Huapai Golf Club is an 18-hole parkland course at Riverhead in north-west Auckland, laid out in the late 1930s on the edge of the upper Waitematā Harbour. This guide sets out the practical details a visitor or prospective member needs: where the club is, how the course plays, the current green fees and membership costs, the practice and clubhouse facilities, and how it compares with other courses in the area. Every price and figure below was checked against the club’s own website in September 2026; because clubs adjust their fees from time to time, confirm the latest rates with the pro shop before you travel.
Course Snapshot
- Location: 1261 Coatesville-Riverhead Highway, Riverhead, Auckland 0892
- Type: 18-hole semi-private parkland course, open to visitors and members
- Par / length: Par 70 (35 out, 35 in), close to 6,000 m from the back tees
- Established: Late 1930s, designed by Dr Merv Harris
- Course character: Narrow, tree-lined fairways with water in play around holes 4, 6, 18 and between 12 and 13
- Facilities: Lounge bar and function room, café, golf shop, practice areas, carts and trundlers for hire
- Getting there: About 5 minutes from the North-Western Motorway and 20 minutes from Auckland CBD
- Contact: Pro shop (09) 412 8809 — confirm current fees and tee times when booking
Where Huapai Golf Club is and how to get there
The club sits at 1261 Coatesville-Riverhead Highway, Riverhead, Auckland 0892, on the fringe of the upper Waitematā Harbour near the RNZAF base at Whenuapai. The course is surrounded by farmland, which gives it the quiet, rural feel of a country club rather than an inner-city layout. The pro shop can be reached on (09) 412 8809.
Access is easier than the semi-rural setting suggests. The club states it is about five minutes from the North-Western Motorway, roughly ten minutes from Albany, and around 20 minutes from Auckland’s CBD in normal traffic. That places it within comfortable reach of the central, western and northern suburbs, and there is on-site parking. For a wider view of what is available across the region, see our overview of golf courses in Auckland.
The course: layout, par and notable holes
Huapai is a par-70 layout measuring close to 6,000 metres from the back tees, set across roughly 115 acres. It was designed by Dr Merv Harris and dates from the late 1930s, and several holes — including the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 9th and 15th — are still largely faithful to that original routing. The par is split evenly, 35 out and 35 in.
The defining feature is the tree lining. Narrow, corridor-style fairways framed by mature trees put a premium on accuracy off the tee rather than raw length, so club selection and shot placement matter more than distance. Water comes into play at two points on the course: a central irrigation lake sits between the 4th, 6th and 18th holes, and a second water feature lies between the 12th and 13th.
Notable holes
A handful of holes give the round its character. The 5th is a testing par 4 rated stroke index 2, meaning it is judged the second-hardest hole on the card. The 10th is a par 3 that overlooks the upper Waitematā Harbour. The closing 18th is a par 5 that doglegs to the right toward the home green, with water down the right and out of bounds on the left — a genuine risk-and-reward finish where a loose shot can undo a good card.
Green fees and how to book a round
Huapai is a semi-private club: members and visitors are both welcome, and you do not need to be a member to play. Rates depend on whether you hold a New Zealand Golf affiliation (an official golf handicap through a club) and on whether you play nine or 18 holes. The published green fees are set out below.
| Player type | 18 holes (NZD) | 9 holes (NZD) |
|---|---|---|
| Affiliate member’s guest | $72 | $45 |
| Affiliate adult | $90 | $50 |
| Affiliate junior | $35 | $24 |
| Non-affiliate member’s guest | $100 | $54 |
| Non-affiliate adult | $120 | $65 |
| Non-affiliate junior | $45 | $35 |
These are the standard rates; public holidays and one-off specials may differ, so it pays to check when booking. Tee times can be reserved through the club’s online tee-booking system or by phoning the pro shop, and booking ahead is sensible for weekend mornings and other busy periods. Affiliated golfers from other clubs may also be able to play under reciprocal arrangements. Full current pricing and booking are on the club’s official website.
Carts, clubs and trundlers
The club has golf carts, hire bags and trundlers available for players who would rather not carry, which makes a casual round straightforward for travellers who do not have gear with them. Numbers are limited, so reserve a cart or a set when you book your tee time rather than relying on availability on the day.
Membership options and costs
Membership at Huapai runs across a wide range of categories, from full seven-day playing rights down to a social membership with clubhouse access only. A one-off joining fee of $750 applies to most adult playing categories on top of the annual subscription; junior, affiliated and social categories are exempt. The current annual fees are compared below.
Membership Categories and Fees
| Category | Annual subscription (NZD) | Joining fee | Playing rights |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Days | ,130 | 0 | Any time, seven days a week |
| 6 Days | ,880 | 0 | Sunday to Friday |
| 5 Days | ,700 | 0 | Monday to Friday |
| 9-Hole Plus | ,095 | 0 | Set windows plus afternoon/evening play |
| Pay & Play | 0 | 0 | Weekdays, Sat after 1pm, Sun after 11am (reduced green fees) |
| Intermediate (18–20) | 5 | 0 | Full playing rights |
| Intermediate Plus (21–30) | ,255 | 0 | Full playing rights |
| Intermediate Extra (31–33) | ,680 | 0 | Full playing rights |
| Junior (12–17) | 5 | None | No Saturday play before 1pm |
| Kiwi Junior 9 | 5 | None | Nine holes only, after 3pm |
| Huapai Affiliated | 5 | None | Golf NZ index holders; member-guest rates |
| Social | None | No playing rights; bar/café access |
Young-adult and junior pathways
The intermediate tiers are designed to ease younger players into full membership as their earnings grow, stepping up in stages from the 18–20 bracket to the 21–30 and 31–33 brackets. Juniors aged 12–17 pay a low flat subscription with no joining fee, and the Kiwi Junior 9 category offers an even cheaper entry point for nine-hole, after-3pm play. These subsidised rates lower the cost barrier for families and school-aged players.
