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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

2026

New Year’s Day – Thu 1 Jan
Day after New Year’s Day – Fri 2 Jan
Waitangi Day – Fri 6 Feb
Good Friday – Fri 3 Apr
Easter Monday – Mon 6 Apr
ANZAC Day – Sat 25 Apr (observed Mon 27 Apr)
King’s Birthday – Mon 1 Jun
Matariki – Fri 10 Jul
Labour Day – Mon 26 Oct
Christmas Day – Fri 25 Dec
Boxing Day – Sat 26 Dec (observed Mon 28 Dec)

School Holidays

2026

School Holidays

Term 1 Break: Fri 3 Apr – Sun 19 Apr
Term 2 Break: Sat 4 Jul – Sun 19 Jul
Term 3 Break: Sat 26 Sep – Sun 11 Oct
Summer 2026–27: Starts no later than Sat 19 Dec

Auckland

2026

ASB Classic Tennis Tournament – 5–17 Jan
Ed Sheeran Concert – 16 - 17 Jan (Go Media Stadium)
Auckland International Buskers Festival – 23 - 26 Jan
Laneway Festival - 5 Feb
SailGP - 14-15 Feb
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 19 - 21 Feb
Lantern Festival 26 Feb - 01 Mar
Pasifika Festival – 14 – 15 Mar (Western Springs)
Auckland Marathon – Nov (date TBC)

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

Taupo

2026

Ironman New Zealand – 7 Mar
Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge - 28 Nov

Regional Anniversary Days

2026

Wellington – Mon 19 Jan
Auckland/Northland/Waikato – Mon 26 Jan
Nelson – Mon 2 Feb
Taranaki – Mon 9 Mar
Otago – Mon 23 Mar
Southland – Tue 7 Apr
South Canterbury – Mon 28 Sep
Hawke’s Bay – Fri 23 Oct
Marlborough – Mon 2 Nov
Canterbury – Fri 13 Nov
Westland & Chatham Islands – Mon 30 Nov

Wellington

2026

Ed Sheeran Concert – 21 Jan (Sky Stadium)
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)
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
Ed Sheeran Concert - 24-25 Jan (Apollo Projects Stadium)
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)

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
Queenstown Winter Festival – Late Jun
Snow Sports Season – Jun – Sep
Warbirds Over Wanaka Airshow – Apr (Easter weekend)

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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