Getaways from Auckland · Summer 2026–27

Summer getaways from Auckland

Fifteen ways out of the city between December and February, from a 40-minute ferry to Waiheke Island to a 1 hr 45 min flight to Queenstown. Each is sorted by how you get there, with the event worth timing it for, where to stay and one thing to know before you go.

15trips
8by car
1by train
6by air
Facts checked 24 October 2026

15 summer trips from Auckland, sorted by how you get there: 8 by car, 1 by train and 6 by air. The quickest to reach is Aotea Great Barrier Island, 30 min away; the longest trip is Taupō, 3 hr 30 min. Each one lists the travel time, the dates worth timing it for and where to stay.

At a glance

Getaway	From Auckland	Best for	Time it for
Waiheke Island	40 min	Food & wine, Romantic, Festival	Perpetual Guardian Sculpture on the Gulf 2027, 26 Feb – 29 Mar 2027
Matakana Coast	1 hr	Food & wine, Outdoors, Romantic	December to February for swimming at Anchor Bay and snorkelling at Goat Island
Raglan	2 hr	Outdoors, Family	December to February for surf lessons at Ngarunui and paddling the harbour
Hahei and Cathedral Cove	2 hr 30 min	Outdoors, Family, Romantic	December to February for the beach and the marine reserve
Tutukākā Coast	2 hr 30 min	Outdoors, Romantic	December to February for diving, snorkelling and swimming at Matapouri
Bay of Islands	3 hr	Culture, Outdoors, Family	Waitangi Day 2027 at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds, 6 Feb 2027
Rotorua	3 hr	Spa, Culture, Outdoors	December to February for the lakes
Taupō	3 hr 30 min	Outdoors, Spa, Romantic	December to February for lake cruises and the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, which is busiest in summer
Hamilton	2 hr 30 min	Culture, Festival, Family	Hamilton Arts Festival Toi Ora ki Kirikiriroa 2027, 19–28 Feb 2027
Aotea Great Barrier Island	30 min	Outdoors, Romantic	December to February, when the SeaLink ferry sails seven days a week
Hawke's Bay	1 hr 15 min	Food & wine, Culture, Festival	Art Deco Festival Napier 2027, 18–21 Feb 2027
Marlborough and the Sounds	1 hr 25 min	Food & wine, Outdoors, Romantic	December to February for the Queen Charlotte Track on foot
Queenstown	1 hr 45 min	Outdoors, Romantic, Food & wine	December to February for hiking, lake cruises and long evenings in Arrowtown and Gibbston
Abel Tasman and Nelson Tasman	2 hr 25 min	Outdoors, Romantic, Food & wine	December to February for sea kayaking
Wānaka	2 hr 55 min	Outdoors, Romantic	December to February, which Tourism New Zealand describes as hot and dry, for water sports, hiking and biking

By car 8 trips

40 min

Photograph · Camilla Rutherford / Tourism New Zealand

Hauraki Gulf, Auckland

Waiheke Island

About 40 minutes by passenger ferry from the Downtown Ferry Terminal to Matiatia, per Auckland Transport's Fullers360 timetableFullers360 sails from Pier 11 and Island Direct from Pier 13; sailings marked as running via Devonport take longer, per Auckland Transport. Tourism New Zealand notes you can bring a car over on the car ferry.

Waiheke is the shortest trip on this list: 40 minutes on the ferry from downtown, with more than 50 wineries and 25 beaches on the island, per Auckland Unlimited. In late February the biennial Sculpture on the Gulf returns to the coastal walkway at Matiatia Bay, where the ferry docks.

Time it for Perpetual Guardian Sculpture on the Gulf 2027 26 Feb – 29 Mar 2027

A biennial outdoor sculpture exhibition along a 2.5 km coastal walkway at Matiatia Bay; tickets are sold through Fullers360.

Oneroa and Little Oneroa At low tide you can walk between the two beaches around the rocks, or take the track over the hill.
Stony Batter A walkway leading to a system of Second World War gun emplacements and underground tunnels.
EcoZip Adventures A zipline through the treetops of an old forest; Auckland Unlimited lists it with kayaking, paddleboarding and snorkelling among the island's activities.
Waiheke Ostend Market Locally made goods every Saturday from 8 am to 1 pm.

