Photo: “Omaha Beach vista” by Follash, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Best Long Weekends in New Zealand for 2027
Introduction
2027 is a great year for long weekends in New Zealand. Several holidays fall on a Saturday or Sunday and get Mondayised, Easter arrives early in late March, and King's Birthday and Matariki both fall in June, so you get two long weekends in June. This guide covers every long weekend in 2027, how many days you get, where to go, and how to stretch your annual leave further.
2027 Long Weekends at a Glance
| Public Holiday | Date (2027) | Days Off | Best Destination |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day + Day after | Fri 1 Jan – Mon 4 Jan (observed) | 4-day (Fri–Mon) | Gisborne, Coromandel |
| Waitangi Day | Mon 8 Feb (observed) | 3-day (Sat–Mon) | Bay of Islands |
| Good Friday – Easter Monday | Fri 26 – Mon 29 Mar | 4-day | Hawke's Bay, Marlborough |
| ANZAC Day | Mon 26 Apr (observed) | 3-day (Sat–Mon) | Wellington, Napier |
| King's Birthday | Mon 7 Jun | 3-day | Queenstown, Ruapehu |
| Matariki | Fri 25 Jun | 3-day (Fri–Sun) | Rotorua, Wellington |
| Labour Day | Mon 25 Oct | 3-day | Christchurch, Kaikōura |
| Christmas + Boxing Day | Mon 27 & Tue 28 Dec (observed) | 4-day (Sat–Tue) | Nelson, Coromandel |
Summer Long Weekends
New Year's Day — 1 January 2027
New Year's Day falls on a Friday in 2027. The Day after New Year's Day (2 January) falls on a Saturday, so it's Mondayised to Monday 4 January. That gives you a four-day weekend from Friday to Monday.
Where to go: Gisborne is one of the first cities in the world to see the new year's sunrise. Beach towns on the Coromandel and in Northland are classic Kiwi summer spots.
Leave hack: Take Tuesday 5 to Friday 8 January as annual leave (4 days). You get 10 consecutive days off, from Friday 1 to Sunday 10 January.
Waitangi Day — 6 February 2027
Waitangi Day falls on a Saturday in 2027, so it's observed on Monday 8 February. That gives you a Saturday-to-Monday long weekend.
Where to go: The official commemorations at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds in the Bay of Islands are the heart of the day. Paihia and Russell make great bases for the rest of the weekend.
Regional anniversary days in summer
Several regions get an extra summer long weekend:
- Wellington Anniversary: Monday 25 January 2027
- Auckland Anniversary: Monday 1 February 2027. Combined with Waitangi Day, Aucklanders get two long weekends back-to-back.
- Nelson Anniversary: Monday 1 February 2027
See all regional anniversary days for your region's date.
Easter 2027 — An Early Autumn Break
Easter comes early in 2027. Good Friday is on 26 March and Easter Monday on 29 March, giving you a four-day weekend while the weather is still warm from late summer.
Leave hack: Take Tuesday 30 March to Friday 2 April (4 days of leave) for 10 days off, from Friday 26 March to Sunday 4 April.
Southland bonus: Southland Anniversary Day falls on Easter Tuesday (30 March 2027), so Southlanders get a five-day Easter weekend automatically.
Where to go: In late March, Hawke's Bay and Marlborough are in the middle of harvest, with warm days and busy cellar doors. Abel Tasman and the Coromandel still have swimmable water temperatures.
What to know: Good Friday and Easter Sunday have trading restrictions. Many shops are closed, so stock up on Thursday.
Autumn and Winter Long Weekends
ANZAC Day — 25 April 2027
ANZAC Day falls on a Sunday in 2027, so it's observed on Monday 26 April. Dawn services still take place on Sunday 25 April, and Monday is the day off work.
Best places for dawn services:
- Pukeahu National War Memorial Park, Wellington
- Auckland War Memorial Museum
- Small-town memorials, which often have a close community feel
After the service, Napier and Hawke's Bay are lovely in autumn, with art deco streets, cellar doors, and Te Mata Peak.
