Annual leave hack: turn 27 days into 59 days off in 2026

Remember that promise you made to yourself last year — more adventures, more freedom, less time working in 2026? Well 2026 is handing you the perfect opportunity on a silver platter. But only if you act fast. New Zealand's public holiday calendar has aligned beautifully this year, with holidays falling in all the right places to turn a modest 27 days of annual leave into a staggering 59 days of vanlife freedom. Camplify makes it possible with thousands of vans to hire from local owners across Aotearoa — but the best vans won't last forever. Those who lock in their adventures today will be the ones living their best lives throughout 2026. Don't let this be another year of "I should have" and "maybe next time."

Here's how to maximise your leave in 2026

Easter (3 April - 6 April)

• When to take leave: From 30 March to 2 April (Monday–Thursday) and 7 to 10 April (Tuesday–Friday) for 16 days of freedom using just 8 leave days.

• Where to go: April's warm early-autumn conditions are perfect for the South Island's sights, from Queenstown to Wanaka, the dramatic coastal curves of the Kaikōura Coast where you might spot whales and dolphins, or the Coromandel Peninsula's golden beaches before the summer crowds have fully cleared.

Just your favourite people, a motorhome and the open road - what more could you want?

Find the perfect van for your Easter adventure→

King's Birthday (1 June)

When to take leave: Take leave 2–5 June (Tusday–Friday) for 9 days off using only 4 leave days, combining with King's Birthday on Monday 1 June and the surrounding weekends.

Where to go: June is the heart of New Zealand winter — and that's exactly when the magic happens. Chase the stars from the Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve (one of the world's best stargazing spots), soak in the steaming thermal pools of Rotorua's forests, or explore the rugged West Coast of the South Island in moody, crowd-free winter light.

The steaming thermal pools of Rotorua.

Find the perfect van starting from Rotorua →

Matariki (10 July 2026)

When to take leave: Take leave 6–9 July (Monday–Thursday) for 9 days off using only 4 leave days, bridging the prior weekend with Matariki on Friday 10 July and the following weekend.

Where to go: Matariki offers a beautiful opportunity to connect with Māori culture and storytelling across the country, with events and celebrations held nationwide. July's crisp winter skies also make it an ideal time for stargazing at the Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve — fitting, given Matariki marks the rising of the Pleiades star cluster.

The Mackenzie Region's Dark Sky Reserve offers some of the best stargazing in the world.

Find the perfect van starting from Queenstown →

Labour Day (26 October)

• When to take leave: Take leave 27–30 October (Tuesday–Friday) for a 9-day spring escape using just 4 annual leave days.

• Where to go: October is one of New Zealand's finest months — lupins begin blooming in the Mackenzie Basin, the Central Otago wine region bursts into colour, and hiking trails across Fiordland and the Tongariro Alpine Crossing reopen after winter. Hit the road before the summer crowds arrive and enjoy the country at its most gloriously unhurried.

Each year from spring to early summer, thousands of pink and purple lupins line the shores of Lake Tekapo.

Find a van for your spring escape →

Christmas & New Year (25 Dec, 26 Dec and 1 Jan 2027)

• When to take leave: With Christmas and Boxing Day falling on a Friday and Saturday (with an observance day the following Monday for Boxing Da, then New Year's on a Friday too, you only need 7 leave days 21-24 December (Monday - Thursday) and 29-31 January (Tuesday - Thursday) to secure an incredible 16-day summer break.

• Where to go: For New Zealand's summer at its absolute finest, head to the pristine beaches of the Abel Tasman National Park (kayak right to your campsite), the sun-drenched Marlborough Sounds with its turquoise waterways, or Northland's subtropical Far North where the pohutukawa trees blaze scarlet over Christmas. There's no better way to ring in the New Year than watching fireworks from a beachside campground.

A campervan, caravan or motorhome is your ticket to North Island adventures.

Find the perfect van for your Summer adventure →

Now's the time to lock in your 2026 adventure

That's 59 total days of adventure for just 27 days of annual leave. These dates aren't a secret — they're public knowledge, which means every day you wait is another day someone else is booking the van you wanted for the dates you needed. The family-friendly layouts with bunks for the kids, the 4WD campervans that can take you off-grid to hidden bays, the vans that come delivered right to your campground — they're all disappearing from availability calendars right now. Find your perfect van on Camplify, submit your annual leave request, and lock in your 2026 adventures before they become someone else's memories. Your future self will either thank you for booking now — or regret that you waited.

Public holidays vary by region — some areas observe anniversary days on different dates. Check your local regional calendar when planning your leave.