4 daysThu, Jan 1 – Sun, Jan 4
New Year's Day · Day after New Year's Day
1234
Stretch it: take 3 days of leave (Dec 29–31) for 11 days off (Dec 25 – Jan 4).
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Long Weekends in New Zealand 2026
New Zealand has 8 long weekends (3 or more consecutive days off) in 2026, counting public holidays and Sat–Sun weekends; the longest natural break runs 4 days (Jan 1 – 4). Placed well, 3 days of leave stretches a break to 11 consecutive days off — every option is below.
- Long weekends
- 8
- Longest break
- 4 days
- Best bridge
- +3 → 11 days
- Weekend
- Sat–Sun
Subscribe to or print New Zealand holidays →
Every break in 2026
Public holidayWeekendLeave day
3 daysFri, Feb 6 – Sun, Feb 8
678
Stretch it: take 4 days of leave (Feb 2–5) for 9 days off (Jan 31 – Feb 8).
4 daysFri, Apr 3 – Mon, Apr 6
3456
Stretch it: take 4 days of leave (Mar 30 – Apr 2) for 10 days off (Mar 28 – Apr 6).
3 daysSat, Apr 25 – Mon, Apr 27
ANZAC Day · ANZAC Day (substitute day)
252627
Stretch it: take 4 days of leave (Apr 28 – May 1) for 9 days off (Apr 25 – May 3).
3 daysSat, May 30 – Mon, Jun 1
30311
Stretch it: take 4 days of leave (Jun 2–5) for 9 days off (May 30 – Jun 7).
3 daysFri, Jul 10 – Sun, Jul 12
101112
Stretch it: take 4 days of leave (Jul 6–9) for 9 days off (Jul 4 – 12).
3 daysSat, Oct 24 – Mon, Oct 26
242526
Stretch it: take 4 days of leave (Oct 27–30) for 9 days off (Oct 24 – Nov 1).
4 daysFri, Dec 25 – Mon, Dec 28
Christmas Day · Boxing Day · Boxing Day (substitute day)
25262728
Stretch it: take 3 days of leave (Dec 29–31) for 11 days off (Dec 25 – Jan 4).
All bridge plans, ranked by date
Each plan books leave only on working days between two natural breaks, so every one of them returns more than one day off per day of leave.
| Days off | Leave | Span |
|---|---|---|
| 11Best value | 3d · Dec 29–31 | Dec 25 – Jan 4 |
| 9 | 4d · Feb 2–5 | Jan 31 – Feb 8 |
| 10 | 4d · Mar 30 – Apr 2 | Mar 28 – Apr 6 |
| 10 | 4d · Apr 7–10 | Apr 3 – 12 |
| 9 | 4d · Apr 28 – May 1 | Apr 25 – May 3 |
| 9 | 4d · Jun 2–5 | May 30 – Jun 7 |
| 9 | 4d · Jul 6–9 | Jul 4 – 12 |
| 9 | 4d · Oct 27–30 | Oct 24 – Nov 1 |
| 10 | 4d · Dec 21–24 | Dec 19 – 28 |
| 11 | 3d · Dec 29–31 | Dec 25 – Jan 4 |
Computed from New Zealand's public holidays plus Sat–Sun weekends. Substitute days count as days off; observances don't. Bridges spend at most 4 leave days, booked only on working days.