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 it’s 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.
Let’s 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! Australia Day falls on Monday, January 26, giving us a natural long weekend.
- Saturday, January 24: Weekend
- Sunday, January 25: Weekend
- Monday, January 26: Australia Day
- Tuesday, January 27: Annual leave
- Wednesday, January 28: Annual leave
- Thursday, January 29: Annual leave
- Friday, January 30: Annual leave
- Saturday, January 31: Weekend
- Sunday, February 1: Weekend
Total days off: 9
Total annual leave days used: 4
April 2026, Easter: 10 days off
Easter is the perfect time to reset. With Good Friday on April 3 and Easter Monday on April 6, you can score a 10-day holiday by booking just four days off.
- Friday, April 3: Good Friday
- Saturday, April 4: Weekend
- Sunday, April 5: Easter Sunday
- Monday, April 6: Easter Monday
- Tuesday, April 7: Annual leave
- Wednesday, April 8: Annual leave
- Thursday, April 9: Annual leave
- Friday, April 10: Annual leave
- Saturday, April 11: Weekend
- Sunday, April 12: Weekend
Total days off: 10
Total annual leave days used: 4
June 2025, King’s Birthday (ACT, NSW, NT, SA, TAS & VIC): 9 days off
For most of the country, the King’s Birthday on Monday, June 8 offers another chance to escape the winter grind.
- Saturday, June 6: Weekend
- Sunday, June 7: Weekend
- Monday, June 8: King’s Birthday
- Tuesday, June 9: Annual leave
- Wednesday, June 10: Annual leave
- Thursday, June 11: Annual leave
- Friday, June 12: Annual leave
- Saturday, June 13: Weekend
- Sunday, June 14: Weekend
Total days off: 9
Total annual leave days used: 4
December 2026, Christmas and New Year’s: 17 days off
This is the big one. The holiday season is the ultimate time to maximise leave 2026 and recharge for the year ahead.+1
By strategically booking dates around Christmas and New Year’s, you can turn 7 days of leave into a massive 17-day break.
- Saturday, December 19: Weekend
- Sunday, December 20: Weekend
- Monday, December 21: Annual leave
- Tuesday, December 22: Annual leave
- Wednesday, December 23: Annual leave
- Thursday, December 24: Annual leave
- Friday, December 25: Christmas Day
- Saturday, December 26: Boxing Day
- Sunday, December 27: Weekend
- Monday, December 28: Boxing Day Holiday (Observed)
- Tuesday, December 29: Annual leave
- Wednesday, December 30: Annual leave
- Thursday, December 31: Annual leave
- Friday, January 1 (2027): New Year’s Day
- Saturday, January 2: Weekend
- Sunday, January 3: Weekend
Total days off: 17
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
February 2026, Royal Hobart Regatta: 9 days off
Tasmanians get an extra treat in February. With the Royal Hobart Regatta on Monday, February 9, you can extend your summer.
Take your leave dates from February 10 to 13 to turn a long weekend into a full 9-day holiday.+2
Total days off: 9
Total annual leave days used: 4
What are the best days to take off in Australian Capital Territory (ACT)?
March 2026, Canberra Day: 9 days off
For those in the capital, Canberra public holidays 2026 offer a great opportunity in March. Canberra Day falls on Monday, March 9.
Book leave from Tuesday, March 10 to Friday, March 13 for a 9-day break.
Total days off: 9
Total annual leave days used: 4
What are the best days to take off in Northern Territory (NT)?
May 2026, May Day: 9 days off
Territorians can enjoy cooler weather with May Day on Monday, May 4.+1
Block out May 5 to May 8 in your calendar for a solid 9-day break.
Total days off: 9
Total annual leave days used: 4 +1
August 2026, Picnic Day: 9 days off
Picnic Day on Monday, August 3 is perfect for a mid-year reset. Take leave from August 4 to 7 to enjoy 9 days off from August 1 to August 9.+1
Total days off: 9
Total annual leave days used: 4
What are the best days to take off in Queensland (QLD)?
May 2026, Labour Day: 9 days off
Queensland celebrates Labour Day on Monday, May 4. Use this long weekend to create a 9-day holiday by booking May 5 to 8.
August 2026, Ekka Public Holiday: 9 days off
For those in Brisbane, the Ekka holiday usually falls in August (Wednesday, August 12). By booking the surrounding days (August 10, 11, 13, 14), you can turn a mid-week break into a 9-day stretch.
Total days off: 9
Total annual leave days used: 4
What are the best days to take off in Victoria (VIC)?
November 2026, Melbourne Cup: 9 days off
It’s the race that stops the nation, but it can also start your holiday. Melbourne Cup falls on Tuesday, November 3.
Take Monday, November 2 off to bridge the gap, and add the rest of the week (November 4-6) for a 9-day spring break.
Total days off: 9
Total annual leave days used: 4
What are the best days to take off in South Australia (SA)?
March 2026, Adelaide Cup: 9 days off
South Australians can enjoy a long weekend with the Adelaide Cup public holiday on Monday, March 9.
Combine this with 4 days of annual leave (March 10-13) to get 9 days off.
Total days off: 9
Total annual leave days used: 4
What are the best days to take off in Western Australia (WA)?
June 2026, Western Australia Day: 9 days off
WA Day falls on Monday, June 1. By taking four days off from Tuesday, June 2 to Friday, June 5, you can secure a nine-day holiday from May 30 to June 7.
Total days off: 9
Total annual leave days used: 4
Make 2026 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.