GULF HARBOUR VILLAGE CHECK POINT

The land in the vicinity now known as Gulf Harbour Village and Marina was originally owned by the Hobbs family who farmed the land known as Hobbs Bay from the early 1900s until it’s sale in the early 1970s, which triggered the start of the development. 

The land was first owned and cleared for farming in the 1860's by Ranulph Dacre with the land later passing to the Shakespear family. Jack Hobbs, was the farm manager for the Shakespears, and he eventually acquired the land, later expanding his land holding across Army Bay and Gulf Harbour.

The primary developer of the village was Anthony Wood & Associates and the village was designed as a New Zealand version of Portofino, Italy, featuring a Mediterranean style with its focal point clock tower and rotunda.

Within a few years a complex of shops was built across Gulf Harbour Drive and in 1997 when Gulf Harbour was the hum of activity as the land developments continued and expanded Gulf Harbour Country Club Ltd opened. A year after opening, Gulf Harbour Country Club hosted the 1998 World Cup of Golf which saw many international stars such as Sir Nick Faldo and John Daly take on the challenging Robert Trent Jones Jr design. The golf course also hosted the 2005/2006 New Zealand Opens and was a regular venue for professional tournaments, including the 2022 and scheduled 2023 NZPGA Championship, before its sudden closure in July 2023.

The country club also had a swimming and gym complex, a popular cafe/restaurant and was popular as an event and wedding venue.

Sadly controversy has beset the Country Club in recent years and the golf course is now closed and the buildings burnt to the ground in 2024.

However the adjacent village is a thriving hub particularly in the summer when the canal banks are popular for outdoor dining.

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