Imagine having 20 days of annual leave, but with some strategic planning, you can transform that into more than 50+ days off. It might sound like a magical trick, but itโs a reality for employees in Australia. This blog article will reveal the secret to this incredible annual leave hack, which promises extended vacations and a healthier work-life balance. Are you in for less work and more play?
How do I double my annual leave entitlements?
The key to maximising your annual leave is timing. By combining your leave with public holidays and weekends, you can enjoy extended breaks without using extra leave days.
Letโs break it down into public holidays.
When are the best times for annual leave in 2025?
The best times to take leave include the Christmas/New Year period for a potential 16-day break, Easter and ANZAC Day for a 10-day holiday, and the King’s Birthday for a nine-day getaway. Labour Day also offers an extended nine-day break in select states.
Follow the tips and dates below to start plotting out your leave.
January 2025, Australia Day: 9 days off
Start the year with an extended holiday! In January, strategically use your leave from January 22 to 25 to extend your break from Australia Day.
- Saturday, January 25: Weekend
- Sunday, January 26: Weekend
- Monday, January 27: Australia Day (observed)
- Tuesday, January 28: Annual leave
- Wednesday, January 29: Annual leave
- Thursday, January 30: Annual leave
- Friday, January 31: Annual leave
- Saturday, February 1: Weekend
- Sunday, February 2: Weekend
Total days off: 9
Total annual leave days used: 4
March 2025, Easter Monday: 16 days off
Combine seven days of leave around Easter and ANZAC Day to create a 16-day break during the Easter season. Might be a great time to check in and hop into an Easter vay-cay?
- Saturday, April 12: Weekend
- Sunday, April 13: Weekend
- Monday, April 14: Annual leave
- Tuesday, April 15: Annual leave
- Wednesday, April 16: Annual leave
- Thursday, April 17: Annual leave
- Friday, April 18: Good Friday
- Saturday, April 19: Weekend
- Sunday, April 20: Weekend
- Monday, April 21: Easter Monday
- Tuesday, April 22: Annual leave
- Wednesday, April 23: Annual leave
- Thursday, April 24: Annual leave
- Friday, April 25: ANZAC Day
- Saturday, April 26: Weekend
- Sunday, April 27: Weekend
Total days off: 16
Total annual leave days used: 7
June 2025, Kingโs Birthday (ACT, NSW, NT, SA, TAS & VIC): 9 days off
Celebrate the Kingโs Birthday with an extended break. Take four days of annual leave from June 10 to 13 for a nine-day break.
Don’t fretโeveryone gets to enjoy this holiday, just on different dates. Queenslanders observe it on Monday, October 6, 2025, and Western Australians on Monday, September 29, 2025.
- Saturday, June 7: Weekend
- Sunday, June 8: Weekend
- Monday, June 9: Kingโs Birthday
- Tuesday, June 10: Annual leave
- Wednesday, June 11: Annual leave
- Thursday, June 12: Annual leave
- Friday, June 13: Annual leave
- Saturday, June 14: Weekend
- Sunday, June 15: Weekend
Total days off: 9
Total annual leave days used: 4
October 2025, Labour Day (ACT, NSW, SA), 9 days off
In October, you can enjoy a break around Labour Day. Take annual leave from October 7 to 10 and relish a 9-day-long escape from October 5 to October 13. Itโs the perfect opportunity to soak in the beauty of spring.
- Saturday, October 4: Weekend
- Sunday, October 5: Weekend
- Monday, October 6: Labour Day
- Tuesday, October 7: Annual leave
- Wednesday, October 8: Annual leave
- Thursday, October 9: Annual leave
- Friday, October 10: Annual leave
- Saturday, October 11: Weekend
- Sunday, October 12: Weekend
Total days off: 9
Total annual leave days used: 4
December 2025, Christmas and New Yearโs: 16 days off
The holiday season is the ideal time to make the most of your leave. Use seven days of annual leave for a 16-day break from December 20 to January 4, 2026 for a festive break.
- Saturday, December 20: Weekend
- Sunday, December 21: Weekend
- Monday, December 22: Annual leave
- Tuesday, December 23: Annual leave
- Wednesday, December 24: Annual leave
- Thursday, December 25: Christmas Day
- Friday, December 26: Boxing Day
- Saturday, December 27: Weekend
- Sunday, December 28: Weekend
- Monday, December 29: Annual leave
- Tuesday, December 30: Annual leave
- Wednesday, December 31: Annual leave
- Thursday, January 1: New Yearโs Day
- Friday, January 2: Annual leave
- Saturday, January 3: Weekend
- Sunday, January 4: Weekend
Total days off: 16
Total annual leave days used: 7
What are the best days to take off in Tasmania (TAS)?
