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Busy Travel Periods

It pays to book ahead

Disruptions, delays or a lack of availability. To avoid having your travel plans disrupted, it pays to be organised.

As soon as you know of any travel plans, please get in touch with your Orbit consultant to get the ball rolling.

Public Holidays

2027

New Year’s Day – Fri 1 Jan
Day after New Year’s Day – Sat 2 Jan
Waitangi Day – Sat 6 Feb (observed Mon 4 Jan)
Good Friday – Fri 26 Mar
Easter Monday – Mon 29 Mar
ANZAC Day – Sun 25 Apr (observed Mon 26 Apr)
King’s Birthday – Mon 7 Jun
Matariki – Fri 25 Jun
Labour Day – Mon 25 Oct
Christmas Day – Sat 25 Dec (observed Mon 27 Dec)
Boxing Day – Sun 26 Dec (observed Tue 28 Dec)

School Holidays

2027

School Holidays

Term 1 Break: Sat 10 Apr – Mon 26 Apr
Term 2 Break: Sat 3 Jul – Sun 18 Jul
Term 3 Break: Sat 25 Sep – Sun 10 Oct
Summer 2026–27: Starts no later than Sat 19 Dec
Summer 2027-28: Starts no later than Sat 18 Dec

Auckland

2026

ASB Classic Tennis Tournament – 5–17 Jan
Auckland International Buskers Festival – 23 - 26 Jan
Laneway Festival - 5 Feb
SailGP - 14-15 Feb
Lantern Festival 26 Feb - 01 Mar
Pasifika Festival – 14 – 15 Mar (Western Springs)
TRENZ - 19 - 21 May
All Blacks vs Ireland - 18 Jul (Eden Park)
All Blacks vs Australia - 10 Oct (Eden Park)
Black Caps vs India - 30 Oct (Eden Park)
Auckland Marathon - 01 Nov
Black Caps vs India - 4 Nov

HAMILTON/WAIKATO

2026

Hamilton Arts Festival - 20 Feb - 1 Mar
Jim Beam Homegrown - 14 Mar
Fieldays – 10 - 13 June (Mystery Creek)

HAWKES BAY

2026

Art Deco Festival Napier – 19 – 22 Feb
Hawke's Bay Marathon - 16 May
Spring Fling Central Festival – Sep – Oct
Harvest Hawke’s Bay – 21 Nov

Taupō

2026

Ironman New Zealand – 7 Mar
Taupō Marathon - 01 Aug
Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge - 28 Nov
Le Currents 2026 - 27-28 Dec

Regional Anniversary Days

2027

Wellington – Mon 25 Jan
Auckland/Northland/Waikato – Mon 1 Feb
Nelson – Mon 1 Feb
Taranaki – Mon 8 Mar
Otago – Mon 22 Mar
Southland – Tue 30 Mar
South Canterbury – Mon 27 Sep
Hawke’s Bay – Fri 22 Oct
Marlborough – Mon 1 Nov
Canterbury – Fri 12 Nov
Westland & Chatham Islands – Mon 29 Nov

2026

Marlborough – Mon 2 Nov
Canterbury – Fri 13 Nov
Westland & Chatham Islands – Mon 30 Nov

Wellington

2026

Aotearoa New Zealand Festival of the Arts 24 Feb - 15 Mar
CubaDupa - 28 - 29 Mar
Ultra Music Festival – 10 Apr (Waterfront)
One New Zealand Warriors v Dolphins ANZAC match - 25 Apr (Sky Stadium)
Beervana - 21 - 22 Aug (Hnry Stadium)
World of WearableArt (WOW) Awards Show – Sep – Oct (dates TBC)

Parliament Sittings Calendar - New Zealand Parliament

Christchurch/CANTERBURY

2026

Bread & Circus World Buskers Festival – 23 Jan - 1 Feb
Crankworx Christchurch - 19 - 22 Feb
Lexus Urban Polo - 21 Feb
Electric Ave Festival - 27 - 28 Feb (Hagley Park)
Supercars Christchurch Super 440 - 17 - 19 Apr
Super Rugby Pacific - Super Round 24 - 26 Apr
Canterbury A&P Show – Nov (during Show Week)
NZ Cup Week - 7-14 Nov (Riccarton Park)
Black Caps vs India T20 22 & 24 Nov (Hagley Park)

Nelson/Tasman

2026

Nelson Arts Festival – Oct
MarchFest Beer Festival – Mar

Queenstown/Otago

2026

Lake Hayes A&P Show – 10 Jan
The Valley - 24 Jan
New Zealand Open - 26 Feb - 1 Mar
Warbirds Over Wanaka Airshow – Apr (Easter weekend)
Queenstown Winter Festival – Late Jun
Snow Sports Season – Jun – Sep
Queenstown Marathon - 14 Nov

Other Notable Events

2026

Gore/ Southland
Southern Field Days - 11-13 Feb 2026
Rhythm & Vines – 31 Dec 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 (Gisborne)
Marlborough Wine & Food Festival – Feb
Te Matatini National Kapa Haka Festival in New Plymouth (Feb 25 - Mar 1)

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