Stay

The Oyster Inn Three boutique rooms above a restaurant and bar in the heart of Oneroa, five minutes from the Matiatia ferry terminal, with super king beds; Room 1 has a private verandah and a wheelchair-accessible bathroom.
Te Whau Lodge Four suites, each with a private balcony, at 36 Vintage Lane, with a multi-course breakfast and canapés in the evening.

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Summer tip Sailings marked as running via Devonport take longer than the direct 40-minute crossing, so check the timetable before you book a lunch at the other end, per Auckland Transport.

1 hr

Photograph · Miles Holden / Tourism New Zealand

North Auckland

Matakana Coast

Around one hour north of central Auckland, per Auckland UnlimitedTāwharanui Regional Park and Goat Island are around 80 to 90 minutes from central Auckland, per Auckland Unlimited.

The Matakana Coast is close enough for a Friday-night start: an hour north, with cellar doors, a Saturday market and two sculpture parks. Goat Island and Tāwharanui add the summer swimming, and both lodges below sit on vineyards.

Matakana Village Farmers' Market Runs from 8 am to 1 pm on Saturdays.
Goat Island Snorkelling in what Auckland Unlimited describes as New Zealand's oldest marine reserve.
Tāwharanui Regional Park Swimming at Anchor Bay, the Ecology Trail, and an evening glow-worm display at Waterfall Gully.
Sculptureum and Brick Bay Two sculpture stops on the way in: Sculptureum and the Brick Bay Sculpture Trail.

Stay

Takatu Lodge & Vineyard Four suites on a working vineyard, with vaulted timber ceilings, heated stone floors, a library and a three-course breakfast.
Matakana Estate Lodge A four-bedroom retreat for up to 10 guests above the vines and the Matakana Valley, with an indoor heated pool and cellar dining, five minutes from the village.

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Summer tip Matakana Estate Lodge is let as a whole four-bedroom house for up to 10, so it suits a group of friends or two families rather than a couple.

2 hr

Photograph · Camilla Rutherford / Tourism New Zealand

Waikato

Raglan

About 2 hours by car (150 km), per Hamilton & Waikato Tourism and Tourism New ZealandRaglan is about 40 to 45 minutes from Hamilton, per Tourism New Zealand.

Raglan is a two-hour drive to a surf town with what Tourism New Zealand calls the world's longest left-hand break at Manu Bay. Beginners learn at Ngarunui, the black-sand beach, and the harbour is calm enough for kayaks.

Surfing at Ngarunui and Manu Bay Surf schools work Ngarunui Beach; Manu Bay, just south of town, is the famous left-hand point break.
Wairēinga / Bridal Veil Falls A 55-metre waterfall reached by a 10-minute walk through bush.
Karioi summit track The track to the summit starts at Te Toto Gorge and ends at a panoramic view.
Raglan Harbour by kayak Rentals and guided tours around the harbour and along the coast.

Stay

Raglan Sunset Motel Studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments behind the main shopping and dining strip, a few minutes' walk from the harbour; interconnecting and wheelchair-accessible rooms are available.

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Summer tip Raglan Wharf is home to Raglan Fish for fish and chips and to the studio of potter Tony Sly, per Hamilton & Waikato Tourism.

2 hr 30 min

Photograph · Matt Crawford / Tourism New Zealand

Coromandel, Waikato

Hahei and Cathedral Cove

About 2 hr 30 min by car, per Tourism New Zealand

Hahei puts you within reach of Cathedral Cove's limestone arch and Hot Water Beach, where you dig your own pool in the sand. The coast to the north and the offshore islands form a marine reserve popular for snorkelling and kayaking.

Cathedral Cove The Cathedral Cove Walk is the shortest walking route to the cove and takes about an hour and a half; the Cathedral Cove Water Taxi runs from Hahei Beach with a one-hour stopover.
Hot Water Beach Dig a hot pool in the sand two hours either side of low tide; spades can be hired from local cafés.
The marine reserve by kayak The coastline north of Hahei and the offshore islands form a marine reserve popular for diving, snorkelling and kayaking; boat and kayak tours leave from Hahei Beach.

