Australia Golf Tours:
The Ultimate Guide

Australia may be known for its beaches, outback, and wildlife — but for those who travel with a set of clubs, the country offers some of the most spectacular golfing experiences on the planet. With over 1,500 courses spread across dramatically varied landscapes, an Australian golf tour is a pilgrimage every serious golfer should undertake at least once.

Whether you're dreaming of links-style layouts carved along windswept coastlines, pristine parkland courses nestled in lush hinterland, or the hallowed Sandbelt tracks of Melbourne that consistently rank among the world's best, Australia delivers an embarrassment of riches. Add in year-round playable weather, genuinely welcoming club cultures, and the chance to pair your rounds with world-class wine regions, wildlife encounters, and cosmopolitan cities — and you have the ingredients for a golfing holiday unlike any other.

Why Choose Australia for a Golf Tour?

The appeal of Australian golf extends well beyond the fairways. The country's geographic diversity means you can tee off amid ancient sand dunes in Tasmania on Monday, play a championship course overlooking Sydney Harbour on Wednesday, and finish the week on a tropical resort layout in Queensland. Very few countries in the world offer this breadth of golfing terrain within a single trip.

Australian courses are also remarkably accessible. Unlike many top-tier destinations in the UK or the United States, even the country's most prestigious private clubs regularly welcome international visitors — especially those booking through established golf tour operators. Green fees, while not inexpensive, tend to be significantly more reasonable than comparable courses overseas, and the quality of conditioning is world-class.

Then there's the climate. With the golfing heartlands of Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania enjoying temperate conditions from October through April, and Queensland and Western Australia offering warm, dry weather virtually year-round, timing your visit is rarely a concern.

Australia's Premier Golf Regions

The Melbourne Sandbelt

No Australian golf tour is complete without a visit to Melbourne's fabled Sandbelt — a remarkable concentration of world-ranked courses built on a belt of sandy subsoil stretching southeast of the city. Royal Melbourne, Kingston Heath, Victoria, Metropolitan, and Yarra Yarra are all located within minutes of each other, offering an unrivalled density of strategic, beautifully presented golf. Royal Melbourne's composite course has hosted Presidents Cups and World Cups of Golf, and is perpetually ranked among the top ten courses on earth.

Tasmania's Wild Coastline

Tasmania has emerged as one of the most exciting golf destinations in the Southern Hemisphere. Barnbougle Dunes and its sibling course Lost Farm, perched on the island's northeast coast, draw comparisons to the great links of Scotland and Ireland. The raw, dune-framed landscapes, bracing ocean winds, and impeccable design by Tom Doak and Bill Coore respectively have made Barnbougle a bucket-list destination for travelling golfers worldwide. Cape Wickham on King Island, sitting dramatically at the edge of Bass Strait, adds yet another jewel to the Tasmanian golfing crown.

New South Wales Coast

The coastline stretching north and south of Sydney is home to some of Australia's most visually arresting courses. New South Wales Golf Club at La Perouse — with holes perched above crashing Pacific surf — is often cited as one of the most dramatically situated courses anywhere. The Royal Sydney and The Australian round out a powerful triumvirate in the harbour city, while the Hunter Valley and Southern Highlands offer excellent resort-style golf paired with acclaimed wine regions.

Western Australia & Queensland

For golfers seeking warmer conditions and fewer crowds, Western Australia's Joondalup and The Cut near Mandurah offer superb links-inspired experiences. In Queensland, the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast hinterland host resort courses surrounded by subtropical rainforest, while further north, tropical layouts in Port Douglas and Hamilton Island combine golf with reef-and-rainforest holiday experiences.

Planning Your Australian Golf Tour

Best Time to Visit

The Australian golf season peaks from October through April, coinciding with the country's spring and summer. For the Sandbelt and Tasmania, the sweet spot is November through March when days are long and conditions firm. Queensland and Western Australia play beautifully year-round, though the dry season (April to October) is ideal for tropical destinations further north. Many touring golfers plan trips around the Australian Open or other professional events for an added dimension to their itinerary.

Tour Operators & Booking

Several specialist golf tour operators in Australia offer curated itineraries that handle tee-time bookings, luxury accommodation, ground transport, and dining reservations. Working with an experienced operator is particularly valuable for accessing private clubs on the Sandbelt, where visitor bookings are managed through established relationships. Companies like Golf Australia Tours, Sandbelt Golf Tours, and Great Golf Australia are among the most reputable, with multi-day packages covering all the major regions.

What to Expect Cost-Wise

A premium Australian golf tour — covering flights between regions, four- or five-star accommodation, and green fees at top-ranked courses — typically ranges from AUD $4,000 to $8,000 per person for a seven-to-ten-day itinerary. Self-guided golfers can trim costs significantly by driving between courses and choosing boutique lodges or well-located Airbnb properties. Green fees at the top public-access courses generally run between AUD $100 and $350 per round, with private club visitor fees sometimes higher.