What to Do This School Holidays and Matariki

Matariki lands on Friday 10 July this year, right in the middle of the July school holidays. That gives a lot of families a long weekend inside a two week break, and a very good reason to get out of the house together.

Matariki is about remembering, celebrating and looking ahead, and because it is named for a star cluster, it is also the perfect excuse to look up. So here are our favourite ways to spend it, from Queenstown and from Auckland, with your car from Evolve Rentals and not much more of a plan than a direction and a bag of snacks.

When are Matariki and the July school holidays in 2026?

The Matariki public holiday is on Friday 10 July 2026. The school holidays run from Saturday 4 July to Sunday 19 July 2026, with Term 3 starting on Monday 20 July.

That makes the weekend of 10 to 12 July a three day weekend in the middle of the holidays. It is also one of the busiest stretches of the whole year in Queenstown, so if you are planning a trip around it, book your car and your bed early.

What is Matariki?

Matariki is the Māori name for the Pleiades star cluster, which rises in the winter sky just before dawn and marks the Māori New Year. Its return has traditionally been a time to remember those who have died, to gather and celebrate, and to look forward to the year ahead.

Matariki has been a New Zealand public holiday since 2022, and Te Ara, the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, has a good introduction to Matariki if you want to share a little of the story with the kids before you head off.

Where can you see the stars from Queenstown?

Takapō, or Lake Tekapo, is the place to go. It sits inside the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, and it is about 256km from Queenstown on State Highway 8, a little over three hours of driving without stops.

That makes it a proper overnight trip rather than a day out, and that is the point. Stay the night, eat early, and let the sky do the rest. The Dark Sky Project runs the Summit Experience at the Mount John Observatory, with guides, telescopes and extreme cold weather jackets on loan. It lasts 1 hour 45 minutes, the minimum age is 10, and if the cloud rolls in, guests are offered an alternative night time experience, a reschedule, a voucher or a refund.

The drive itself is half the fun. It runs over the Lindis Pass and past Lake Pukaki, and in July you need to plan for winter conditions. Leave early, drive the pass in daylight, and ask us for snow chains when you book. Our guide to the Queenstown to Christchurch road trip covers the Lindis, Pukaki and Tekapo in more detail, including how to split the drive.

What are the easiest Matariki day trips from Queenstown?

Not every family wants three hours in the car, and you do not need them. Some of the best winter days out start within an hour of town:

• Glenorchy, along the shore of Lake Wakatipu, with plenty of places to stop for the view
• Arrowtown, for a wander and a warm lunch
• Kingston, at the southern end of the lake, for a quieter drive
• Kelvin Heights, for lake views without going far at all

Our guide to scenic winter drives from Queenstown covers all four, with what to stop for and how to work around the short winter daylight. In July it is dark by about half past five, so start the day earlier than you would in summer.

Where should you go from Auckland for Matariki?

Matakana, about an hour north, is the easiest night away. If you stay on the Friday night, you can be at the Matakana Village Farmers Market when it opens at 8am on Saturday, before the car park fills.

With a three day weekend, you have time for something bigger. The Coromandel is about two and a half hours east, Raglan about two hours south, and the Kauri Coast is the long one, best with a night or two. Our guide to the best weekend road trips from Auckland covers all four, including the details that catch people out, like the tide at Hot Water Beach and the gate hours at Tāne Mahuta.

And if the skies are clear, look up once you are out of the city lights. You will see a lot more than you do from home.

How do you make the school holidays feel like a holiday?

Keep it simple. The July holidays disappear fast, and a trip does not have to be a week away to feel worthwhile. One night somewhere different is often enough.

• Pick a destination and book it before the long weekend fills
• Pack warm layers, a torch and more snacks than you think you need
• Leave earlier than you would in summer, because the light goes early
• Stop when something looks interesting, because that is the whole point

Why hire a car for Matariki and the school holidays?

Because most of the best parts of this weekend are a drive away, and they happen when it suits you, not a bus timetable. A stargazing session ends late, a farmers market starts early, and a winter road trip works best when you can leave the moment the weather clears.

In Queenstown, we bring the car to your accommodation and walk you through it. In Auckland, you collect in the central city rather than out at the airport. Mileage is unlimited on every rental, so a run to Tekapo and back costs nothing extra in kilometres, and your second driver is free, so the grown ups can share the long stretches.

Slow down, look up and enjoy it

Matariki is a good reminder to spend a little more time with the people who matter, and the school holidays give you the time to do it. Book your Matariki road trip with Evolve Rentals, pack the car and head somewhere the sky is dark enough to see the stars.

FAQs

When is Matariki in 2026?
The Matariki public holiday is on Friday 10 July 2026, in the middle of the July school holidays.

When are the July school holidays in 2026?
From Saturday 4 July to Sunday 19 July 2026, with Term 3 starting on Monday 20 July.

How far is Lake Tekapo from Queenstown?
About 256km on State Highway 8, a little over three hours of driving without stops. In winter, plan for conditions on the Lindis Pass and carry snow chains.

What is the minimum age for the Dark Sky Project Summit Experience?
The minimum age is 10. The experience lasts 1 hour 45 minutes and includes the loan of an extreme cold weather jacket.

Can you add extra drivers to an Evolve Rentals car?
Yes. Your second driver is free, and mileage is unlimited on every rental.