Route notes
Why this routing works
This is the simplest RTW configuration in the AirTreks catalog — five stops, a single alliance, and a single carrier handling the majority of the routing. Air New Zealand operates SFO-AKL direct (~13h) with an evening departure that delivers travelers to Auckland the following morning, clearing customs with the bulk of the day ahead. The entire international itinerary — SFO to AKL, AKL to HNL, and all domestic NZ legs — is bookable through Air New Zealand on Star Alliance.
The NSN domestic hop is the key move on this itinerary. Auckland (AKL) is the hub, but Nelson (NSN) — New Zealand's sunniest city and the northern gateway to Abel Tasman National Park — requires a 1-hour domestic flight. Air New Zealand operates AKL-NSN multiple times daily. The routing positions AKL as both an inbound and outbound stop, which is standard for New Zealand itineraries that include South Island destinations served by secondary airports.
The Honolulu (HNL) stopover on the return is a routing bonus rather than a detour. AKL-HNL on Air New Zealand is approximately 9 hours and positions travelers naturally between New Zealand and California — the same direction they are already flying.