Stay

The Church Accommodation Twelve boutique cottages in an acre and a half of subtropical gardens at the edge of the village, with The Church Bistro serving dinner, walking distance from Hahei Beach.
Tatahi Lodge Two-bedroom cottages and garden studios in low-rise tropical gardens 400 metres from Hahei Beach, with free bikes and a spa.

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Summer tip The Hahei Beach to Grange Road track is closed because of land instability. Park free at the Hahei Visitor Car Park on Pā Road (or pay at the Lees Road gateway car park) and walk or take the shuttle to Grange Road, per Tourism New Zealand.

2 hr 30 min

Photograph · Miles Holden / Tourism New Zealand

Northland

Tutukākā Coast

About 2 hr 30 min by car, per Tourism New ZealandTutukākā is 30 minutes from Whangārei, per Tourism New Zealand.

Tutukākā's harbour is the departure point for the Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve, 23 km offshore, which Tourism New Zealand calls world-renowned for diving and snorkelling. Matapouri and Whale Bay, along the coast, fill a second day.

Poor Knights Islands A no-fishing marine reserve 23 km from Tutukākā harbour with more than 125 species; dive charters and Perfect Day cruises leave the harbour, and Rikoriko is one of the largest sea caves in the world.
Matapouri A horseshoe-shaped bay that Tourism New Zealand rates for swimming.
Whale Bay A sheltered beach fringed by large pōhutukawa trees.

Stay

Mākoha Retreat An exclusive-use retreat for up to four guests on Tutukaka Block Road, with views over Tutukākā Harbour to the Poor Knights Islands, an open fire, outdoor daybeds and a spa pool.

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Summer tip New divers are pointed to Nursery Cove and parts of South Harbour at the Poor Knights, per Tourism New Zealand; non-divers can see the islands on a day cruise.

3 hr

Photograph · Camilla Rutherford / Tourism New Zealand

Northland

Bay of Islands

About 3 hours by car to Paihia, per Tourism New ZealandAir New Zealand flies non-stop from Auckland to Kerikeri daily; the scheduled flight time is 50 minutes, and the airport is 20 minutes from Waitangi and Paihia.

The Bay of Islands is where the Treaty of Waitangi was signed, and Waitangi Day turns the Treaty Grounds into a free festival. Russell, the country's first seaport, is a 15-minute ferry ride across from Paihia.

Time it for Waitangi Day 2027 at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds 6 Feb 2027

A free festival at the Treaty Grounds with a dawn service in Te Whare Rūnanga, performance stages and more than 150 market stalls.

Waitangi Treaty Grounds Admission is a day pass valid for two consecutive days; summer hours are 9 am to 6 pm from December to February.
Russell A 15-minute passenger ferry from Paihia; Christ Church still carries musket-ball holes from the New Zealand Wars, and Pompallier Mission is the country's oldest surviving Roman Catholic building.
Hole in the Rock Cruises and fast boats run from Paihia to the Hole in the Rock at the tip of Cape Brett.

Stay

The Duke of Marlborough Hotel Billed as New Zealand's oldest licensed hotel, on the Russell waterfront at 35 The Strand, with Waterfront and Superior rooms and a restaurant built on Northland produce.
Paihia Beach Resort & Spa Guest suites with floor-to-ceiling windows over the bay and en-suite spa baths, at 130 Marsden Road in Paihia.

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Summer tip Waitangi Day falls on a Saturday in 2027, so the public holiday is observed on Monday 8 February, per Employment New Zealand; expect the long weekend to fill Paihia and Russell.

3 hr

Photograph · Graeme Murray / Tourism New Zealand

Bay of Plenty

Rotorua

About 3 hours by car, per RotoruaNZAir New Zealand flies direct between Auckland and Rotorua, per RotoruaNZ, which does not publish a flight time.

Rotorua is three hours down the road and runs on geothermal water, from Wai Ariki on the lakefront to the valley at Te Puia. The region also has 18 lakes and the Redwoods forest, and two lakeside lodges make it a weekend rather than a day trip.

Wai Ariki Hot Springs and Spa On the edge of Lake Rotorua and culturally curated by Ngāti Whakaue, per Air New Zealand; RotoruaNZ calls it New Zealand's only luxury Māori cultural spa.
Te Puia A day pass covers the geothermal valley at Whakarewarewa, with or without a guide, plus kiwi and Māori carvers and weavers at work.
Redwoods Whakarewarewa Forest Free mountain-biking and walking tracks among trees planted in 1901; the Treewalk runs day and night.

