Stumped for ideas on how to spend Labour Weekend? Wondering if you should hit the great outdoors or shell out for a weekend in the lap of luxury?
With the promise of sunny skies on the horizon we're taking the guesswork out of holiday planning and dishing up a selection of places to go and things to do. And relax; it's not too late.
Popular holiday accommodation site Book a Bach still has 3500 properties available. But general manager Peter Miles is expecting a last-minute rush as people gear up for the long weekend.
"Labour Weekend kicks off summer. It's the first time people really think about going away for a bit of a break," said Miles.
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Advertise with NZME.Temperatures are predicted to reach into the early 20s next weekend. So, with such a good forecast, it's just a matter of booking a spot to bunk down.
If it's birdsong, panoramic views and a taste of "agriturismo" you're after, for $170-$200 a night there's an eco-cottage in 3ha of bush and organic gardens on the Coromandel Peninsula overlooking Hot Water Beach.
If luxury is more your bag it's hard to go past the stunningly appointed Long Beach Cloud 9 villa at Russell with its unobstructed ocean views, the sounds of kiwi foraging in bush and the option of hiring a chef throughout your stay. It will cost between $700 and $2250 a night.
Further down country a restored turn of the century villa on the banks of the Clive River in Hawke's Bay offers an idyllic opportunity to sit back and watch the world go by.
For the more adventurous, a wilderness experience at central North Island's Wildside Retreat is an off-grid option for families looking to spend their days in the snow or hunting and fishing.
Once accommodation is sorted it's a matter of enjoying some of the country's best entertainment.
For lovers of food, wine and music the Bay of Islands Food and Wine Festival promises to serve entertainment and great local food on Paihia's Village Green.
If craft beer is more to your taste, the Boatshed on Wellington's waterfront is hosting the country's most prestigious beer festival, the Pacific Beer Expo. The event will showcase more than 40 beers.
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Advertise with NZME.If you're in Auckland and a fan of Bruce Lee, the Stunt School's "Fight for Camera" is an action-packed two-day course run by professionals who have performed in Hollywood blockbusters.
Travel across town and you may get to meet Richard Dean Anderson, aka television action hero McGyver, who is the special star at this year's Armageddon Expo at Auckland's ASB Showgrounds.
