The NAC Route Map, issued in 1960 by the New Zealand National Airways Corporation, greets the eye with a burst of color and a spirit of invitation. Across the paired silhouettes of North and South Islands, crisp white lines arc between destinations, sketching a web of flights that stitches the country together. A vibrant compass rose bearing the NAC emblem orients the traveler while playfully asserting the airline’s brand at the heart of the nation’s skyways. Around the routes, lively vignettes of mountains, forests, and glittering coasts, together with jaunty scenes of sailing and fishing, create a cheerful panorama that beckons would-be passengers to turn itinerary into adventure.

Published by NAC, the state carrier for domestic travel from 1947 until its 1978 merger with Air New Zealand, the map doubles as a manifesto for modern mobility. Based in Wellington, the airline spent the post-war decades binding distant regions into a coherent, dependable network, bringing provincial towns within easy reach of the capitals and one another. Corporate cartography like this blurred the line between route diagram and travel poster: it simplified pathways, emphasized possibilities, and suggested that comfort, speed, and spectacle were available to every New Zealander. The result is a charming yet purposeful image, fusing operational clarity with the buoyant optimism of jet-age tourism.

New Zealand’s distinctive geography is rendered in affectionate shorthand. The North Island unfolds as a tapestry of fertile lowlands and rugged highlands, its scalloped harbors and headlands dotted with boats; the South Island rises more dramatically, an alpine backbone giving way to wide plains and deeply indented shores. Mountain ranges are indicated with jaunty peaks; dark greens suggest native forests; sinuous rivers and broad bays hint at the country’s watery embrace. Between the islands the airline’s routes stride confidently, visually mastering the strait that once defined separation. The seas teem with illustrated ships and coastal craft, underscoring how air and water together shape movement in this maritime nation.

At the network’s nodes, familiar place-names anchor the fantasy to a practical itinerary. Auckland crowns the north as the principal gateway; Wellington stands central, the political capital and aerial hinge between islands. Christchurch serves the Canterbury plains and southern routes, while Dunedin projects the network’s reach toward the subantarctic latitudes. Hamilton, Rotorua, and Napier draw lines inland, toward pasturelands, lakes, and thermal districts, their icons hinting at leisure as much as logistics. Nelson faces the sunlit top of the South Island, and Invercargill steadies the far south. Together these cities form a constellation that promises businesslike efficiency and holiday freedom in equal measure.

As an artifact of mid-twentieth-century promotion, the NAC Route Map distills a transformative moment in New Zealand life. Air travel was becoming routine yet still glamorous, shortening journeys that had once demanded ferries, mountain passes, and long coastal steamers. The bright palette and whimsical figures project a friendly confidence, while the disciplined geometry of white flight-paths assures reliability. At center, the NAC compass rose works as both ornament and pledge: the corporation as steady guide through a land of variety and surprise. To trace these lines is to glimpse an era when aviation reimagined distance, and a young nation found coherence in the skies.

Cities and towns on this map

• Auckland
• Wellington
• Christchurch
• Dunedin
• Hamilton
• Rotorua
• Napier
• Invercargill
• Nelson

Notable Features & Landmarks

• Illustrated depictions of key landmarks, such as mountains, forests, and coastal areas.
• Pictorial representations of various activities (e.g., sailing, fishing).
• Airplane routes shown with white lines connecting key destinations.
• A vibrant compass rose featuring the NAC logo.
• Illustrations of ships and other transport methods by water.

Historical and design context

• Created in 1960 by the New Zealand National Airways Corporation (NAC).
• NAC was the national domestic airline of New Zealand from 1947 until 1978, based in Wellington; it merged with Air New Zealand and played a significant role in connecting domestic air travel across the country.
• The map is thematic and pictorial, with colorful illustrations and whimsical depictions of people, landscapes, and transportation; bright, playful design conveys a sense of adventure and tourism as an airline promotional map.
• Reflects the mid-20th-century approach to promoting air travel and tourism in New Zealand, showcasing the growth of domestic aviation in the post-war era.
• Specifically covers New Zealand, highlighting both the North Island and South Island.

Please double check the images to make sure that a specific town or place is shown on this map. You can also get in touch and ask us to check the map for you.

This map looks great at every size, but I always recommend going for a larger size if you have space. That way you can easily make out all of the details.

This map looks amazing at sizes all the way up to 50in (125cm). If you are looking for a larger map, please get in touch.

The model in the listing images is holding the 24x36in (60x90cm) version of this map.

The fifth listing image shows an example of my map personalisation service.

If you’re looking for something slightly different, check out my collection of the best old maps to see if something else catches your eye.

Please contact me to check if a certain location, landmark or feature is shown on this map.

This would make a wonderful birthday, Christmas, Father's Day, work leaving, anniversary or housewarming gift for someone from the areas covered by this map.

This map is available as a giclée print on acid free archival matte paper, or you can buy it framed. The frame is a nice, simple black frame that suits most aesthetics. Please get in touch if you'd like a different frame colour or material. My frames are glazed with super-clear museum-grade acrylic (perspex/acrylite), which is significantly less reflective than glass, safer, and will always arrive in perfect condition.

This map is also available as a float framed canvas, sometimes known as a shadow gap framed canvas or canvas floater. The map is printed on artist's cotton canvas and then stretched over a handmade box frame. We then "float" the canvas inside a wooden frame, which is available in a range of colours (black, dark brown, oak, antique gold and white). This is a wonderful way to present a map without glazing in front. See some examples of float framed canvas maps and explore the differences between my different finishes.

