’s weather can change quickly; pack layers and plan tee-times around the forecasts. Book tee-times and accommodations early in the peak golf season to secure the best slots and the most convenient packages.
This summer, think beyond the typical lap of 18 holes. Choose courses that offer adaptability – women’s tee options, lessons and social golf formats – and consider the non-golf experiences that make a trip special: excellent dining, spa treatments, cultural outings and activities that appeal to every member of your group. From the dune poetry of Port Fairy and Te Arai Links to the refined challenge of Woodlands and the friendly hospitality of Rich River, Australia and New Zealand offer an extraordinary line-up of summer golf escapes that suit every taste.
Book smartly (summer fills fast), pack for sun and changing coastal weather, and don’t forget to schedule time to simply sit and enjoy the view after the 18th. Golf is the excuse; the destination is the reward.
Putting it all together: Sample seven-to-10-day itineraries
Coastal Indulgence (NSW): Three nights in Port Stephens with rounds at Pacific Dunes, Horizons and Nelson Bay plus a relaxed day at nearby sheltered courses; dolphin cruise and spa day; ferry to nearby islands or a sandboarding session.
Peninsula & Wine (Victoria): Base yourself on the Mornington Peninsula for two nights, play both courses at Moonah Links, then drive to Woodlands. For a longer trip, add a coastal escape to Port Fairy. Evenings are for cellar-door dinners and coastal walks.
Sunshine Coast Balance (Queensland): Stay in Noosa for five nights, play multiple rounds across Noosa Springs and Noosa Golf Club, take yoga classes, enjoy boutique shopping and a wellness day at the spa.
Tasman Twin-Course (New Zealand): Fly to Auckland and play Te Arai Links; hop down to Queenstown for a contrasting alpine golf experience with Jack’s Point, Queenstown, Arrowtown and Millbrook – perfect for golfers who love variety.
