What is New Zealand’s best airport? Power-ranking our top 15

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, airports are something most of us have to go through at some time; for well-travelled Kiwis, they’re a rite of passage.

Aotearoa has 49 commercial airports – some yeah, some nah. We’ve ranked 15 of the best, awarding each scores out of five
across five categories, for a potential total score of 25.

Once you’ve read our list, it’s your turn.

The Chathams or Hamilton? Queenstown or New Plymouth? The voting starts now.

Read our take below or, if you’ve already made up your mind, scroll to the bottom to cast your vote straight away (and don’t forget to make the case for your top airport in the comments).

15 TIU Timaru Richard Pearse Airport

Timaru’s Richard Pearse Airport.

Liverpool John Lennon, Belfast George Best, West Palm Beach… we won’t land on that one. This is our only mainland airport named for a person, and who more appropriate? Why don’t we have SNL Alexandra Sam Neill Aerodrome or KTK Gisborne Kiri Te Kanawa Airport? The terminal is basic – so was Pearse’s plane – with few eating or shopping options, and so are its services. Air New Zealand flies to Wellington and it’s the only city with no direct flights to Auckland.

Connections: 0 Access: 2 Layout: 2 Shops/Facilities: 1 Uniqueness: 2

Total score: 7

14 KKE Kerikeri Airport

Bay of Islands Airport, Kerikeri

Watch this place. The Far North council’s commercial wing (sorry) operates Kerikeri and Kaitāia airports and has invested heavily in the runway, aviation and terminal facilities here. It’s paying off with more tourism and business connections (who knows who flew in on that private jet). While Air New Zealand only flies to Auckland now, new rules mean Kerikeri could host larger planes – Whangārei can’t – opening the door to Wellington services.

Connections: 1 Access: 2 Layout: 2 Shops/Facilities: 1 Uniqueness: 2

Total score: 8

13 CHT Chatham Islands Inia William Tuuta Memorial Airport

Tuuta Airport in the middle of the Chatham Island lagoon.

The other one named for a favourite son. Air Chathams operates year-round flights from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Recent $50 million upgrades have lengthened the runway and glammed up the 1982 terminal with better check-in facilities, new departure lounge and unique designs reflecting Moriori history. At heart it’s still a basic “what you see is what you get” affair but you won’t be here for long. Depending on the weather…

Connections: 2 Access: 2 Layout: 1 Shops/Facilities: 1 Uniqueness: 3

Total score: 9

12 IVC Invercargill Airport

Invercargill Airport. Photo / Getty Images

Another comparatively recent rebuild – 2016 – the terminal is well laid-out, efficient, modern. Few shops or cafes, but it may be the only landing zone in the world where you can nibble a cheese roll with your flat white or matcha. Air New Zealand flies to Christchurch and the Bigger Smoke up north.

Connections: 2 Access: 3 Layout: 2 Shops/Facilities: 1 Uniqueness: 2

Total score: 10

11 NSN Nelson Airport

Air New Zealand’s Regional Domestic Lounge, Nelson Airport. Photo / Brett Phibbs, PhibbsVisuals

The terminal opened in late 2018 to acclaim for its striking timber architecture and high, vaulted ceilings featuring cultural designs. Like almost all our regional airports, it’s easy to drop off your rental car, walk to the terminal, check in and fly out. Again, like most of our airports, there’s fast, free WiFi but limited catering.

Connections: 2 Access: 3 Layout: 2 Shops/Facilities: 1 Uniqueness: 3

Total score: 11

10 NPE Hawke’s Bay Airport

Hakwe’s Bay Airport.

Getting there to get out of there can be a hassle – and expensive – for most of our airports. Since our leaders don’t seem to have a Buses of National Significance programme, travellers rely on friends or whānau to drive them or hire a hackney carriage. Kudos to Hawke’s Bay, where the bus company runs hourly services to the front door. Apart from that… yeah, stop us if you’ve heard these before… recently upgraded terminal, Wi-Fi, limited cuisine. Air New Zealand calls the airport Napier / Hastings and flies to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch; Sunair will take you to Hamilton and places easterly.

Connections: 3 Access: 3 Layout: 3 Shops/Facilities: 1 Uniqueness: 2

Total score: 12

9 GIS Gisborne Airport

Eastland Generation’s solar farm at Gisborne Airport.

Yep, the one where the railway runs through the middle of the runway, but it has way more than that going for it. Claimed to be our most sustainable airport, the terminal was reimagined in 2020 to a design inspired by Tairāwhiti history and culture, representing a whare and waka. Only a five-minute drive from downtown Gisborne, it’s the standout among our smaller airports. If only they’d coded it GZY.

Connections: 3 Access: 3 Layout: 2 Shops/Facilities: 1 Uniqueness: 4

Total score: 13

8 DUD Dunedin Airport

A sign welcoming passengers at Dunedin Airport. Photo / Grant Bradley

Sorry, but never was an airport more appropriately named. Building a city airport over 30 minutes’ drive from town is a major downer for anyone who’s not a local driving to and from. Unless you rented a car, you’re stuck with a shuttle ($20-25 a head); taxis ($100+) or a twice-daily bus service. They’ve recently unveiled a redeveloped first-floor terminal, featuring a new local dining experience, coffee bars, expanded lounge areas, and Kāi Tahu narratives and artworks. Duty-free shopping for Jetstar’s Gold Coast customers plus a souvenir and Relay store and – bonus points – a kids’ game room. Frequent Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch flights on both big brands.