King's Birthday — 7 June 2027
King's Birthday on Monday 7 June marks the unofficial start of ski season. Queenstown, Wānaka, and Mt Ruapehu are the go-to destinations, though whether the slopes are open early in June depends on the snow.
Budget tip: Early June is before the school-holiday peak, so accommodation in ski towns is noticeably cheaper than in July.
Matariki — 25 June 2027
Matariki falls on Friday 25 June 2027, just 18 days after King's Birthday, so June has two long weekends.
Leave hack: Take Monday 28 June off as well for a four-day winter break, or take the three days before Matariki (Tuesday 22 to Thursday 24 June) for a six-day break from Tuesday to Sunday.
Where to celebrate:
- Rotorua: immersive Māori cultural experiences and geothermal landscapes
- Wellington: Te Papa's Matariki programme and city-wide Matariki events
- Gisborne: dawn ceremonies on the East Coast, where Matariki is especially significant
- Read our guide to Matariki for more ideas
Spring Long Weekend
Labour Day — 25 October 2027
Labour Day on Monday 25 October gives you a spring long weekend. Hawke's Bay Anniversary falls on the Friday before (22 October), so Hawke's Bay locals get four days. Marlborough Anniversary follows a week later, on Monday 1 November.
Spring destinations:
- Kaikōura for whale watching
- Christchurch Botanic Gardens in full bloom
- Zealandia and the Wellington waterfront
Christmas and New Year 2027–28 — The Best Leave Deal of the Year
Christmas Day falls on a Saturday and Boxing Day on a Sunday in 2027, so both are Mondayised: Christmas Day is observed on Monday 27 December and Boxing Day on Tuesday 28 December.
New Year 2028 works the same way. 1 January is a Saturday, so it's observed on Monday 3 January, and 2 January is a Sunday, so it's observed on Tuesday 4 January.
Leave hack: Take just Wednesday 29 to Friday 31 December (3 days of leave) for 11 consecutive days off, from Saturday 25 December 2027 to Tuesday 4 January 2028.
Where to spend it:
- Nelson and the top of the South Island, with Abel Tasman, Golden Bay, and the Marlborough Sounds
- Coromandel, close to Auckland, with Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove
- Tauranga and Mount Maunganui for a laid-back surf-town Christmas
Tips for Planning Your 2027 Long Weekends
- Book early: Summer holidays and Easter are peak season. Book accommodation 3–6 months ahead.
- Lock in the leave hacks now: The Christmas–New Year deal (3 days of leave for 11 days off) and Easter (4 days for 10) are the most efficient uses of annual leave in 2027.
- Know your Mondayisation rights: If you normally work Monday to Friday, you get the Mondayised day off. If you work on the weekend day itself, the holiday stays on that day for you. Read our guide to public holiday pay rules.
- Check your region's anniversary day: Your local regional anniversary can add an extra long weekend.
FAQ: New Zealand Long Weekends 2027
How many long weekends are there in NZ in 2027?
There are eight national long weekends in 2027, counting Easter, the New Year weekend, and the Christmas weekend. Most regions add one more with their anniversary day.
Is Waitangi Day 2027 Mondayised?
Yes. Waitangi Day falls on Saturday 6 February 2027, so it's observed on Monday 8 February.
When is Easter 2027 in New Zealand?
Good Friday is 26 March 2027 and Easter Monday is 29 March 2027.
When is Matariki 2027?
Matariki is on Friday 25 June 2027, which gives you a three-day long weekend.
What is the best way to use annual leave in 2027?
Over Christmas and New Year, taking 29–31 December (3 days of leave) gives you 11 days off, from 25 December 2027 to 4 January 2028. At Easter, taking 30 March to 2 April (4 days) gives you 10 days off.
See the full list of 2027 public holidays for every confirmed date.