NZ Long Weekends 2026: Maximise Your Leave for Unforgettable Road Trips

Wondering how to turn 2026 into your year of epic road trips and sun-soaked adventures? Like the sound of spending Easter in Taupo or New Year’s in the Coromandel? With some clever planning and a bit of strategy, you can transform an average long weekend into a proper getaway that’ll have your mates asking, “How are you always somewhere so cool?”

We’ve done the hard work for you breaking down all the long weekends in 2026, working out where to take leave, and discovering the most epic destinations to head to. Here is how to make New Zealand’s public holidays work harder than they ever have before.

Experience a New Zealand road trip in 2026

Public Holidays in New Zealand

All right, here’s the good stuff. All the golden opportunities in 2026 where you can turn a simple long weekend into a campervan getaway. Add a day here, take two there, and suddenly you’ve got enough holidays on the calendar to get you through the year.

National NZ Public Holidays in 2026

These holidays apply to everyone in New Zealand:

• New Year’s Day - Thursday, 1 January
• Day after New Year’s Day - Friday, 2 January
• Waitangi Day - Friday, 6 February
• Good Friday - Friday, 3 April
• Easter Monday - Monday, 6 April
• ANZAC Day - Saturday, 25 April (observed on Monday, 27 April)
• King’s Birthday - Monday, 1 June
• Matariki - Friday, 10 July
• Labour Day - Monday, 26 October
• Christmas Day - Friday, 25 December
• Boxing Day - Saturday, 26 December (observed Monday, 28 December)

Regional Anniversary Days 2026

Public holidays depending on where you live:

• Wellington Anniversary Day - Monday, 19 January
• Auckland Anniversary Day - Monday, 26 January
• Nelson Anniversary Day - Monday, 2 February
• Taranaki Anniversary Day - Monday, 9 March
• Otago Anniversary Day - Monday, 23 March
• Southland Anniversary Day - Tuesday, 7 April
• South Canterbury Anniversary Day - Monday, 28 September
• Hawke’s Bay Anniversary Day - Friday, 23 October
• Marlborough Anniversary Day - Monday, 2 November
• Canterbury Anniversary Day - Friday, 13 November
• Chatham Islands Anniversary - Monday, 30 November
• Westland Anniversary Day - Monday, 30 November

Summer road trip with Spaceships

Christmas and New Year’s Day

Summer in New Zealand is in full swing, so why not embrace it? Christmas falls on a Friday, and New Year's on the following Thursday - this is your golden ticket. Take Monday-Wednesday off (Dec 29-31), and boom, you've just unlocked 11 glorious days from Christmas through to January 4th. That's nearly two weeks of freedom, beaches, and campervan living. Time to get the good times rolling and start 2026 like an absolute legend in:

• Northland beaches - Matapouri, Whale Bay or up to the Far North for something quieter.
• Coromandel Peninsula - Hot Water Beach, Cathedral Cove and coastal camps. The Coroglen Tavern is always fun for New Year’s night.
• Gisborne - East coast getaway, enjoy sunshine and surf. Visit the iconic Rhythm & Vines New Year’s festival, one of New Zealand's biggest festivals.
• Abel Tasman - Golden beaches, kayaking and one of New Zealand’s Great Walks. Book campsites early.
• Central Otago - Queenstown, Wanaka and the southern lakes. Stunning dry summer weather with lakes for swimming.

Campervan tip: Summer means popular spots book out fast and are often more expensive. The beauty of van life at this time of year means you’re not stuck in one place. If your first choice beach is packed, try cruising round to the next bay. Plus, you’re already set up with accommodation, a kitchen and a place to sleep. No need for frantic checking in or key pick up drama, just park up and relax.

Waitangi Day - 6th of February

Still holding on to summer like a beach towel that won’t dry? Not quite ready to accept that the day to day work routine is back? Good news! Waitangi Day falls on a Friday automatically giving you a 3-day weekend on a silver platter. Take a few days off here or there and you’ve got a good 4-7 day escape. If you’re in Auckland or Nelson your Anniversary Day slots in here nicely too. The sun’s still blazing and the waters still warm, so why not point your van toward:

• Bay of Islands - It’s Waitangi Day, might as well visit where it all happened! See Paihia, Russell or any of the other best things to do in the Bay of Islands.
• Mount Maunganui/Tauranga - Beach vibes, cafes and easy day trips to Rotorua and only 2.5 hours from Auckland.
• Akaroa - French inspired village about 1.5 hours from Christchurch.
• Marlborough Sounds - Peaceful, scenic forested hills and endless coastline.

Easter Weekend and ANZAC - April

Unlike recent years, Easter and ANZAC Day don’t fall too close together, but plan it right and you could start and end the month out on the road like a champion. Good Friday lands on the 18th through to Easter Monday on the 21st, that’s already a solid 4-day window handed to you. Add Tuesday-Wednesday or Thursday the week before and you’ve got 6-7 days off using only 2-3 leave days.

