Want to get more out of your days off in 2026? We’ve crunched the numbers to get our Kiwi friends going further.
Like the sound of spending King’s Birthday on the Amalfi Coast? How about spending Labour Day in Japan’s scenic countryside? Intrepid’s here to make that happen – so here are our top picks to make the most of your annual leave for 2026.
Key dates:
- Christmas and New Year’s Day 2026: Take off 22 to 24 December and 29 to 31 December for a 16-day holiday.
- Waitangi Day: Take off 2 to 5 February for a nine-day holiday.
- Easter: Take off 30 March to 2 April and 7 to 10 April for a 16-day holiday
- ANZAC Day: Take off 28 April to 1 May for a nine-day holiday.
- King’s Birthday: Take off 3 to 6 June for a nine-day holiday.
- Matariki: Take off 6 to 9 July for a nine-day holiday.
- Labour Day: Take off 27 to 30 October for a nine-day holiday.
- Christmas and New Year’s Day 2026: Take off 21 to 24 December and 29 to 30 December for a 16-day holiday.
December 2025/January 2026 – Christmas and New Year’s Day
As one year rolls into the next, you too can keep the good times rolling by giving yourself plenty of time to see the world. For Christmas and New Year’s Day, take off 22 to 24 December and 29 to 31 December for a 16-day holiday.
You’ll be starting the year how you mean to continue when you sit down for lunch with a Tamil tea worker in Sri Lanka, feast your way along the Cradle to Coast Tasting Trail on Best of Tasmania or visit rural villages in Vietnam and Cambodia on two wheels.
February – Waitangi Day
Still clinging onto summer? Not quite wanting to settle back into the working routine? We’ve got something that might help. For Waitangi Day, take off 2 to 5 February for a nine-day holiday.
Lock in that leave now and you could settle in for a Sasak dinner and performance at Tetebatu on Lombok, spend the night at a heritage stay in rural Rajasthan India or go deep into the goldrush history of the West Coast on a good ol’ local getaway.
April – Easter and ANZAC Day
Connect the dots just right, and you can bookend April with a couple of epic adventures. For Easter, take off 30 March to 2 April and 7 to 10 April for a 16-day holiday. Then, for ANZAC Day, take off 28 April to 1 May for a nine-day holiday.
Been meaning to explore medinas, Roman ruins and rural towns of Morocco? Curious about taking on the cultural odyssey and physical challenge that is Spain’s Camino de Santiago? Or maybe you’ve been longing for the sight of a Santorini sunset in Greece? Well, you’ve got two chances to make it happen!
June – King’s Birthday
Making it to the mid-point of the year is all the reason you need to carve out some time for yourself. Turn King’s Birthday into a weeklong bash by taking off 2 to 5 June for a nine-day holiday.
Chuck the OOO on and head oooverseas to take a trek along the Inca Trail in Peru, kayak along the sparkling Amalfi Coast in Italy or visit some of Australia’s most significant sites in the Red Centre.
July – Matariki
Why stop at just one mid-winter getaway? This year’s Matariki could be one to remember by taking off 6 to 9 July for a nine-day holiday. That’ll give you time to see the start of Kenya‘s wildlife migrations, experience the tranquility of the Canadian Rockies or explore a quieter side of Europe in Montenegro.
October – Labour Day
Again, you really don’t need a reason to see more of the world – but making it through winter sure deserves some celebrating. For Labour Day, get your silly season started a few months early by taking off 27 to 30 October for a nine-day holiday.
That’ll give you time to experience a slice of rural Japanese life during a homestay in Kawane, spend a night in a traditional cave hotel in Cappadocia or jump across the ditch and search for super cute quokka in Western Australia.
December – Christmas and New Year’s Day
We started how we meant to continue, so it only makes sense to see off what will have been a spectacular year in style. For both Christmas and New Year’s Day 2027, take off 21 to 24 December and 29 to 31 December for a 16-day holiday.
Your end of year will be the envy of everyone as you make your own colourful lanterns in Vietnam with the family, support conservation efforts for black and white rhinos in Botswana or compare the heaving streets of Buenos Aires with the jagged peaks of Patagonia.
Inspired to maximise your time off? Join a small group adventure with Intrepid.
