Three Bay of Plenty highways have made the list of top roads to avoid this festive season.

State Highway 2 between Katikati and Tauranga; State Highway 29 near Kaimai; and State Highway 2 between Paeroa and Waihi are amongst 25 roads on the Highway Hotspots map.

The map is an interactive tool which aims to show where and when traffic is likely to be heaviest to allow motorists to make more informed decisions about the best time to travel to avoid queues.

Transport Agency journey manager Liam Ryan says the tool can help to create safer journeys.

'If everyone plans their travel in advance, and thinks about the best time to get on the road, it will ease stress and reduce the need to hurry, making for a safer and more enjoyable journey.

'We know from previous holiday periods that people are using our previous holiday hot spot information to help plan their travel, but we also want to remind people that the hot spot predictions, which are based on previous congestion times, should be used alongside real time travel information.

'We will have a range of technology and teams of people working throughout the break to monitor traffic flows and incidents on the state highway network to provide up to the minute and accurate information on the best times to travel and less congested routes."

He says weather will also play a big role in determining the busiest peaks for people returning home again, so using real time travel information is the best way to get up to date and accurate information about email notifications about road and traffic conditions.

Those travelling this festive season can check Highway Hotspots information at www.nzta.govt.nz/hotspots.