Stay

Solitaire Lodge Nine suites on a private peninsula above Lake Tarawera, each with lake views from its own deck and freestanding baths, some of them outdoors.
On The Point – Lake Rotorua Seven suites in the main lodge plus cottage suites and villas on a private five-acre estate facing Mokoia Island, with The Mains Restaurant using produce from the lodge gardens.

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Summer tip The Tikitapu (Blue Lake) circuit is an easy walk of about two hours, per Air New Zealand, and a good way to fill a hot afternoon between pools.

3 hr 30 min

Photograph · Miles Holden / Tourism New Zealand

Taupō, Waikato

Taupō

About 3 hr 30 min by car, per Destination Great Lake TaupōAir New Zealand flies daily between Auckland and Taupō, per Destination Great Lake Taupō, which does not publish a flight time; Air New Zealand puts the drive at up to four hours, depending on route and traffic.

Taupō puts the lake, the Huka Falls and the Tongariro Alpine Crossing in one weekend. Tongariro National Park is about 1 hr 20 min from town, so a two-night stay lets you walk the crossing and still spend a day on the water.

Huka Falls The Waikato River plummets over volcanic rock formations.
Ngātoroirangi Mine Bay Māori rock carvings Large carvings etched into the cliffs above the lake; Air New Zealand lists scenic boat trips of all sizes.
Tongariro Alpine Crossing A 20.2 km advanced walk through a volcanic landscape that takes 7 to 8 hours; the park is about 1 hr 20 min from Taupō.
Wairakei Terraces Adults-only geothermal pools fed by water flowing over silica terraces.

Stay

Huka Lodge Twenty lodge suites and two owners' cottages in about 17 acres of gardens on the banks of the Waikato River, with a restaurant and bar in the main lodge.
Acacia Cliffs Lodge Four guest suites with lake and mountain views and chef-prepared breakfasts; dinner can be added on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

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Summer tip Parking at the Mangatepopo and Ketetahi car parks is limited to four hours from October to May and cannot be booked, so DOC encourages a shuttle for the Tongariro Alpine Crossing; check for a 'Not Recommended Today' advisory before you go, per Tourism New Zealand.

By train 1 trip

2 hr 30 min

Photograph · Camilla Rutherford / Tourism New Zealand

Waikato

Hamilton

About 2 hr 30 min by Te Huia train from the Strand to Frankton, per Te HuiaTe Huia runs daily, with two return services Monday to Wednesday and Saturday, three on Thursday and Friday and one on Sunday, per Hamilton & Waikato Tourism; it also stops at Rotokauri.

Te Huia makes Hamilton the car-free option on this list, and late February is the time to go: the Hamilton Arts Festival stages theatre, music and circus through Hamilton Gardens for ten days.

Time it for Hamilton Arts Festival Toi Ora ki Kirikiriroa 2027 19–28 Feb 2027

A performing arts festival of theatre, music, dance, circus, cabaret, spoken word and immersive work, staged through Hamilton Gardens and selected city venues.

Hamilton Gardens Nineteen Enclosed Gardens, from ancient Egypt to the Surrealist Garden, in 45 hectares of gardens and parkland; entry is paid for visitors from outside Hamilton (NZ$27.50 for adults) and free for under-16s.
Waikato River paths A walking and cycling track runs along both sides of the river.
Waikato Museum A collection of more than 30,000 taonga.

Summer tip Te Huia does not run from Friday 25 December 2026 to Sunday 10 January 2027, so plan a holiday-period trip by car; a Bee Card gives the cheapest fare, per Te Huia and Hamilton & Waikato Tourism.

A short flight 6 trips

30 min

Photograph · Scott Venning / Tourism New Zealand

Hauraki Gulf, Auckland

Aotea Great Barrier Island

About 30 minutes by small plane from Auckland, per Aotea Great Barrier IslandBarrier Air flies from Auckland International Airport and North Shore Aerodrome; from North Shore the flight takes 20 to 25 minutes, per Barrier Air. The SeaLink ferry takes about 4 hr 30 min to Tryphena and sails seven days a week in summer.

