What to Do This School Holidays and Matariki
Matariki arrives on Friday 10 July this year, right in the middle of the New Zealand school holidays.
For many, Matariki is a time to reflect, reconnect and look ahead. And while a road trip might not be the first thing that comes to mind, we think there is something pretty fitting about slowing down, getting the family together and taking a little time away from the usual routine.
It is also a pretty good time to look up.
For anyone wanting to learn a little more about our night skies, Dark Sky New Zealand has plenty of information around astronomy and stargazing in New Zealand.
With Evolve Rentals helping travellers explore from Queenstown, Christchurch and Auckland, Matariki and the July school holidays are a pretty good excuse to pick a direction, pack the car and spend some proper time together.
From Queenstown: Slow Down and Take the Scenic Route
Queenstown in winter has a habit of making you stop and look around.
Snow on the mountains, crisp mornings and those clear winter days where the lake almost looks too still to be real.
One of our favourite easy drives is Queenstown to Glenorchy. The road follows Lake Wakatipu for most of the journey and there are plenty of places to safely stop, stretch your legs and enjoy the view.
We have shared the Glenorchy drive before in our guide to a scenic autumn day trip to Glenorchy, but winter gives the whole journey a completely different feel.
For a few more easy options, our guide to scenic winter drives from Queenstown covers Glenorchy, Arrowtown, Kelvin Heights and Kingston.
You could also head across to Arrowtown for the afternoon. We have always loved it as an easy day trip from Queenstown, and our guide to exploring Arrowtown is a good place to start.
No huge itinerary needed. Grab a coffee, find somewhere new and take your time.
From Christchurch: Head Towards Lake Tekapo
If you are starting in Christchurch, Lake Tekapo is a brilliant option for a winter night away.
The drive itself is part of the trip, and staying overnight means there is no need to rush back before dark.
Once the sun goes down, look up.
Takapō sits within the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, making it an incredible place to experience the night sky. For anyone wanting to make more of the experience, Dark Sky Project combines stargazing, astronomy and Māori storytelling in Takapō.
Their experiences include outdoor stargazing and an indoor Dark Sky Experience, so even a cloudy winter evening does not necessarily mean missing out completely.
We have included Tekapo in our Queenstown to Christchurch road trip guide, alongside stops at Cromwell, Omarama and Aoraki Mount Cook.
For anyone wanting to spend a little more time around the city first, our perfect 2 to 3 day Christchurch itinerary has plenty of ideas before you head further south.
And for the families who are happy to make a bigger trip of the school holidays, take a look at some of our longer New Zealand road trips worth doing. The seasons might have changed, but the idea is still the same.
Take your time and enjoy the journey.
From Auckland: Leave the City Behind for a Night
You do not need to drive halfway across the North Island to feel like you have escaped Auckland.
Matakana is an easy option for a relaxed night away, or head west and explore beyond the city.
Sometimes the best school holiday plan is simply getting everyone out of the house and going somewhere different.
We covered some of our favourite options in the best weekend road trips from Auckland, including Matakana, the Coromandel, the Kauri Coast and Raglan.
Or, for something a little bigger, have a look at our Auckland summer road trip ideas and save a few destinations for your next trip.
The weather might be cooler now, but there is something pretty good about a winter road trip.
Warm car. Good playlist. Plenty of snacks.
And hopefully somewhere clear enough to look up at the stars once you arrive.
Make the School Holidays Feel Like a Holiday
The July school holidays can disappear pretty quickly.
Before you know it, everyone has spent two weeks at home, the usual routine starts again and Term 3 is here.
A road trip does not need to mean a week away.
One night somewhere different can be enough.
We said something similar in our guide to easy New Zealand long weekend road trips. The trip does not need to be complicated to feel worthwhile.
Pick a destination.
Pack the car.
Bring more snacks than you think you need.
Stop when something looks interesting.
Sometimes that is the whole point.
Book Your Matariki and School Holiday Road Trip with Evolve Rentals
Whether you are starting in Queenstown, Christchurch or Auckland, Evolve Rentals makes hiring a car simple.
From economical hybrids for easy day trips to SUVs with a little more room for the family, having your own car gives you the freedom to explore New Zealand at your own pace.
Matariki is a good reminder to slow down, look around and spend a little more time with the people who matter.
The school holidays give you the time to actually do it.
Book your rental car with Evolve Rentals and start planning your winter road trip.