Kara Rosenlund/aremediasyndication.com.au
The grind: can’t live with it, can’t live without it – at least it feels this way some of the time. Especially when you’re in need of a jaunt elsewhere of the office. Though, the regulated four weeks of annual leave may seem sparing, there’s opportunity aplenty to maximise your precious paid days off and get longer breaks – if you play your cards right.
It’s about making the system work for you and being strategic about when to tack on an extra day to a nation or state-wide public holiday long weekend.
Consider this your guide to hacking the game of the ol’ AL calendar in 2025. Let’s start with the first long weekend post the new year period.
January 26 public holiday 2025
January 26 falls on a Sunday this year, meaning the public holiday will be observed Monday January 27.
Whether you’re laying low or wanting to get out of the city, using a day of AL on Friday 23 or Tuesday 28 will give you a four-day weekend. Alternatively, taking four days of AL Tuesday 28 to January 31 will see you have nine days off in a row.
- Where to go: South Coast, NSW
- Where to stay: The Loft at Mollymook Beach
Easter and ANZAC Day public holidays 2025
The public holidays making up the Easter period start from Good Friday on April 18 and goes to Easter Monday, April 21 – with ANZAC Day shortly following Friday, April 25. Book in just three days of AL from April 22 to April 24 to score 10 days off in a row.
- Where to go: Kangaroo Valley, NSW; Orange, NSW or Adelaide, SA
- Where to stay: Robinson’s Run in Budgong; Kangaroobie Cabin in Borenore; Mayfair Hotel in Adelaide
King’s Birthday public holiday 2025
The King’s Birthday public holiday falls on June 9 for most states and territories, bar QLD (October 6) and WA (September 29). Take a day or two of AL on the prior Friday or following Tuesday for a four-or-five-day long weekend.
- Where to go: Blue Mountains, NSW or Melbourne, VIC
- Where to stay: Wildacres at Blackheath; Martini Suite in Melbourne
Labour Day public holiday 2025
Labour Day falls on October 6 for ACT, NSW and SA (keep scrolling for the other states’ dates) in 2025. Just like the King’s Birthday holiday, take a day or two of AL on the prior Friday or following Tuesday for four or five days off. Heck, go wild and tack on another two or three for a eight-to-ten-day break.
- Where to go: Sunshine Coast, QLD or Tasmania
- Where to stay: Palm Paradiso in Noosa Heads; Piermont Retreat in Swansea; Birdhouse Studio in Launceston
Christmas 2025 and New Year 2026 public holidays
While it was just here, that lovely languid time in which you lose track of what day of the week it is will come around again sooner than you can say ‘I can’t wait for the shutdown period’. With Christmas Day falling on a Thursday, Boxing Day on the Friday and New Year’s Day the next Wednesday, you’ll only need three days of AL in the 11-day period between December 25 and January, 4.
- Where to go: Mornington Peninsula, VIC; Byron Bay or Sydney, NSW (if you’re out of town – or stay-cationing)
- Where to stay: The Bach in St Andrews Beach; Soma in Ewingsdale; Capella Sydney
Other 2025 public holidays
While the aforementioned list isn’t exhaustive of all the states and territories’ public holidays, it covers the big hitters. Below, we take a look at some other key public holidays to base your annual leave around.
ACT
- Canberra Day, March 10
- Reconcilliation Day, June 2
- Labour Day, October 6
NT
- May Day, May 5
- Picnic Day, August 4
QLD
- Labour Day, May 5
- Royal Queensland Show, August 13 (Brisbane area)
- King’s Birthday, October 6
SA
Adelaide Cup Day, March 10
Monday, 6 October: Labour Day
Proclamation Day, 26 December
TAS
- Monday, 10 March: Eight Hours Day
- NB: You lucky Tasmanians have several other regional public holidays
VIC
- Labour Day, March 10
- AFL Grand Final Friday, TBA
- Melbourne Cup Day, November 4
WA
- Labour Day, March 3
- Western Australia Day, June 2
- King’s Birthday, September 29
