AI Can Plan a Trip. Can It Understand a Place?
- Jun 9
- 7 min read
Why would I use Great Kiwi Trips when AI can plan my New Zealand holiday?
It’s a fair question.
AI has become remarkably good at building travel itineraries.Destinations, accommodation, driving routes, restaurants – all mapped out in seconds.
In fact, I use it.
So I decided to test it properly.
I asked AI to plan a one-night trip to Akaroa.
I’ve visited Akaroa many times over the years.
Then I compared its recommendations with what I would suggest based on my own experience of the place.
And what I discovered wasn’t what I expected.
The Experiment
I gave AI the following prompt:
"I've been planning a trip to New Zealand. I've got 4 nights set aside for Christchurch, but after researching I think I want to spend 1 of these nights in Akaroa. Can you come up with a 2-day/1-night itinerary? Include a coffee stop en route on the way to Akaroa (from Christchurch city centre - some place in between). We are big foodies, so some dining tips/ideas. Also your top recommendation on where to stay. Must have a kitchenette please."
This isn’t a theoretical comparison. It’s based on a real itinerary I’ve personally walked through.
Within seconds, it produced a complete itinerary.
Coffee stop.
Scenic viewpoints.
Restaurants.
Accommodation.
Activities.
Even a cheese tasting stop on the drive back to Christchurch.
Honestly?
It was pretty good.
In fact, many travellers would be perfectly happy following it.
And if you didn’t know Akaroa well, you’d probably never question it.
AI Didn't Get It Wrong
This is important.
The purpose of this article isn't to criticise AI.
If anything, I came away impressed.
It suggested stopping in Little River for coffee.
It recommended Hilltop Lookout overlooking Akaroa Harbour.
It included The Giant's House.
It suggested local dining options and a wildlife experience.
If you followed the itinerary, you would almost certainly have a lovely time.
Many of the recommendations were genuinely excellent.
In fact, several were recommendations I would have happily made myself.
But then I noticed something.
Information Isn't The Same As Experience
And this is where things started to break down.
AI recommended Akaroa Criterion Motel...
It recommended The Little Bistro…
Both were once excellent recommendations.
Neither exist anymore.
Neither recommendation was unreasonable.
Both were once among the most recommended businesses in Akaroa.
The issue wasn't the recommendation.
The issue was that travel information changes.
Restaurants close.
Accommodation changes ownership.
Experiences come and go.
A recommendation can be based on good information and still be out of date.
And that got me thinking.
The real difference wasn't that AI made a mistake.
The real difference was something much bigger.
Before Planning The Trip, I'd Ask Why
The AI immediately answered the question.
I probably would have started by asking a few more.
Why Akaroa?
What attracted you to it?
Are you looking for romance?
Wildlife?
Food and wine?
Photography?
A relaxing break from Christchurch?
A chance to experience a different side of New Zealand?
The answer matters.
Because the same destination can offer completely different experiences depending on what you're hoping to get from it.
A foodie couple might leave Akaroa talking about wine tastings, local produce and perhaps even a cooking experience.
A wildlife enthusiast may remember Hector's dolphins.
A photographer may remember the light across the harbour at sunrise.
A couple celebrating an anniversary might remember harbour views, historic accommodation and sunset walks.
Same destination.
Different journey.
Travel planning isn't just about deciding where to go.
It's about understanding why you want to go there in the first place.
The Akaroa I Would Recommend
If I were planning this trip, I might suggest stopping at General Post in Tai Tapu for coffee.
Not because AI's recommendation was wrong.
But because it's a wonderful transition point.
You're leaving Christchurch behind.
The countryside begins to open up.
The pace starts to slow.
Your holiday feels like it's properly underway.
Alternatively, Junction Coffee & Eats in Little River is another favourite. Great coffee, easy parking, and a chance to browse local galleries and shops before continuing across Banks Peninsula.
I'd still stop at Hilltop Lookout.
Some recommendations don't need improving.
The view down into Akaroa Harbour is spectacular.
But when arriving in Akaroa, I wouldn't immediately check into accommodation.
I'd encourage visitors to drive slowly through town first.
Past the waterfront.
Past the cafés.
Past the historic buildings.
Out to Akaroa Lighthouse.
Take a few photos.
Watch the harbour.
Get a feel for the place.
Because Akaroa isn't just somewhere you visit.
It's somewhere you experience.
If you're considering a visit, you can also read my guide to visiting Akaroa and the surrounding region, The Beautiful Detour.
For accommodation, I'd suggest Blythcliffe Historic House.