More than 60 per cent of Aotea is protected by the Department of Conservation, which is why it is a Dark Sky Sanctuary. It has the Auckland region's only multi-day wilderness walk and hot springs in the bush, half an hour's flight from the city.

Aotea Track A 25 km, three-day walk with DOC campsites and huts, the only multi-day wilderness walk in the Auckland region.
Kaitoke Hot Springs A 45-minute walk to natural hot pools in the forest.
Surf and swimming beaches Surf at Whangapoua, Awana or Medlands; swim on the west side at Mulberry Grove, Harataonga and Gooseberry Flat.

Stay

Aotea Lodge Self-contained one- and two-bedroom units in 1.5 acres of garden at 41 Medland Road, a few minutes' walk from beaches and restaurants.
Tryphena House A house for up to 16 guests near the pub, cafés and beaches at Tryphena, with two heated clawfoot baths and free kayaks, paddleboards and fishing gear.

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Summer tip There is no public transport on the island, so book a rental car before you fly, per Auckland Unlimited; the island is off the grid and runs on solar power.

1 hr 15 min

Photograph · Matt Crawford / Tourism New Zealand

Hawke's Bay

About 1 hr 5 min flying to Napier, per Air New Zealand; Hawke's Bay Airport is 10 minutes from central Napier and 25 from Hastings, per Hawke's Bay TourismAir New Zealand flies non-stop to Napier several times a day from Auckland. By road, Hawke's Bay is about 90 minutes from Taupō on SH5, per Hawke's Bay Tourism.

Napier's 1930s Art Deco streets are celebrated every February with a festival of more than 200 events. The region has more than 30 cellar doors linked by 200 km of flat cycle trails, and the gannets at Cape Kidnappers stay until April.

Time it for Art Deco Festival Napier 2027 18–21 Feb 2027

Four days of vintage fashion, classic cars, live music and street entertainment across Napier, run by the Art Deco Trust.

Cape Kidnappers The world's largest mainland gannet colony, viewable from September to April; Gannet Safaris Overland runs 4x4 trips across the farmland.
Te Mata Peak A 399-metre peak behind Havelock North with 360-degree views, walking tracks and a road to the top.
Cellar doors by bike Many of the region's 30-plus cellar doors are linked by 200 km of flat, easy cycle trails.

Stay

Art Deco Masonic Hotel Forty-three rooms, suites and a two-bedroom apartment in the heart of 1930s Napier, opposite the MTG museum at 2 Tennyson Street, with The Rose Irish pub downstairs.
Mangapapa Hotel Twelve rooms in landscaped gardens minutes from Havelock North village, with a spa sanctuary and restaurant.

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Summer tip Experienced walkers can follow the coast from Clifton to Cape Kidnappers, but check tide times and DOC hazard warnings for landslides and rockfall first, per Hawke's Bay Tourism.

1 hr 25 min

Photograph · Miles Holden / Tourism New Zealand

Marlborough

Marlborough and the Sounds

About 1 hr 25 min flying to Blenheim, per Air New Zealand; the airport is 7 km from the town centreTourism New Zealand gives the flight from Auckland as 1 hr 30 min. Bay of Many Coves is 30 minutes from Picton by water taxi.

Marlborough is New Zealand's largest wine region, with more than 30 cellar doors around Blenheim and Renwick. Add a night in Queen Charlotte Sound and the weekend covers both the vines and a section of the Queen Charlotte Track.

Cellar doors More than 30, including Cloudy Bay, Framingham and Clos Henri in the Wairau Valley and Yealands Estate in the Awatere; you can cycle between some of them.
Queen Charlotte Track A 73.5 km track walked or ridden over one to three days; most trips start with a boat from Picton to Meretoto/Ship Cove.
The Sounds by kayak Kayaks, yachts and motor launches are available for hire or charter in the Marlborough Sounds.

Stay

Bay of Many Coves Resort Eleven apartments set in native bush on Queen Charlotte Sound, each with a private view of the bay, with a restaurant on site; 30 minutes from Picton by water taxi.

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Summer tip If you plan to ride the Queen Charlotte Track, the Meretoto/Ship Cove to Camp Bay section is closed to bikes from December to March, per Tourism New Zealand, so start further along.