Connections: 3 Access: 1 Layout: 3 Shops/Facilities: 4 Uniqueness: 3

Total score: 14

7 NPL New Plymouth Airport

New Plymouth Airport’s Te Hono terminal won the special prize for an airport exterior at the Prix Versailles Airports 2021.

Like much of its nearby city, it’s unrecognisable from a few years ago, and in very good ways. Opened in 2020, Te Hono, the terminal, replaced two somewhat grungy buildings but its story goes back far further. The airport was built on land confiscated from Puketapu iwi in the 1960s (you read that right) and the design represents their story and rights. Against New York, Berlin, Athens and others, it was awarded a global prize in 2021. The airport recently opened a 15ha solar farm and is 98% self-sufficient in electricity. It’s a wee way out of town so you’ll likely have to cab it; but you’ll find refreshment options, WiFi, facilities and comfort one step ahead of similar-sized airports. Air New Zealand flies direct to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

Connections: 3 Access: 2 Layout: 3 Shops/Facilities: 3 Uniqueness: 4

Total score: 15

6 HLZ Hamilton International Airport

Flight NZ324 at Hamilton Airport, after arriving from Christchurch.

… where the big jet engines don’t exactly roar. Jetstar flies direct from Hamilton to the Gold Coast three times weekly and Sydney twice, which is how it gets its middle name. This is the fourth attempt at getting transtasman routes up and flying since 1994 and one has to wonder if it’s sustainable with that big beast at the other end of the Waikato Expressway. The terminal has had a tart-up, there are work tables, a cafe and tidy facilities. Quirks: an hour’s free parking! International check-in is old-school, over the counter.

Connections: 4 Access: 3 Layout: 3 Shops/Facilities: 3 Uniqueness: 3

Total score: 16

5 AKL Auckland Domestic Airport

Auckland Airport’s domestic terminal. Photo / Alex Burton

Okay, it’s technically one airport but the domestic and international facilities and experience are so different – and separate – that it might as well be two. Happily the merger is well under way because the domestic wing is, frankly, past its use-by date. It owes its origins to an older terminal with bits added on as passenger numbers, flights, expectations, operators and security requirements exploded. The regional departures area is akin to a farm shed with a cattle race to the aircraft. We’ll stop there.

Connections: 4 Access: 2 Layout: 4 Shops/Facilities: 4 Uniqueness: 3

Total score: 17

4 ZQN Queenstown Airport

Aircraft parked at Queenstown Airport.

Can’t beat that dramatic approach, with the rocky, snowy peaks so close to either wing that you feel they might need a panelbeater after landing. It’s always fun when the doors open and first-timers realise they should have worn two or three more layers because they have to walk downstairs and across the tarmac. Like the town, the airport has mushroomed, carparks are several sizes bigger, the terminal is standing- and ski-room only in peak season, queues can stretch across the concourse. Hospitality and shopping offerings have improved, however. While it looks close to town, you may have heard about Queenstown traffic…

Connections: 4 Access: 3 Layout: 4 Shops/Facilities: 4 Uniqueness: 3

Total score: 18

3 WLG Wellington International Airport

Wellington International Airport. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Wellington’s weather clouds (sorry again) everything that could be great about the facility, because (a) no one boards a plane thinking it may not be able to land where you planned or (b) no one wants to spend hours/days waiting for clear skies to take off. They themed the terminal around Lord of the Rings then built a carpark like the Caves of Mordor outside. Inside, it’s easy to navigate and has the second-best cafe and shopping centre in the land. Best, it’s so close to the city that everyday buses run from the carpark into town.

Connections: 5 Access: 5 Layout: 4 Shops/Facilities: 4 Uniqueness: 3

Total score: 21

2 AKL Auckland International Airport

Auckland International Airport opened a new bar called The Mixologist earlier this year.

Various operators should be congratulated for not only keeping up its standards during major construction but also introducing a faster, smoother traveller experience. If you’ve been through outbound bag drop and security recently, you’ll know. Inbound, there can be bottlenecks at immigration and customs in peak time; happens all over the world. Biggest gripe is – again – getting to and from. The Airport Express bus is really only practical for central city backpackers; I can drive from home in 18-20 minutes; AT Journey Planner’s best offer is 90-100 minutes. Has anyone thought about, say, connecting to a nearby rail network? Travellers seem to like that in other world cities.

Connections: 5 Access: 2 Layout: 5 Shops/Facilities: 5 Uniqueness: 5

Total score: 22

1 CHC Christchurch International Airport

Christchurch International Airport is the winner of our power-ranking.

It is the very model of a modern airline terminal. Only 20 minutes north of the Square, you can take a city bus, reasonably priced shuttle or cab. Inside, the revamp completed in May has improved the food court with 10 new cafes, sit-down restaurants and bars; upgraded bathrooms and an Antarctic-themed children’s play area. It’s a combined domestic and international terminal, so check-in is electronic and smooth. It’s on a human scale: easy to find your way around, plenty of Kiwi art and culture, comfortable seating, interesting shopping. Caught short? You can sleep overnight on ground-floor sofas. Major carriers fly to 16 domestic destinations, the big four Australian cities, Singapore, Tokyo, Guangzhou, San Francisco, Dubai and the Pacific.

Connections: 5 Access: 5 Layout: 5 Shops/Facilities: 5 Uniqueness: 4

Total score: 24

SaveShare this article

Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

Copy LinkEmailFacebookTwitter/XLinkedInReddit