Easter in New Zealand: Long Weekend Getaways, Sweet Stops & Easy Road Trips

Easter 2026 was a big one for road trips. The Easter long weekend in New Zealand ran from Good Friday on 3 April to Easter Monday on 6 April, the autumn school holidays started the same day, and the clocks went back on Easter Sunday, handing everyone an extra hour. In the south the trees were turning gold, and in the north the weather was still warm enough for the beach.

Whether you spend it with family, head away for a couple of nights or just fill the days with good food and a scenic drive, Easter rewards having your own car from Evolve Rentals, in Queenstown or in Auckland.

When was Easter 2026 in New Zealand?

Good Friday fell on Friday 3 April 2026 and Easter Monday on Monday 6 April 2026, both public holidays. For schools, Easter Tuesday on 7 April was also a holiday, and the April school holidays ran from Friday 3 to Sunday 19 April.

Daylight saving also ended at 3am on Easter Sunday, 5 April 2026, when the clocks went back an hour. The Easter bunny got a lie in, and so did everyone else.

What is open over the Easter long weekend in New Zealand?

No, and it is worth planning around. Good Friday and Easter Sunday are restricted trading days in New Zealand, so many shops close, although some councils allow shops to open on Easter Sunday in their area. Cafes, restaurants and dairies are more likely to be open than supermarkets and malls.

The easy fix is to stock up on the Thursday and check the places you want to eat before you set off. Our guide to Easter in Queenstown covers what is open there, what is on and which markets run over the weekend.

Where can you go for Easter from Queenstown?

Queenstown is in the middle of some of the best autumn drives in the country, and Easter is when they are at their best.

Wanaka, an hour over the Crown Range. In 2026 Easter weekend was also Warbirds Over Wanaka, and our post on Warbirds Over Wanaka 2026 covers the airshow and the drive.

Glenorchy, 45 kilometres along the lake. The trees at the head of the lake turn gold in autumn, and our guide to an autumn day trip to Glenorchy has the stops worth making.

Arrowtown, 20 to 25 minutes away, which is at its most colourful in April. A walk along the Arrow River and lunch in the village is an easy Easter afternoon, and the old Chinese settlement on the edge of town is a short, interesting stroll that children tend to enjoy too. Go early in the day if you can, as the main street gets busy on a holiday weekend.

Where can you go for Easter from Auckland?

Out of the city, while the weather is still kind. From central Auckland the west coast beaches, the Kumeu wineries and Matakana are all within about an hour, and a long weekend gives you time for something further.

Our guide to the best weekend road trips from Auckland covers the longer options, and a Hobbiton day out from Auckland is a very good way to use one of the four days, especially with children on school holidays.

One Auckland tip: holiday traffic out of the city on the Thursday evening and back in on Easter Monday afternoon is heavy, so leave early or come back late.

Where are the best sweet stops for Easter?

Easter is a chocolate holiday, so give yourself permission. In Queenstown, a proper hot chocolate is never far away, and our guide to where to get a proper hot chocolate in Queenstown has the ones worth finding.

Mrs Ferg on Shotover Street and Beach Street does gelato and sorbet, and Fergbaker next door to Fergburger opens at 6am for pastries, cakes and pies. On an autumn road trip, a bakery stop is not a detour, it is the plan.

Tips for an Easter long weekend

Book early. Easter falls in school holidays, so accommodation, activities and cars are in demand in both cities.

Allow for autumn conditions in the south. Mornings in Central Otago can be frosty by April, especially on higher roads like the Crown Range, so take it easy early in the day and give yourself plenty of time.

Plan for the restricted trading days. Fill up with fuel and supplies before Good Friday and Easter Sunday rather than hoping somewhere is open.

Use the extra hour. With the clocks going back on Easter Sunday, the mornings are lighter, which makes it the perfect day for an early start on a long drive.

Getting the car sorted

In Queenstown, we bring the car to you. Someone from our team meets you where you are staying, walks you round the car and hands over the keys. In Auckland, you collect it from 71 Mayoral Drive, right in the middle of the city, which means you are on the motorway and out of town in minutes rather than queuing at the airport.

Whichever end of the country you are in, book your car with Evolve Rentals well before the long weekend and make the most of the extra days.

FAQs

When was Easter 2026 in New Zealand?
Good Friday was Friday 3 April 2026 and Easter Monday was Monday 6 April 2026. Both are public holidays.

When did daylight saving end in 2026?
At 3am on Sunday 5 April 2026, which was Easter Sunday, when the clocks went back one hour.

What is open at Easter in New Zealand?
Good Friday and Easter Sunday are restricted trading days, so many shops close. Easter Saturday and Easter Monday are normal trading days. Some councils allow shops to open on Easter Sunday, and cafes and restaurants are more likely to be open.

When were the April 2026 school holidays?
From Friday 3 April to Sunday 19 April 2026, with Easter Tuesday on 7 April also a school holiday.