In its fifth annual survey, Luxury Travel and Style magazine asked its travel-loving readers to vote on their favourite destinations, and from their responses compiled its Gold List 2009.
Tens of thousands of magazine subscribers and clients of Virtuoso, the world's most exclusive travel agents, completed the survey.
Millbrook sales and marketing manager Sarah Stacey said the readers who voted for the five-star resort were well travelled, making it "very rewarding" to be listed among the best of the best.
Last year, Millbrook was ranked fourth in the same survey, she said.
This year, four new golf holes had opened - part of a new Coronet Nine course being developed at Millbrook West, a $50 million residential and golf course lifestyle development, she said.
They were being brought into play as four holes from the original Bob Charles-designed 18-hole course were taken out.
The four holes taken out were being extensively re-configured and re-aligned, meaning golfers would play the "hybrid" course for the next 12 months, Ms Stacey said.
Meanwhile at the original championship course, 28 bunkers had been introduced, another 17 remodelled and 16 existing traps removed - all in the opening 14 holes.
Ms Stacey said the bunker upgrades were stage one of a million dollar golf course modification.
They came off the back of significant investment in the resort, which included a $10 million villa interiors refurbishment, refurbishment of the Hole In One café, and a new world class driving range, she said.
Earlier this year, Millbrook Resort was named among the top 25 hotels in the Asia Pacific region for the fourth time, one of only seven in New Zealand to make the list.
