Report from NZ

The week in NZ went very quickly. We departed Coolangatta on Friday morning and had a good flight across the Coral Sea with Freedom Air. Picked up our car at the airport, a 1994 Mazda. We drove to Lake Taupo arriving after dark. Found our resort and settled in for the night. The next day was warm but a lot cooler than Australia, 23 degrees. We had a great view of the lake and the snow capped volcano at the south end. Since it was the weekend we could not do any business until Monday when the golf manager and real estate agents were back to work. We spent the weekend enjoying the area. We found it to be very much like the interior of BC. The golf course could have been in Vancouver as it had pines, spruce and ceder along the fairways.

Taupo is a very attractive town with everything you need. You can golf, fish, hike, swim, shop and explore the area. There is a lot of thermal activity in this location. We visited the Creaters of the Moon, the falls and canyon. There are two courses in town. The Taupo course which has two 18 hole courses with one having a slope of 120 and the other 108. These are the courses we are using for next year with unlimited golf for our clients. The course is the world famous Waiarki course, rated number 25 outside of USA. We have rates of $75 here which is discount from the $135 normal rate. There is one more course at the south end of the lake about 30 minutes away. The course looked fine and our fees will be $20.

Within two hours there is plenty to see and do. You can go to the wonderful town of Napier and explore the vineyards, golf its 4 courses or if you can afford it you can pay the $400 green fee on Kidnapper Cove. Rotatura is only 45 minutes away with all the native culture and hot springs and thermal activity. It also has 4 courses.

The sea is 1.5 hrs away at Mt Manganui. There are about 6 courses along the coast.

On Monday meet with the real estate lady and located a number of very nice homes for our golfers to stay at. They do not have the condos that the Gold Coast has. Each place here is a home that if fully furnished with everything you need. Some have great views while others are very close to town. I think the golfers will like this type of accommodation.

With the car, accommodation, golf and air all in place we are now offering NZ for one month or more. We will also offer a combination of both countries. The cost for unlimited golf in NZ with 4 sharing is $3299 and $3799 for two. The combination package is $5599 and up for two months of golf.