1 hr 45 min

Photograph · Camilla Rutherford / Tourism New Zealand

Otago

Queenstown

About 1 hr 45 min flying from Auckland, per Air New ZealandOrbus buses cover the 8 km from Queenstown Airport to the town centre from 6 am to midnight, per Air New Zealand.

In summer Queenstown trades skis for the lake and the hills: the gondola up Bob's Peak, a century-old steamship across Lake Wakatipu, and Pinot Noir in Gibbston. Arrowtown, 15 minutes away, makes a quieter base.

Skyline Queenstown A gondola up Bob's Peak for views of The Remarkables and Lake Wakatipu, with the luge at the top.
TSS Earnslaw A cruise across Lake Wakatipu on a century-old coal-fired steamship.
Onsen Hot Pools Fourteen cedar-lined hot pools above the Shotover River, open afternoons and evenings.
Arrowtown and Gibbston Arrowtown is a gold-rush settlement 15 minutes from central Queenstown; Gibbston Valley Winery has what Tourism New Zealand calls the country's largest wine cave.

Stay

Millbrook Resort One hundred and sixty rooms on 650 acres, less than five minutes from Arrowtown and about 20 from central Queenstown, with two 18-hole golf courses, a day spa and five restaurants.
Kahurangi A four-bedroom villa for up to eight guests on Panorama Terrace, 1 km from central Queenstown, with a spa pool on a private deck.

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Summer tip A Bee Card bought from the Orbus driver makes the airport-to-town bus a NZ$2 trip and also covers buses to Arrowtown, per Air New Zealand.

2 hr 25 min

Photograph · Miles Holden / Tourism New Zealand

Nelson Tasman

Abel Tasman and Nelson Tasman

About 1 hr 25 min flying to Nelson, per Air New Zealand, then about an hour by road to Mārahau or Kaiteriteri, per Tourism New ZealandDaily buses run from Nelson and Motueka to Mārahau, per Tourism New Zealand.

Tourism New Zealand calls Nelson Tasman the sunniest region in the country, and the Abel Tasman's sheltered coves are made for kayaking. Water taxis offer flexible drop-offs along the coast track, so a single section makes a day walk.

Abel Tasman Coast Track Sixty kilometres of granite headlands, rainforest and beaches, usually walked in three to five days; booking is required.
Sea kayaking The park's sheltered coves suit kayaking; operators include Abel Tasman Kayaks, Marahau Sea Kayaks and Wilsons Abel Tasman.
Tasman's Great Taste Trail A cycle trail for tasting your way around the region, with cellar doors in the Moutere Hills and on the Waimea Plains.

Stay

Abel Tasman Lodge Modern chalets at Mārahau, 400 metres from Abel Tasman National Park, with air conditioning, outdoor dining areas, a communal kitchen and EV chargers.
Split Apple Retreat A wellness retreat with three guest suites, each with two private terraces over the sea, on the edge of the national park about 50 minutes' drive from Nelson Airport.

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Summer tip Coast Track huts are very popular, so book them before your flights, per Tourism New Zealand; water taxis offer flexible drop-offs if you want to walk only one section.

2 hr 55 min

Photograph · Miles Holden / Tourism New Zealand

Otago

Wānaka

About 2 hr 55 min: 1 hr 45 min flying to Queenstown (Air New Zealand), then about 1 hr 10 min by road (Tourism New Zealand)

Wānaka is the quieter lake an hour past Queenstown, with kayaking, lake cruises and jet-boating in summer and Mount Aspiring National Park an hour's drive away. Both stays below are private homes rather than hotels.

Lake Wānaka Kayaking, fishing, lake cruises and jet-boating.
Mount Aspiring National Park About an hour's drive from Wānaka, for walking, jet-boating and scenic flights.
That Wānaka Tree Tourism New Zealand's must-stop photo on the lake edge.

Stay

Te Pakeke A couples' retreat with lake and mountain views, concrete floors and timber ceilings, an outdoor courtyard and a fireplace, within 100 metres of the lakefront.
Ridgeline Homestead & Cottages at Mahu Whenua Exclusive use for up to 10 guests, 20 minutes' drive from central Wānaka, with an on-site chef, a heated pool, a hot pool and private walking and biking trails.

