People travelling across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty for Easter and Anzac weekends are urged to drive to the conditions and plan ahead before leaving home, as many holiday makers will be making the most of an extended break and taking the chance to travel.
This year, Easter Monday, Anzac Day and school holidays all fall in the same week, which means it’s likely to be extra busy on our roads, says NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi System Manager for the Waikato, Andy Oakley.
“Congestion and delays are inevitable during holiday periods, so we also want to remind everyone to be patient, drive to the conditions and keep to the speed limit.
If past years are anything to go by, traffic will be especially heavy on Thursday 17 April and Good Friday 18 April, and then on the return journey on both Sunday 20 and Monday 21 April.
“In the Bay of Plenty, motorists should be prepared for heavy traffic on State Highway 2 (SH2), between Paeroa and Waihī, Tauranga and Katikati and on State Highway 29 (SH29) over the Kaimai Range.
“In the Waikato, delays are predicted on State Highway 1 (SH1) between Tīrau and Karāpiro, SH2 from Pōkeno to Maramarua, and around Tairua on State Highway 25 (SH25).
Looking ahead to Anzac Day, road users should also allow extra time for their journeys, particularly on Anzac morning as there will be short-term restrictions and small detours in place near some townships.
Road users are reminded to check the NZTA Journey Planner website for the latest road conditions across the state highway network.
Journey Planner(external link)
Waikato Bay of Plenty works as at 11 April 2025 [PDF, 338 KB]