Tasmanian workers will be gifted two long weekends around Eight Hours Day (Monday, March 10) and the Royal Hobart Regatta (Monday, February 10) or Recreation Day (Monday, November 3). This allows them to take more than 50 days of holidays with just 20 days of annual leave
February 2025, Royal Hobart Regatta: 9 more days off
Celebrate the Royal Hobart Regatta with an extended break. Take your annual leave from February 11 to 14, creating a vacation block from February 8 to February 16.
Total days off: 9
Total annual leave days used: 4
November 2025, Recreation Day: 9 more days off
Because Recreation Day falls on Monday, November 3, 2025, employees can get another long weekend, reducing the amount of annual leave needed. Take four days of annual leave from November 4 to 7 for a 9-day break.
Total days off: 9
Total annual leave days used: 4
What are the best days to take off in South Australia (SA)?
South Australians can enjoy a long weekend with Adelaide Cup Day falling on Monday, March 10. Combine strategic bookings around national public holidays like Christmas, Easter, Australia Day, and the King’s Birthday to get more than 50 days off with just 20 days of annual leave.
June 2025, Reconciliation Day: 9 more days off
Enjoy a break around Reconciliation Day. Take your annual leave from June 3 to 6 to enjoy a 9-day getaway from May 31 to June 8, a perfect time for reflection and relaxation.
Total days off: 9
Total annual leave days used: 4
What are the best days to take off in Australian Capital Territory (ACT)?
ACT employees start with a significant advantage due to Canberra Day and Reconciliation Day. Combine these with longer breaks at Christmas and New Year, Easter, ANZAC, and Australia Day, and you can over 50 days of holiday with just 20 days of leave.
March 2025, Canberra Day: 9 more days off
You can take nine days off by using the four days after Canberra Day, from March 11 to March 14.
Total days off: 9
Total annual leave days used: 4
June 2025, Reconciliation Day: 9 more days off
Take your annual leave from June 3 to 6 to enjoy a 9-day getaway from May 31 to June 8, a perfect time for reflection and relaxation.
Total days off: 9
Total annual leave days used: 4
What are the best days to take off in Northern Territory (NT)?
Secure two nine-day breaks around May Day and Picnic Day in the NT. By enjoying that additional long weekend, employees increase their holidays to more than 50 days with just 20 daysโ annual leave.
May 2025, May Day: 9 more days off
Allocate your leave from May 6 to 9, creating a sizable leave period from May 3 to May 11. Itโs an excellent time to embrace the May Day festivities.
Total days off: 9
Total annual leave days used: 4
August 2025, Picnic Day: 9 more days off
Augustโs Picnic Day is the perfect occasion for a more extended break. Take your annual leave from August 5 to 8, resulting in days off from August 2 to August 10, providing ample time for picnics and relaxation.
Total days off: 9
Total annual leave days used: 4
What are the best days to take off in Queensland (QLD)?
For Queenslanders in 2025, strategically booking annual leave around public holidays like Australia Day, Easter, and the Ekka holiday can result in extended breaks of at least nine days.
August 2025, Ekka Public Holiday: 5 more days off
Brisbane workers can enjoy a five-day mini break around the Ekka Public Holiday. Take two days of annual leave from August 14 to 15 for a five-day break from August 13 to August 17.
Total days off: 5
Total annual leave days used: 2
What are the best days to take off in Victoria (VIC)?
Victorian workers can maximise their time off by strategically booking around the Melbourne Cup. Using only 21 days of annual leave, they could take 57 days off.
November 2025, Melbourne Cup Day: 4 more days off
Lucky Victorians can increase their holidays by taking one day of leave on Monday, November 3, and enjoying a four-day break from Saturday, November 1, to Tuesday, November 4.
Total days off: 4
Total annual leave days used: 1
What are the best days to take off in Western Australia (WA)?
Western Australia Day enables WA workers to take a three-day weekend โ increasing their holidays to over 50 days, with no additional annual leave. By taking four days off from June 3 to 6, you can secure a nine-day holiday from May 31 to June 8.
June 2025, Western Australia Day: 8 more days off
Western Australia Day falls on Monday, June 2. By taking four days off from Tuesday, June 3 to Friday, June 6, you can secure a nine-day holiday from Saturday, May 31 to Sunday, June 8.
Total days off: 9
Total annual leave days used: 4
Make 2025 the year of rest and relaxation
Maximising your annual leave in 2025 is about using your days off at the right time. It’s essential to give yourself enough time to recharge and avoid burning out.
For extra fun, coordinate your annual leave with friends and family so you can spend more R&R time together! With some planning, 2025 could be your year of unforgettable adventures and well-deserved downtime.
Request time off beforehand so your employer can adjust your timesheet and employee rostering. By planning your annual leave ahead of time, you can help maintain the integrity of your work and take a break without any worries.