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Summer tip Wānaka hosts Rhythm & Alps, the Festival of Colour and Challenge Wānaka, per Tourism New Zealand; check the organisers' dates before you book, as they were not confirmed for this guide.

The season

The summer calendar

The dates that make a summer trip, as the organisers have announced them. Events still waiting on 2027 dates are listed with their trip, not here.

February 2027

6 Feb 2027Waitangi Day 2027 at the Waitangi Treaty GroundsBay of Islands
18–21 Feb 2027Art Deco Festival Napier 2027Hawke's Bay
19–28 Feb 2027Hamilton Arts Festival Toi Ora ki Kirikiriroa 2027Hamilton
26 Feb – 29 Mar 2027Perpetual Guardian Sculpture on the Gulf 2027Waiheke Island

State schools must finish Term 4 by Friday 18 December 2026, and many close earlier, especially secondary schools. Term 1 of 2027 starts between Thursday 28 January and Wednesday 3 February, depending on the school. The day after New Year's Day is observed on Monday 4 January, Auckland Anniversary Day is Monday 1 February, and Waitangi Day is observed on Monday 8 February 2027, so ferries, flights and beach towns are busiest from Christmas to early February. School holidays in New Zealand →

Questions

Quick answers

What are the best weekend getaways from Auckland in summer?

For a short hop, Waiheke Island is 40 minutes by ferry and the Matakana Coast about an hour's drive north. Hahei and Cathedral Cove are about 2 hr 30 min away, Tutukākā and the Poor Knights about the same, and Paihia in the Bay of Islands about 3 hours. Rotorua is about 3 hours by car and Taupō about 3 hr 30 min.

What are the most romantic getaways from Auckland?

Te Whau Lodge on Waiheke has four suites with private balconies, and Takatu Lodge in Matakana four suites on a working vineyard. Further afield, Solitaire Lodge has nine suites on a peninsula above Lake Tarawera, Huka Lodge sits on the Waikato River at Taupō, and Split Apple Retreat has three suites on the edge of Abel Tasman National Park.

Where can you go from Auckland without a car?

Waiheke Island is about 40 minutes by Fullers360 ferry from the Downtown Ferry Terminal. Te Huia trains run from the Strand to Hamilton in about 2 hr 30 min, though not from 25 December 2026 to 10 January 2027. Aotea Great Barrier Island is about 30 minutes by small plane, or about 4 hr 30 min on the SeaLink ferry.

What are the best short flights from Auckland for a long weekend?

Air New Zealand flies to Kerikeri for the Bay of Islands in 50 minutes, to Napier in 1 hr 5 min, and to Nelson and Blenheim in about 1 hr 25 min each. Queenstown is about 1 hr 45 min, and Wānaka is a further 1 hr 10 min by road from there.

When are the New Zealand summer school holidays in 2026–27?

Schools must finish Term 4 by Friday 18 December 2026, and many close earlier. Term 1 of 2027 starts between Thursday 28 January and Wednesday 3 February, depending on the school. Auckland Anniversary Day is Monday 1 February and Waitangi Day is observed on Monday 8 February 2027.

What are the best summer getaways from Auckland by car?

The closest are Waiheke Island (40 min), Matakana Coast (1 hr), Raglan (2 hr), Hahei and Cathedral Cove (2 hr 30 min). Times are the tourism boards' own figures from the city centre in normal traffic; allow more on holiday weekends.

Where can you go from Auckland by train in summer?

By train: Hamilton (2 hr 30 min). Book early for school-holiday weeks, when trains sell out.

Sources (85)

Checked 24 October 2026. Dates change: confirm with the event or hotel before you book. Spot something out of date? Tell us via our corrections policy.

Summer getaways from Auckland

At a glance

By car 8 trips

Waiheke Island

Matakana Coast

Raglan

Hahei and Cathedral Cove

Tutukākā Coast

Bay of Islands

Rotorua

Taupō

By train 1 trip

Hamilton

A short flight 6 trips

Aotea Great Barrier Island

Hawke's Bay

Marlborough and the Sounds

Queenstown

Abel Tasman and Nelson Tasman

Wānaka

The summer calendar

February 2027

Quick answers

The Trade Brief —weekly intelligencefor the trade and the well-travelled

The Trade Brief —
weekly intelligence
for the trade and the well-travelled