2025: How to turn 20 days of annual leave into up to 63 days off

Don't waste your leave! Here's the ultimate Australian travel hack to max your holidays in 2025.

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By

Angus Kidman

Updated

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Key takeaways

  • No matter where you live in Australia, you can turn your 20 days of standard annual leave into at least 57 days of glorious holidays
  • Anzac Day and Easter are adjacent in 2025 which helps you score more days off in a row without burning through your leave.
  • Our travel experts list which days to take off and highlight the best strategies.

Lucky ACT residents get the most potential time off, with a possible 63 days of holidays.

In 2025, maxing out your annual leave means taking advantage of a late Easter for an extended Easter break, stacking up days off around Christmas, and sprinkling long weekends throughout the year.

This list doesn't include half-days, retail holidays, bank holidays or city-specific breaks like the Ekka in Brisbane – if you score any of those as well, enjoy the extra leisure!

FULL GUIDES FOR: New South Wales – Victoria – Queensland – Western Australia – South Australia – Tasmania – Australian Capital Territory – Northern Territory

How to turn your annual leave into 57 days off in NSW

Sydney
There are 9 official public holidays in NSW in 2025. To get 57 days of holidays across the year, plan for these breaks:

BreakStartFinishDays
New Year's Day 2024Wed 1 Jan 2025Sun 5 Jan 20255
Australia DaySat 25 Jan 2025Mon 27 Jan 20253
March long weekendSat 8 Mar 2025Mon 10 Mar 20253
Easter/ANZAC DaySat 12 Apr 2025Sun 27 Apr 202516
King's BirthdaySat 7 Jun 2025Mon 9 Jun 20253
July long weekendSat 19 Jul 2025Mon 21 Jul 20253
September long weekendSat 6 Sep 2025Mon 8 Sep 20253
Labour DaySat 4 Oct 2025Mon 6 Oct 20253
November long weekendSat 15 Nov 2025Mon 17 Nov 20253
Christmas/New YearSun 21 Dec 2025Sun 4 Jan 202615
Total57

This plan includes two extended breaks (at Easter and Christmas) and a stack of additional long weekends. I've positioned these to break up the year, so you could easily adjust the dates.

If you don't fancy all those mini-breaks, you could add 4 days to either the King's Birthday holiday in June or Labour Day in October. That will score you 51 days off across the year.

To achieve the 57 days, book these dates for your annual leave:

How to turn your annual leave into 59 days off in Victoria

Great Ocean Road
There are 11 official public holidays in Victoria in 2025. For the most consecutive days off, aim for these breaks:

BreakStartFinishDays
New Year's Day 2024Wed 1 Jan 2025Sun 5 Jan 20255
Australia DaySat 25 Jan 2025Mon 27 Jan 20253
Labour DaySat 8 Mar 2025Mon 10 Mar 20253
Easter/ANZAC DaySat 12 Apr 2025Sun 27 Apr 202516
May long weekendSat 17 May 2025Mon 19 May 20253
King's BirthdaySat 7 Jun 2025Mon 9 Jun 20253
July long weekendSat 19 Jul 2025Mon 21 Jul 20253
AFL Grand FinalThu 25 Sep 2025Sun 28 Sep 20254
Melbourne CupSat 1 Nov 2025Tue 4 Nov 20254
Christmas/New YearSun 21 Dec 2025Sun 4 Jan 202615
Total59

We're maxing out leave here by taking advantage of the AFL Grand Final holiday, a Victorian exclusive, and Melbourne Cup day (which is widely observed across the state although it's only officially a Melbourne holiday).

