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Too many places to travel, too little leave? If you’re already scanning the calendar, dreaming of sunny getaways or indulgent long weekends in the city, you’re certainly not the only one. Here’s the best part: with some strategic planning, you can combine weekends, days off and Australia’s generous public holiday schedule to double your time away from work.
Read on for how to get the most out of your annual leave, or check out Australian school holiday escapes.
How to maximise your annual leave on national holidays
There are usually seven national public holidays in Australia in 2026:
- New Year’s Day (Thursday 1 January 2026)
- Australia Day (Monday 26 January 2026)
- Good Friday (Friday 3 April 2026)
- Easter Monday (Monday 6 April 2026)
- Anzac Day (Saturday 25 April 2026, commemorated on the day with no replacement holiday, except in WA)
- Christmas Day (Friday 25 December 2026)
- Boxing Day (Saturday 26 December 2026, observed Monday 28 December)
Nationally, the best options for extended leave are around the following periods:
Australia Day (January)
- Public holiday: Monday 26 January (Australia Day)
- Take annual leave: Tue 27 January – Fri 30 January (4 days)
- Saturday 24 January → Sunday 1 February = 9 days off
Easter (April)
- Public holidays: Friday 3 April, Monday 6 April
- Take annual leave: Tuesday 7 April – Friday 10 April (4 days)
- Friday 3 April → Sunday 12 April = 10 days off
Christmas & New Year (December)
- Public holidays: Friday 25 December, Monday 28 December, Friday 1 January
- Take annual leave: Tuesday 29 December – Thursday 31 December (3 days)
- Friday 25 December → Sunday 3 January = 10 days off
How to maximise your annual leave in each state
Each state also has unique public holidays. Here’s how you can maximise your days off, state by state.
Australian Capital Territory
Canberra Day (March)
- Public holiday: Monday 9 March
- Take annual leave: Tuesday 10 March – Friday 13 March (4 days)
- Saturday 7 March → Sunday 15 March = 9 days off
Reconciliation Day & King’s Birthday (June)
- Public holidays: Monday 1 June, Monday 8 June
- Take annual leave: Tuesday 2 June – Friday 5 June (4 days)
- Saturday 30 May → Monday 8 June = 10 days off
Labour Day (October)
- Public holiday: Monday 5 October
- Take annual leave: Tuesday 6 October – Friday 9 October (4 days)
- Saturday 3 October → Sunday 11 October = 9 days off
Northern Territory
May Day (May)
- Public holiday: Monday 4 May
- Take annual leave: Tuesday 5 May – Friday 8 May (4 days)
- Saturday 2 May → Sunday 10 May = 9 days off
King’s Birthday (June)
- Public holiday: Monday 8 June
- Take annual leave: Tuesday 9 June – Friday 12 June (4 days)
- Saturday 6 June → Sunday 14 June = 9 days off
Picnic Day (August)
- Public holiday: Monday 3 August
- Take annual leave: Tuesday 4 August – Friday 7 August (4 days)
- Saturday 1 August → Sunday 9 August = 9 days off
South Australia
Adelaide Cup Day (March)
- Public holiday: Monday 9 March
- Take annual leave: Tuesday 10 March – Friday 13 March (4 days)
- Saturday 7 March → Sunday 15 March = 9 days off
King’s Birthday (June)
- Public holiday: Monday 8 June
- Take annual leave: Tuesday 9 June – Friday 12 June (4 days)
- Saturday 6 June → Sunday 14 June = 9 days off
Labour Day (October)
- Public holiday: Monday 5 October
- Take annual leave: Tuesday 6 October – Friday 9 October (4 days)
- Saturday 3 October → Sunday 11 October = 9 days off
Tasmania
Royal Hobart Regatta (February, select regions only)
- Public holiday: Monday 9 February
- Take annual leave: Tuesday 10 February – Friday 13 February (4 days)
- Saturday 7 February → Sunday 15 February = 9 days off
Eight Hours Day (March)
- Public holiday: Monday 9 March
- Take annual leave: Tuesday 10 March – Friday 13 March (4 days)
- Saturday 7 March → Sunday 15 March = 9 days off
King’s Birthday (June)
- Public holiday: Monday 8 June
- Take annual leave: Tuesday 9 June – Friday 12 June (4 days)
- Saturday 6 June → Sunday 14 June = 9 days off
Royal Hobart Show (October, select regions only)
- Public holiday: Thursday 22 October
- Take annual leave: Friday 23 October, Monday 26 October (2 days)
- Thursday 22 October → Monday 26 October = 5 days off
Recreation Day (November, select regions only)
- Public holiday: Monday 2 November
- Take annual leave: Tuesday 3 November – Friday 6 November (4 days)
- Saturday 31 October → Sunday 8 November = 9 days off
Victoria
Labour Day (March)
- Public holiday: Monday 9 March
- Annual leave: Tuesday 10 March – Friday 13 March (4 days)
- Saturday 7 March → Sunday 15 March = 9 days off
King’s Birthday (June)
- Public holiday: Monday 8 June
- Annual leave: Tuesday 9 June – Friday 12 June (4 days)
- Saturday 6 June → Sunday 14 June = 9 days off
AFL Grand Final (date TBC)
Melbourne Cup (November)
- Public holiday: Tuesday 3 November
- Annual leave: Friday 30 October, Monday 2 November (2 days)
- Friday 30 October → Tuesday 3 November = 5 days off
Western Australia
Labour Day (March)
- Public holiday: Monday 2 March
- Annual leave: Tuesday 3 March – Friday 6 March (4 days)
- Saturday 28 February → Sunday 8 March = 9 days off
Anzac Day (April)
- Public holiday: Monday 27 April
- Annual leave: Tuesday 28 April – Friday 1 May (4 days)
- Saturday 25 April → Sunday 3 May = 9 days off
Western Australia Day (June)
- Public holiday: Monday 1 June
- Annual leave: Tuesday 2 June – Friday 5 June (4 days)
- Saturday 30 May → Sunday 7 June = 9 days off
King’s Birthday (September)
- Public holiday: Monday 28 September (may vary in regional areas)
- Annual leave: Tuesday 29 September – Friday 2 October (4 days)
- Saturday 26 September → Sunday 4 October = 9 days off
New South Wales
King’s Birthday (June)
- Public holiday: Monday 8 June
- Annual leave: Tuesday 9 June – Friday 12 June (4 days)
- Saturday 6 June → Sunday 14 June = 9 days off
Labour Day (October)
- Public holiday: Monday 5 October
- Annual leave: Tuesday 6 October – Friday 9 October (4 days)
- Saturday 3 October → Sunday 11 October = 9 days off
Queensland
Labour Day (May)
- Public holiday: Monday 4 May
- Annual leave: Tuesday 5 May – Friday 8 May (4 days)
- Saturday 2 May → Sunday 10 May = 9 days off
Royal Queensland Show (August, Brisbane only)
- Public holiday: Wednesday 12 August
- Annual leave: Monday 10 August, Tuesday 11 August (2 days)
- Saturday 8 August → Wednesday 12 August = 5 days off
King’s Birthday (October)
- Public holiday: Monday 5 October
- Annual leave: Tuesday 6 October – Friday 9 October (4 days)
- Saturday 3 October → Sunday 11 October = 9 days off
Feature image: Essence Peregian Beach, Sunshine Coast.
