Christmas and New Year feel like an eternity ago. The day-to-day slog of life is in full swing and summer is fading away. Fortunately, you don’t have to hold out until next summer to enjoy some well-deserved time off. With Easter, ANZAC Day, Queens Birthday and, the new addition, Matariki, all on the horizon we’ve put together this handy guide to help you make the most of your long weekends!
We’re going to count down the top things to do on a kiwi long weekend. Whether you’re the sort who wants to squeeze out every last drop of free time for fun activities or dream about that elusive Monday sleep in we’ve got you covered. We’ll kick off with our top recommendations for long weekend activities and leave you with some things to think about to make those plans a reality and stress free.
Day Trips
What better way to make use of that extra day than by getting out of town and exploring a new part of your region! Day trips are an easy (and budget-friendly) way to escape the big smoke for a few hours and try out new experiences.
Aucklanders are spoilt for choice when it comes to day trips. If you’ve got a car handy you really can pick a direction and drive. Why not check out some of Auckland’s fabulous regional parks? Heading up north you’ve got Shakespeare Regional Park a short drive from Silverdale or if you’re willing to go a bit further Tahwaranui Peninsula is worth the drive! If islands are more your things you can check out the ferry schedules and plan a getaway to Waiheke for the day to check out some vineyards or conquer Rangitoto.
If you’re Wellington-based why not venture up the coast to hit the beach at Plimmerton or Paraparaumu (although maybe pack that wetsuit if you plan on swimming!). Masterton and the Wairarapa Valley are only a train ride away from the CBD (the current half-priced public transport makes this super affordable!) for those looking to escape a little further and do something new.
Hanmer Springs is under 2 hours from Christchurch City and makes for a fun weekend trip. We’d recommend checking out the thermal pools, a great way to warm up on chilly autumn days! Hikers could check out Arthur’s Pass while wine and foodies might prefer the Hurunui District. Cycling is a good way to get about as you check out the local attractions at your own pace.
Multi-day Trips
Maybe you’ve decided to trade in a few days of leave to extend your long weekend and are looking to see a bit more of New Zealand. Whether you’re stocking up on snacks for a roadie, heading to the airport or even thinking of dusting off that passport (Australia anyone?) there are loads of great destinations to spend your long weekend.
The North Island’s best destinations are just a road trip away from Auckland and Wellington, including the likes of Taupo, New Plymouth, Tauranga and the Hawkes Bay!
Fancy a trip somewhere further from home? Queenstown and the surrounding region make for a great getaway! The adventurous type might want to give the luge ago, a spot of bungy jumping or take to the region's famed Great Walks. The Otago region also boasts an impressive array of wineries and luxury accommodation options.
Those champing at the bit to get overseas are in luck with regular and quarantine-free flights to Australian hubs starting back up! Just make sure to read through current travel restrictions and get all your paperwork and COVID testing in order.
Staycation
Sometimes the best long weekends are the long weekends where you do nothing. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that! A staycation can be the perfect way to unwind and recharge after what's been a rough start to 2022. With all the entertainment options available nowadays you won’t be short of things to pass the time.
TV and movie buffs are spoilt for choice with all the streaming services currently available in New Zealand. If you’ve got the time on your hands, why not snag a free trial and test out a new service? Netflix, Amazon Prime and Sky are all excellent TV and movie options. Netflix has an extensive catalogue of classics and Netflix Originals, there’s sure to be something to keep everyone happy. Amazon Prime has a narrower collection but does have some excellent shows and movies such as Reacher, The Grand Tour, Two and a Half Men and many of the James Bond movies. Sky features a broad selection from British classics to the latest blockbusters, but some channels come as additional addons.
If you’re feeling a bit old school it could be time to dig up some old DVDs. A Harry Potter movie marathon never disappoints…
Once you’ve finished browsing the catalogues of your favourite streaming service you can always ditch the screen and pick up a book! A quick trip to the local library can yield hours of entertainment and self-enrichment.