To get this result, book these dates for your annual leave:

How to turn your annual leave into 57 days off in Queensland

Gold Coast
There are 9 official public holidays in Queensland in 2025. To get the most days off, aim for these breaks:

BreakStartFinishDays
New Year's Day 2025Wed 1 Jan 2025Sun 5 Jan 20255
Australia DaySat 25 Jan 2025Mon 27 Jan 20253
March long weekendSat 8 Mar 2025Mon 10 Mar 20253
Labour DaySat 3 May 2025Mon 5 May 20253
Easter/ANZAC DaySat 12 Apr 2025Sun 27 Apr 202516
King's BirthdaySat 7 Jun 2025Mon 9 Jun 20253
July long weekendSat 19 Jul 2025Mon 21 Jul 20253
September long weekendSat 6 Sep 2025Mon 8 Sep 20253
November long weekendSat 15 Nov 2025Mon 17 Nov 20253
Christmas/New YearSun 21 Dec 2025Sun 4 Jan 202615
Total57

To achieve this, book these dates for your annual leave:

How to turn your annual leave into 60 days off in Western Australia

Perth skyline
There are 10 official public holidays in Western Australia in 2025. To maximise your days off, plan for these breaks:

BreakStartFinishDays
New Year's Day 2025Wed 1 Jan 2025Sun 5 Jan 20255
Australia DaySat 25 Jan 2025Mon 27 Jan 20253
Labour DaySat 1 Mar 2025Mon 3 Mar 20253
March long weekendSat 15 Mar 2025Mon 17 Mar 20253
Easter/ANZAC DaySat 12 Apr 2025Sun 27 Apr 202516
Western Australia DaySat 31 May 2025Mon 2 Jun 20253
July long weekendSat 19 Jul 2025Mon 21 Jul 20253
September long weekendSat 6 Sep 2025Mon 8 Sep 20253
King's BirthdaySat 27 Sep 2025Mon 29 Sep 20253
November long weekendSat 15 Nov 2025Mon 17 Nov 20253
Christmas/New YearSun 21 Dec 2025Sun 4 Jan 202615
Total60

This plan includes extended Easter and Christmas breaks and a stack of additional long weekends, which you could place wherever you like. If you don't fancy all those mini-breaks, you could add 4 days to either the King's Birthday holiday in September or WA Day in June. That will score you 54 days off across the year.

To achieve the maximum days off on holiday, book these dates for your annual leave:

How to turn your annual leave into 60 days off in South Australia

Glenelg tram
There are 10 official public holidays in South Australia in 2025. To score the maximum number of consecutive days off, go for these breaks:

BreakStartFinishDays
New Year's Day 2025Wed 1 Jan 2025Sun 5 Jan 20255
Australia DaySat 25 Jan 2025Mon 27 Jan 20253
Adelaide Cup DaySat 8 Mar 2025Mon 10 Mar 20253
Easter/ANZAC DaySat 12 Apr 2025Sun 27 Apr 202516
May long weekendSat 10 May 2025Mon 12 May 20253
King's BirthdaySat 7 Jun 2025Mon 9 Jun 20253
July long weekendSat 19 Jul 2025Mon 21 Jul 20253
September long weekendSat 6 Sep 2025Mon 8 Sep 20253
Labour DaySat 4 Oct 2025Mon 6 Oct 20253
November long weekendSat 15 Nov 2025Mon 17 Nov 20253
Christmas/New YearSun 21 Dec 2025Sun 4 Jan 202615
Total60

To get this outcome, ask for these dates for your annual leave:

How to turn your annual leave into 60 days off in Tasmania

Tasmania
There are 10 official public holidays in Tasmania in 2025. To get the most consecutive days off, plan for these breaks, which include several long weekends you can shuffle anywhere you like:

BreakStartFinishDays
New Year's Day 2025Wed 1 Jan 2025Sun 5 Jan 20255
Australia DaySat 25 Jan 2025Mon 27 Jan 20253
Royal Hobart RegattaSat 8 Feb 2025Mon 10 Feb 20253
8 Hour DaySat 8 Mar 2025Mon 10 Mar 20253
Easter/ANZAC DaySat 12 Apr 2025Sun 27 Apr 202516
King's BirthdaySat 7 Jun 2025Mon 9 Jun 20253
July long weekendSat 19 Jul 2025Mon 21 Jul 20253
September long weekendSat 6 Sep 2025Mon 8 Sep 20253
October long weekendSat 4 Oct 2025Mon 6 Oct 20253
November long weekendSat 15 Nov 2025Mon 17 Nov 20253
Christmas/New YearSun 21 Dec 2025Sun 4 Jan 202615
Total60

Outside Hobart, folks get Recreation Day on 3 November 2025 rather than the Royal Hobart Regatta holiday, but this doesn't affect the total.