What a subscription includes
A playing membership provides tee access within your category’s time windows, use of the practice areas, and affiliation with New Zealand Golf, which gives you an official handicap index. That index is what lets you enter club competitions, play in inter-club events and record scores through the national handicapping system. The Huapai Affiliated category is aimed at golfers who already hold a Golf NZ index elsewhere but want member’s-guest rates here.
Practice facilities and coaching
The club provides practice areas for warming up and sharpening your short game before a round. Specific facilities can change over time, so if you plan to arrive early to practise, it is worth confirming what is open on the day. Golfers looking to improve their equipment as well as their swing can also consider a professional custom club fitting in Auckland, which pairs launch-monitor data with the right shafts and lofts for your game.
Clubhouse, café and function hire
Off the course, the clubhouse centres on a lounge bar and function room with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the grounds, plus a café and a golf shop. It is a relaxed spot for a drink or a meal after a round.
The function room is also available for venue hire, making the club an option for events such as celebrations, meetings and corporate golf days. Because capacities and catering packages vary with the type of event, contact the club directly for a quote and to check available dates rather than relying on a fixed figure.
Dress code and on-course etiquette
Like most New Zealand clubs, Huapai expects neat, tidy golf attire on the course and standard on-course etiquette — keeping a reasonable pace, repairing pitch marks and divots, and raking bunkers. If you are unsure whether a particular item of clothing or footwear is acceptable, ask the pro shop when you book; requirements can differ between clubs and can be updated, so this is safer than assuming.
How Huapai compares with other Auckland courses
Huapai occupies a useful middle ground in the Auckland market: a well-established, tree-lined country course that welcomes visitors, at green fees below the region’s private championship venues. It suits players who value accuracy, a quiet rural setting and an unfussy club atmosphere over resort-style facilities.
- Titirangi Golf Club is a private championship course in West Auckland, more exclusive and harder for casual visitors to access than Huapai’s open, semi-private model.
- Waitākere Golf Club is another West Auckland option with its own character and pricing worth comparing before you commit.
- Maramarua Golf Club, roughly half an hour south of Auckland toward Pokeno, is a comparable country course if you are willing to drive a little further for a quieter round.
The right choice depends on how far you want to travel, whether you hold an affiliation, and whether you prioritise a challenging tree-lined test or wide-open fairways.
Common mistakes visitors make
A few avoidable errors catch out first-time visitors to Huapai. Being aware of them saves money and frustration.
- Assuming affiliate rates. The cheaper affiliate green fees apply only if you hold a current New Zealand Golf index. Turn up without one and you pay the higher non-affiliate rate.
- Not booking ahead. Weekend mornings and competition days fill up. Walking on without a tee time can mean a long wait or no round at all.
- Overlooking the water. The lake around the 4th, 6th and 18th and the hazard between the 12th and 13th are easy to forget until a ball finds them; plan your line rather than firing at every flag.
- Bringing too much club off the tee. The narrow, tree-lined fairways reward a controlled shot into position over trying to overpower the hole with driver.
- Not checking holiday pricing. Public-holiday and special rates can differ from the standard card, so confirm the price when you book.
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Huapai Golf Club?
The club is at 1261 Coatesville-Riverhead Highway, Riverhead, Auckland 0892, on the edge of the upper Waitematā Harbour near Whenuapai. It is about five minutes from the North-Western Motorway, roughly ten minutes from Albany and around 20 minutes from the Auckland CBD, with parking on site.
How much does it cost to play 18 holes as a visitor?
As of September 2026, an affiliated adult pays $90 for 18 holes and a non-affiliated adult pays $120. Nine-hole rounds are $50 and $65 respectively, and juniors and members’ guests pay less. Public-holiday and special rates may differ, so confirm with the pro shop when you book.
Can non-members play Huapai Golf Club?
Yes. Huapai is a semi-private club that welcomes visitors as well as members. You can book a tee time through the club’s online booking system or by phoning the pro shop, and affiliated golfers pay lower green fees than non-affiliated players.
What is the par and length of the course?
Huapai is an 18-hole, par-70 parkland course measuring close to 6,000 metres from the back tees, set on about 115 acres. It dates from the late 1930s, was designed by Dr Merv Harris, and is known for narrow, tree-lined fairways and two water features.
How much is full membership?
A full seven-day membership is $2,130 a year plus a one-off $750 joining fee. Cheaper playing categories include six-day, five-day, pay-and-play, intermediate and junior options; a social membership with clubhouse access only is $45. Check the club for the latest figures before joining.