‘Autumn’ Cleaning
Sometimes the best use of that extra day is getting back on top of everything that tends to fall through the cracks. This can be a bit of cleaning and decluttering around the house or sorting out that life admin you’ve been putting off.
The long weekend makes the perfect opportunity to get your personal finances under control! Take the first steps towards setting up a budget or get started putting your money to work for you with our guide to investment platforms.
Check using this guide from NZTA and take extra care on the roads. Expect heavier traffic than usual and be patient.
Explore your inner city
With recent COVID-19 restrictions and work-from-home policies, inner cities are doing it tough. If you live near a large city the long weekend could be the perfect opportunity to take to the city and re-explore the culture, arts and heritage of New Zealand’s metropolitan hubs!
On dreary autumn days, museums can be a fantastic way to make the most of the bad weather. Most museums have constantly changing featured displays and long weekend promotions, so keep an eye out. If the weather is nicer, outdoor dining at Auckland’s Viaduct or Wellington’s Waterfront might just be the perfect way to unwind.
If you’re thinking of visiting Auckland’s CBD, try out Commercial Bay, the new shopping mall scattered with retail, bars and eateries. Seeing the city from Auckland’s Sky Tower is a worthwhile experience (you can even jump off it if you’re feeling brace!). If you’re taking to Wellington a walk through the Botanic Gardens and exploration of the water front are must-dos. We’d recommend hitting some breweries such as Fortune Favours or iconic eateries such as Dockside or Macs Brewbar. A cruise through Christchurch City on one of the historic trams or punting down the Avon River are sure to go down a treat. For a literal treat, check out the Riverside Market!
Hit the local farmer's markets
With the easing of COVID restrictions, many farmers' markets are getting back into full swing. Bursting with fresh produce and local goodies, what better way to spend that final lazy Sunday of the long weekend? Grabbing a coffee, wandering the market browsing produce and finding inspiration for dinner makes for the perfect end to a long weekend.
But before you head off on your long weekend, here are a few things to think about that can help you prepare for your time away if you’re travelling.
Check your insurance cover
The long weekend is the perfect opportunity to finally take stock of your insurance!
We know how laborious it can be to manage multiple policies and compare quotes. But it doesn’t have to be a dreaded task confined to the ‘someday’ to-do list. Using Quashed you can easily upload your policy details and view your entire insurance portfolio in one place! Then, you can use the Market Scan feature to compare your existing policies with new quotes to make sure you’re getting a good deal. This can help you save money on insurance (and with cost of living on the up, every dollar counts) and avoid common insurance mistakes by making accessing the information you need simpler.
If you’re planning on travelling check if you have any travel insurance. Review your policy to see what happens if things go wrong, it could come in handy! Some banks offer travel insurance with their credit cards if you purchase flights and accommodation on your card. Check-in with your card provider to see if that's the case and check the terms and conditions. Once again Quashed makes it easy – simply select the card you have and you can view the free insurance benefits on your very own insurance dashboard alongside all your other insurances e.g. car, house, contents, health, etc.
Lockup your house
Burglars may see the long weekend as the perfect opportunity to target the homes of unsuspecting holidayers out of town for a few days. So make sure you remember to lock up your home, set an alarm if you have one and let the neighbours know you’ll be gone so they can report any suspicious activity. Nothing puts the damper on an otherwise great long weekend like coming home to find your valuables missing. Also, check that your insurance (especially Contents insurance for your valuables) are still all up-to-date just in case you come back to a nasty surprise; at least you’ll not be out of pocket for it.
Be prepared with roadside assistance
If you’re planning on hitting the road this long weekend, make sure you’ve got a plan in place in case things go wrong. Getting locked out of your car or getting a flat on a rural highway can quickly ruin holiday plans. Luckily, many vehicle insurance providers offer roadside assistance, either with their policies or as an additional add-on. Checkout if you’re covered and make a plan for what to do if something does go wrong. Adding this to your car insurance cover will cost between $30 and $60 a year. Alternatively you can pick up an AA membership which also includes roadside assistance for $89 a year.
