Auckland holidaymakers are set for a mass exodus for the 'long' weekend with authorities urging caution on the roads.

In Waitangi, Waitangi Holiday Park manager Bruce Cairns said there had not been too many bookings ahead of the weekend.

Rain had put people off in the past, and the New Year and Christmas holidays tended to be much busier, he said.

But there was plenty on in the Paihia area for people to observe Waitangi celebrations including waka tours which were "incredibly popular".

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The Waitangi Holiday Park site could hold up to 400 people in tents and campervans but Cairns recommended booking in advance online to get the best deal.

Pauanui Glade Holiday Park manager Pam Witham said with the holiday falling on a Tuesday it did make it harder for people to get away but many "would take the Monday off".

Witham said she expected they would fill up fairly quickly.

"It's anybody's guess. If they come in, they come in.

"It's pretty much business as usual."

She said the area had a beautiful skate park for kids and regularly drew in a lot of families.

The locals were never put off by the weather because the brunt of it tended to miss the area, she said.

Northland road policing manager Wayne Ewers said he was urging motorists to be patient over the long-weekend.

The SH1 network is of concern, he said.

"That's where we have the heaviest traffic.

"We are urging people to be patient, to plan their trips and to drive to the conditions.

"You don't have to pass the car in front."

There would be more police cars on the roads this weekend, he said.

NZTA has issued a warning for the following roads, anticipating heavy congestion.

Auckland
SH2 - Maramarua (east of SH1/SH2 Interchange)
SH1 - between Puhoi and Wellsford
SH1 - Takanini (south of Auckland)
Bay of Plenty
SH2 - Between Paeroa and Waihi
SH2 - Between Tauranga and Katikati
SH29 - Kaimai (west of Tauranga)

Canterbury
SH73 - Arthur's Pass
SH1 - Kaikoura
SH1 - between Ashburton and Christchurch
SH7 - Lewis Pass
SH1 - Waipara (North of Christchurch)
SH1 - Waimakariri

Manawatu-Wanganui
SH2 - Norsewood between Hastings and Woodville SH3
SH1 - between Taihape and Waiouru

Marlborough-Tasman
SH6 - Murchison
SH63 - St Arnaud
SH6 - between Nelson and Blenheim

Napier
SH5 - Te Pohue (North of Napier)
Northland
SH1 - Whangarei

Otago
SH6 - Queenstown
Waikato
SH1 - Karapiro (south of Cambridge)
SH1 - Taupiri (north of Hamilton)

Wellington
SH1 - Kapiti Coast
SH2 - Rimutaka Hill between Wellington and Featherston