To achieve this, book these dates for your annual leave:

How to turn your annual leave into 63 days off in the Australian Capital Territory

Parliament House
There are a whopping 11 official public holidays in the ACT in 2025 (public servants know what they're doing). Here's how to space them for maximum effect:

BreakStartFinishDays
New Year's Day 2025Wed 1 Jan 2025Sun 5 Jan 20255
Australia DaySat 25 Jan 2025Mon 27 Jan 20253
Canberra DaySat 8 Mar 2025Mon 10 Mar 20253
Easter/ANZAC DaySat 12 Apr 2025Sun 27 Apr 202516
Reconciliation DaySat 31 May 2025Mon 2 Jun 20253
King's BirthdaySat 7 Jun 2025Mon 9 Jun 20253
July long weekendSat 19 Jul 2025Mon 21 Jul 20253
August long weekendSat 16 Aug 2025Mon 18 Aug 20253
September long weekendSat 6 Sep 2025Mon 8 Sep 20253
Labour DaySat 4 Oct 2025Mon 6 Oct 20253
November long weekendSat 15 Nov 2025Mon 17 Nov 20253
Christmas/New YearSun 21 Dec 2025Sun 4 Jan 202615
Total63

You could place the long weekends anywhere you like – that's useful for weddings, birthdays and other anniversaries.

To achieve this result, book these dates for your annual leave:

How to turn your annual leave into 60 days off in the Northern Territory

Darwin
There are 11 official public holidays in the NT in 2025. To get the most consecutive days off, plan for these breaks:

BreakStartFinishDays
New Year's Day 2025Wed 1 Jan 2025Sun 5 Jan 20255
Australia DaySat 25 Jan 2025Mon 27 Jan 20253
March long weekendSat 8 Mar 2025Mon 10 Mar 20253
Easter/ANZAC DaySat 12 Apr 2025Sun 27 Apr 202516
Labour DaySat 3 May 2025Mon 5 May 20253
King's BirthdaySat 7 Jun 2025Mon 9 Jun 20253
Darwin Show DayFri 25 Jul 2025Sun 27 Jul 20253
August long weekendFri 15 Aug 2025Sun 17 Aug 20253
September long weekendSat 6 Sep 2025Mon 8 Sep 20253
November long weekendSat 15 Nov 2025Mon 17 Nov 20253
Christmas/New YearSun 21 Dec 2025Sun 4 Jan 202615
Total60

The table shows the Darwin Race Day holiday. Alice Springs, Katherine and Tennant Creek have different race days, but that doesn't affect the overall total.

To achieve this, book these dates for your annual leave:

Frequently asked questions

How do I maximise my annual leave?

The easiest way to maximise your annual leave dates is to work them around public holidays.

The big nationwide public holiday periods are Easter (where you're always guaranteed a 4-day weekend) and Christmas (where you're guaranteed at least 2 annual leave days off).

In 2025, Anzac Day falls on a Friday in the same week as Easter Monday, so you can take just 7 days of leave and score 16 days in a row.

What if I want to save my leave?

If you're accumulating your leave for a bigger holiday down the track you can still have a few mini holidays throughout the year. Hone in on Monday public holidays for 3-day weekend breaks that won't use any annual leave.

When should I book my trip?

ASAP. These hacks work around public holidays which are peak travel seasons. If you know when you want to travel, submit your annual leave as soon as you can. Also, booking your trip as early as possible helps secure the best prices.

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Angus Kidman is the international editor-at-large at Finder. He's an award-winning journalist who has reported on technology, travel, finance and other topics for over 30 years. Angus appears regularly on Sunrise, Today, The Project, Seven News and other TV and radio shows. See full bio

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