For something truly unique, this map is also available in "Unique 3D", our trademarked process that dramatically transforms the map so that it has a wonderful sense of depth. We combine the original map with detailed topography and elevation data, so that mountains and the terrain really "pop". For more info and examples of 3D maps, check my Unique 3D page.

Many of our maps and art prints are chosen as thoughtful gifts for homes, offices, studies and meaningful places.

Choose a framed option for the easiest ready-to-hang gift, or choose an unframed print if the recipient may prefer to select their own frame.

We make orders locally in 23 countries around the world, so gifts can often be produced close to the recipient. This helps them arrive faster, travel more safely, and avoid customs or import duty surprises.

• We can deliver directly to the recipient
• Framed pieces arrive ready to hang
• Unframed prints are carefully packed in a strong protective tube
• Almost every order is made locally, for faster, safer gifting
• 90-day returns give the recipient time to decide

If you are not sure what to choose, please contact us. We can help you pick the right map, size, finish or delivery option.

Most orders are made locally and delivered in around 2–3 working days, depending on the product, size and destination.

We print and frame maps and artwork in 23 countries around the world, so your order is usually made close to you or your recipient. That means faster delivery, less time in transit, and no customs or import duty surprises.

Personalised and customised pieces usually take an extra 1–2 working days, because we prepare your design and send it to you for approval before printing.

Very large framed orders can take a little longer, as they need extra care in production and delivery.

Every order is carefully packaged: unframed prints are sent in a strong protective tube, while framed pieces are securely packed with protective materials around the frame.

If you need your order by a particular date, please contact us before ordering. We’ll check the best production route and delivery option for your location.

Express delivery is available at checkout for most countries. Next-day delivery is available in the UK, US, Singapore and the UAE.

Your order is covered by our 90-day returns policy and 5-year guarantee.

Read our full delivery and local production guide

My standard frame is a gallery style black ash hardwood frame. It is simple and quite modern looking. My standard frame is around 20mm (0.8in) wide.

I use super-clear acrylic (perspex/acrylite) for the frame glass. It's lighter and safer than glass - and it looks better, as the reflectivity is lower.

Six standard frame colours are available for free (black, dark brown, dark grey, oak, white and antique gold). Custom framing and mounting/matting is available if you're looking for something else.

Most maps, art and illustrations are also available as a framed canvas. We use matte (not shiny) cotton canvas, stretch it over a sustainably sourced box wood frame, and then 'float' the piece within a wood frame. The end result is quite beautiful, and there's no glazing to get in the way.

All frames are provided "ready to hang", with either a string or brackets on the back. Very large frames will have heavy duty hanging plates and/or a mounting baton. If you have any questions, please get in touch.

See some examples of my framed maps and framed canvas maps.

Alternatively, I can also supply old maps and artwork on canvas, foam board, cotton rag and other materials.

If you want to frame your map or artwork yourself, please read my size guide first.

My maps are extremely high quality reproductions of original maps.

I source original, rare maps from libraries, auction houses and private collections around the world, restore them at my London workshop, and then use specialist giclée inks and printers to create beautiful maps that look even better than the original.

My maps are printed on acid-free archival matte (not glossy) paper that feels very high quality and almost like card. In technical terms the paper weight/thickness is 10mil/200gsm. It's perfect for framing.

I print with Epson ultrachrome giclée UV fade resistant pigment inks - some of the best inks you can find.

I can also make maps on canvas, cotton rag and other exotic materials.

Learn more about The Unique Maps Co.

Map personalisation

If you're looking for the perfect anniversary or housewarming gift, I can personalise your map to make it truly unique. For example, I can add a short message, or highlight an important location, or add your family's coat of arms.

The options are almost infinite. Please see my map personalisation page for some wonderful examples of what's possible.

To order a personalised map, select "personalise your map" before adding it to your basket.

Get in touch if you're looking for more complex customisations and personalisations.

Map ageing

I have been asked hundreds of times over the years by customers if they could buy a map that looks even older.

Well, now you can, by selecting Aged before you add a map to your basket.

All the product photos you see on this page show the map in its Original form. This is what the map looks like today.

If you select Aged, I will age your map by hand, using a special and unique process developed through years of studying old maps, talking to researchers to understand the chemistry of aging paper, and of course... lots of practice!

If you're unsure, stick to the Original colour of the map. If you want something a bit darker and older looking, go for Aged.

See some amazing examples of Aged maps.

If you are not happy with your order for any reason, contact me and I'll get it fixed ASAP, free of charge. Please see my returns and refund policy for more information.

I am very confident you will like your restored map or art print. I have been doing this since 1984. I'm a 5-star Etsy seller. I have sold tens of thousands of maps and art prints and have over 5,000 real 5-star reviews. My work has been featured in interior design magazines, on the BBC, and on the walls of dozens of 5-star hotels.

I use a unique process to restore maps and artwork that is massively time consuming and labour intensive. Hunting down the original maps and illustrations can take months. I use state of the art and eye-wateringly expensive technology to scan and restore them. As a result, I guarantee my maps and art prints are a cut above the rest. I stand by my products and will always make sure you're 100% happy with what you receive.

Almost all of my maps and art prints look amazing at large sizes (200cm, 6.5ft+) and I can frame and deliver them to you as well, via special oversized courier. Contact me to discuss your specific needs.