Te Arai Links

The place

An hour's drive from Auckland, Te Arai Links stretches along a secluded coastline of forest and sand dune. Studio John Irving Architects kept the buildings sleek and low-slung, settled into the landscape rather than on top of it.

Rooms, cottages, villas, and private homes carry interiors by Jenni Kayne — soothing earthy tones, minimal furnishing, a luxurious bathroom, a private deck open to the view.

Golf is the reason most arrive: two courses, The South and The North. Between rounds there is a spa, a hydrotherapy garden, a fitness centre, sports courts, and a handful of places to eat and drink.