With a bit of planning, you can hack your way to more holidays by being smart about your annual leave. Our guide walks you through how to make the most of public holidays, long weekends, and smartly placed leave days. So whether you’re dreaming of lying on a beach with a cocktail in hand or doing a week-long hike in the hills, these tips will help you maximise your annual leave in 2026. Explore our calendar below to start mapping your time off.
Annual leave day: 2nd January 2026
Total time off: 1st Jan to 4th Jan
In 2026, Waitangi day falls on a Friday, creating an instant long weekend and entended break of 9 days.
Public holiday: Friday 6 February 2026
Annual leave days: 9, 10, 11, 12 February
Total time off: 6 February - 14 February
Easter is one of the best times of year to stretch your annual leave. With Good Friday and Easter Monday both public holidays, a few leave days gives you a decent early year break.
Annual leave days: 7, 8, 9, 10 April
Total time off: 3 April - 12 April
In New Zealand, ANZAC Day is taken on the following Monday when it falls on a weekend. In 2026, this creates an excellent opportunity to book time off and have longer off work.
Public holiday (observed): Monday 27 April 2026
Annual leave days: 28, 29, 30 April & 1 May
Total time off: 25 April - 3 May
The King’s Birthday holiday is ideal for a mid-year reset, whether that’s a winter escape or to escape for Euro summer.
Public holiday: Monday 1 June 2026
Annual leave days: 2, 3, 4, 5 June
Total time off: 30 May - 7 June
Matariki has quickly become one of the best public holidays for winter leave planning. In 2026, it falls on a Friday, making it perfect for an extended break.
Public holiday: Friday 10 July 2026
Annual leave days: 13, 14, 15, 16 July
Total time off: 10 July- 18 July
Labour Day is one of the final chances of the year to maximise leave before the Christmas period arrives.
Public holiday: Monday 26 October 2026
Annual leave days: 27, 28, 29, 30 October
Total time off: 24 October- 1 November
The end-of-year holiday period offers the biggest return on your leave. With Christmas and New Year public holidays close together, many workplaces slow down making it an ideal time to take leave.
Annual leave days: 29, 30, 31 December and 4 January
Total time off: 25 December- 4 January
Need some help planning on where to go with all that extra leave? These travel guides will be sure to get your travel juices flowing. Why not also check out The 1Cover Travel Hub as your go-to destination for everything you need before you fly, sail, or hit the road.
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We love travel, so of course we think it makes perfect sense to stretch your annual leave as far as it can go. With a little foresight, you can transform just a few days of annual leave into long breaks. By placing your leave days just before or after key public holidays, you can turn your weekends into extended escapes and carve out full weeks away without depleting your entire allowance.
Whether you’re dreaming of a summer holiday, or a winter wonderland, make your annual leave work harder for you in 2026.
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