Not simply because it offers a self-contained option.
But because it feels connected to Akaroa's history and character.
The building tells part of the story of the town itself.
For lunch, I'd head to The Common Café & Garden Bar.
The food is excellent.
The atmosphere is relaxed.
The tiny dogs wandering around the garden somehow make the experience even more memorable.
It's one of those places that captures the personality of Akaroa.
In the afternoon, I'd absolutely recommend The Giant's House.
It's colourful.
Unexpected.
Joyful.
The kind of attraction that makes people smile long after they've left.
Later, I'd make time for a wine tasting at Caldera Estate.
Not just because of the wine.
Because of the view.
Because of the setting.
Because of the experience.
It's the sort of place that encourages you to slow down and simply appreciate where you are.
Dinner might be at Ma Maison.
Or The Seafood Kitchen.
Or perhaps fish and chips by the waterfront.
The answer depends on the traveller.
The following morning could begin with fresh pastries from A La Baguette.
Or coffee at Crater Café.
Or both.
Standing outside A La Baguette, I couldn't help but smile at the irony: Where a Kiwi ordering a croissant, trying to sound French, is served by a French baker, trying to sound Kiwi.
It's a tiny moment, but somehow it captures the character of Akaroa perfectly.
Sometimes understanding a destination means noticing the moments between the attractions.
Then perhaps a dolphin cruise before heading back towards Christchurch.
And yes, Barry's Bay Cheese would still make my itinerary too.
Especially if you've picked up a bottle of wine the day before.
Depending on the traveller, I might even suggest a short detour to Shamarra Alpacas on the drive back to Christchurch.
Not because every visitor should do it.
But because some travellers love those unexpected encounters that never appear on a "must-see" list.
But Here's What AI Really Missed
The interesting thing is that AI's itinerary and mine weren't dramatically different.
The difference wasn't the attractions.
The difference wasn't even the accommodation.
The difference was understanding what makes Akaroa special.
When I visited Akaroa recently, I wasn't thinking about attractions.
I was thinking about atmosphere.
The feeling of arriving over the hill and seeing the harbour for the first time.
The French influence that gives the town its unique character.
The conversations over coffee.
The slow stroll along the waterfront.
The way the light changes across the harbour throughout the day.
The details.
The things that don't always appear on a list of "Top 10 Things To Do."
The moments between attractions.
That's the challenge with travel planning.
A destination isn't just a collection of attractions.
It's a place.
And understanding a place requires more than information.
What About Travellers Who Use AI Every Day?
To be fair, AI is getting increasingly personal.
Many people use AI regularly.
In some cases, it may know their preferences extremely well.
It may know they dislike seafood.
It may know they love boutique accommodation.
It may know they prefer slower travel, scenic routes and local experiences.
That's valuable.
In some situations, AI may even understand a traveller's preferences better than a travel specialist initially does.
But great travel planning sits at the intersection of two different kinds of knowledge.
Understanding the traveller.
Understanding the destination.
AI may know the traveller.
A local travel specialist knows the destination.
The best itineraries often come from combining both.
In fact, some travellers may arrive with an AI-generated itinerary already in hand.
That's perfectly fine.
Sometimes my role isn't to replace those ideas, but to refine them, challenge assumptions, fill in the gaps, and add the local knowledge that turns a good itinerary into a more personal, more current, and ultimately more memorable New Zealand journey.
That's exactly what I do through my personalised New Zealand itinerary planning service.
All photos and videos featured in this article were captured during my own visit to Akaroa in June 2026.
So Why Use Great Kiwi Trips?
After this experiment, I didn't come away thinking AI is bad at planning holidays.
Far from it.
I think it's an incredible tool.
But I was reminded of something important.
Travel planning isn't just about finding information.
It's about applying judgement.
It's about understanding the pace of a journey.
It's about knowing when a detour is worth it.
It's about recognising when a destination deserves an extra night.
It's about understanding what travellers are likely to remember years later.
Most importantly, it's about understanding places.
Not just where they are.
But what they feel like.
Because New Zealand isn't simply a collection of destinations connected by roads.
It's a collection of experiences, landscapes, people, stories and moments.
AI can help you plan a trip.
Great Kiwi Trips helps you discover the New Zealand that travellers often remember long after the itinerary itself has been forgotten.
The best itinerary isn't necessarily the one with the most recommendations.
It's the one that feels like it was designed specifically for you.
Because the best New Zealand holidays aren't built around destinations.
They're built around how a place actually feels.