ANZAC Day, observed on Monday 27 April, gives you a nice 3-day weekend to close out the month. Often a less popular travel weekend than Easter, enjoy the crisp autumn “not too hot, not too cold” weather and head to:

• Central North Island - Taupo, Tongariro and Ruapehu area. 
• Wairarapa - Martinborough wine region, Castlepoint, Cape Palliser. Underrated and gorgeous in autumn.
• West Coast - Punakaiki, Hokitika, Franz Josef. Dramatic, moody and often empty. Check out our awesome Christchurch to West Coast itinerary.
• Otago Peninsula - Dunedin, wildlife, stunning coastal drives.
• Wanaka - For the world-famous Warbirds Over Wanaka airshow.

King’s Birthday - 1st of June

Annually falling on the first Monday of June, King’s birthday delivers a sweet 3-day weekend to ease you into the second half of the year. Add on a Friday for 4 days or a Thursday-Friday and you’re set up for winter wonderland fun. It’s time to embrace winter or run screaming from it. Either way, we’ve got you covered:

• Coromandel - Quiet, peaceful beaches, some sunny days if you’re lucky.
• Taranaki - Surfgoers should visit the Surf Highway 45 for rolling winter waves.
• Queenstown/Wanaka - Cosy vibes, stunning mountain backdrops.
• Central Otago - Cromwell, Alexandra or Arrowtown for crisp winter days and fewer tourists.

Matariki - 10th of July

New Zealand's newest public holiday falls on a Friday - cheers to that! This 3-day weekend is the time to celebrate the Maori New Year. Take Thursday off for a 4-day break, or go Wednesday-Thursday for a full 5-day mid winter mission. It’s really getting into winter now, here is what to explore:

• Visit NZ ski fields - Turoa or Whakapapa in the north or try Cardrona, Treble Cone, Coronet Peak or Mt Hutt in the south.
• Rotorua - Geothermal wonder and Maori cultural experiences perfect for Matariki. The steam from the hot pools looks extra special in the cool winter air.
• Stargazing - Spot the 9 star Matariki cluster at some of New Zealand's best stargazing sites like Tekapo, Aoraki Mt Cook or Great Barrier Island.
• Methven - Mount Hutt’s backyard, a proper Kiwi ski town that’s more laid back than other spots.

Labour Day - 26th of October

Fourth Monday in October = long weekend. Add Friday for 4 days, or Thursday-Friday for 5 days of spring goodness. If you live in Hawke's Bay, even better, with Hawke’s Bay Anniversary Day falling on a Friday and Labour Day on a Monday, you’ve got a 4-day weekend to make the most of. Shake off winter and explore NZ in spring to see lambs, blossoms, wildflowers and warming weather. Head to:

• Waikato/Matamata - Hobbiton in spring, Hamilton Gardens, Waitomo Caves.
• Marlborough - Wine region in bloom, Queen Charlotte Track, likely sunny days.
• Canterbury - Akaroa, Kaikoura, spring flowers everywhere.
• Abel Tasman - Quieter than summer, warming weather, perfect for hiking and kayaking.

Road Trip Planning: Start in Auckland or Christchurch?

All Spaceships campervans are available for pick up from either the Auckland depot or Christchurch depot. Your holiday strategy might depend on which island you’re keen to explore.

Auckland pick ups are perfect for North Island road trips:

• Northland (Matapouri, Bay of Islands, Cape Reinga)
• Coromandel Peninsula
• Central North Island (Rotorua, Taupo, Tongariro)
• Waikato/Waitomo
• Bay of Plenty (Mount Maunganui, Tauranga)
• East Coast

Christchurch pickups are your ticket to:

• West Coast (Punakaiki, Hokitika, Franz Josef & Fox Glacier)
• Canterbury (Akaroa, Kaikoura, Hanmer Springs)
• Otago (Queenstown, Wanaka, Cromwell, Dunedin)
• Fiordland (Milford, Te Anau)
• Nelson/Tasman

Want to hit both islands? Book a one-way rental campervan from Auckland to Christchurch or Christchurch to Auckland. Use the ferry to cross the Cook Strait so you can drive the whole journey and see all that New Zealand has to offer. 

Need some space or time off work? Then it's time for a road trip!

Your 2026 Holiday Game Plan

Here is what most Kiwis will likely do:

1. One big summer trip (Christmas/New Year): 7-10 days
2. Easter getaway: 4-6 days using minimal leave
3. One random long weekend (Waitangi, ANZAC, King’s Birthday, or Labour Day): 3-5 days

That’s 3 solid trips using maybe 1-15 days of annual leave total. Super doable. If you're itching for more, why not hit every single long weekend and you’ll do 7+ trips in a year? Mix in a few spontaneous weekends here and there and become that person everyone is jealous of on Instagram.

If you're worried about booking ahead, our booking system always gives you the lowest possible price available, and booking in advance is always cheaper than booking at the last minute. You can easily change your travel dates free of charge (subject to availability), and there are no hidden fees. It’s all part of our Spaceships promises.

Sounds good aye? The year is wide open. The public holidays are locked in. All you need to do is book the van and go!

Book your campervan

Compare all campervans