2026: How to turn 20 days of annual leave into up to 69 days off

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

Angus Kidman's headshot

By

Angus Kidman

Updated

Fact checked

Key takeaways

  • No matter where you live in Australia, you can turn your 20 days of standard annual leave into at least 63 days of glorious holidays
  • While there's no extra public holiday for Anzac Day in 2026, smart scheduling can get you two extended breaks plus a long weekend every month.
  • Our travel experts list which days to take off and highlight the best strategies.

Lucky ACT and NT residents get the most potential time off, with a possible 69 days of holidays.

In 2026, maxing out your annual leave means stacking leave around Easter and Christmas, and sprinkling long weekends throughout the year.

This list doesn't include half-days, retail holidays, bank holidays or city-specific mid-week 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 63 days off in NSW

Sydney
There are 9 official public holidays in NSW in 2026. To get 57 days of holidays across the year, plan for these breaks:

BreakStartFinishDays
New Year's Day 2026Thu 1 Jan 2026Sun 4 Jan 20264
Australia DaySat 24 Jan 2026Mon 26 Jan 20263
February long weekendSat 14 Feb 2026Mon 16 Feb 20263
March long weekendSat 7 Mar 2026Mon 9 Mar 20263
EasterSat 28 Mar 2026Mon 6 Apr 202610
ANZAC long weekendSat 25 Apr 2026Mon 27 Apr 20263
May long weekendSat 16 May 2026Mon 18 May 20263
King's BirthdaySat 6 Jun 2026Mon 8 Jun 20263
July long weekendSat 18 Jul 2026Mon 20 Jul 20263
August long weekendSat 8 Aug 2026Mon 10 Aug 20263
September long weekendSat 5 Sep 2026Mon 7 Sep 20263
Labour DaySat 3 Oct 2026Mon 5 Oct 20263
November long weekendSat 14 Nov 2026Mon 16 Nov 20263
Christmas/New YearSun 20 Dec 2026Mon 4 Jan 202716
Total63

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.

To achieve the 63 days, book these dates for your annual leave:

How to turn your annual leave into 67 days off in Victoria

Great Ocean Road
There are 11 official public holidays in Victoria in 2026. For the most consecutive days off, aim for these breaks:

BreakStartFinishDays
New Year's Day 2026Thu 1 Jan 2026Sun 4 Jan 20264
Australia DaySat 24 Jan 2026Mon 26 Jan 20263
February long weekendSat 14 Feb 2026Mon 16 Feb 20263
Labour DaySat 7 Mar 2026Mon 9 Mar 20263
EasterSat 28 Mar 2026Mon 6 Apr 202610
ANZAC long weekendSat 25 Apr 2026Mon 27 Apr 20263
May long weekendSat 16 May 2026Mon 18 May 20263
King's BirthdaySat 6 Jun 2026Mon 8 Jun 20263
July long weekendSat 18 Jul 2026Mon 20 Jul 20263
August long weekendSat 8 Aug 2026Mon 10 Aug 20263
September long weekendSat 5 Sep 2026Mon 7 Sep 20263
AFL Grand FinalFri 25 Sep 2026Sun 27 Sep 20263
October long weekendSat 3 Oct 2026Mon 5 Oct 20263
Melbourne CupSat 31 Oct 2026Tue 3 Nov 20264
Christmas/New YearSun 20 Dec 2026Mon 4 Jan 202716
Total67

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 63 days off in Queensland

Gold Coast
There are 9 official public holidays in Queensland in 2026. To get the most days off, aim for these breaks:

BreakStartFinishDays
New Year's Day 2026Thu 1 Jan 2026Sun 4 Jan 20264
Australia DaySat 24 Jan 2026Mon 26 Jan 20263
February long weekendSat 14 Feb 2026Mon 16 Feb 20263
March long weekendSat 7 Mar 2026Mon 9 Mar 20263
EasterSat 28 Mar 2026Mon 6 Apr 202610
ANZAC long weekendSat 25 Apr 2026Mon 27 Apr 20263
May long weekendSat 16 May 2026Mon 18 May 20263
King's BirthdaySat 6 Jun 2026Mon 8 Jun 20263
July long weekendSat 18 Jul 2026Mon 20 Jul 20263
August long weekendSat 8 Aug 2026Mon 10 Aug 20263
September long weekendSat 5 Sep 2026Mon 7 Sep 20263
Labour DaySat 3 Oct 2026Mon 5 Oct 20263
November long weekendSat 14 Nov 2026Mon 16 Nov 20263
Christmas/New YearSun 20 Dec 2026Mon 4 Jan 202716
Total63

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

How to turn your annual leave into 66 days off in Western Australia

Perth skyline
There are 10 official public holidays in Western Australia in 2026. To maximise your days off, plan for these breaks:

BreakStartFinishDays
New Year's Day 2026Thu 1 Jan 2026Sun 4 Jan 20264
Australia DaySat 24 Jan 2026Mon 26 Jan 20263
February long weekendSat 14 Feb 2026Mon 16 Feb 20263
Labour DaySat 28 Feb 2026Mon 2 Mar 20263
March long weekendSat 7 Mar 2026Mon 9 Mar 20263
EasterSat 28 Mar 2026Mon 6 Apr 202610
ANZAC long weekendSat 25 Apr 2026Mon 27 Apr 20263
May long weekendSat 16 May 2026Mon 18 May 20263
Western Australia DaySat 30 May 2026Mon 1 Jun 20263
July long weekendSat 18 Jul 2026Mon 20 Jul 20263
August long weekendSat 8 Aug 2026Mon 10 Aug 20263
September long weekendSat 5 Sep 2026Mon 7 Sep 20263
King's BirthdaySat 26 Sep 2026Mon 28 Sep 20263
November long weekendSat 14 Nov 2026Mon 16 Nov 20263
Christmas/New YearSun 20 Dec 2026Mon 4 Jan 202716
Total66

This plan includes extended Easter and Christmas breaks and a stack of additional long weekends, which you could place wherever you like.
To achieve the maximum days off on holiday, book these dates for your annual leave:

How to turn your annual leave into 66 days off in South Australia

Glenelg tram
There are 10 official public holidays in South Australia in 2026. To score the maximum number of consecutive days off, go for these breaks:

BreakStartFinishDays
New Year's Day 2026Thu 1 Jan 2026Sun 4 Jan 20264
Australia DaySat 24 Jan 2026Mon 26 Jan 20263
February long weekendSat 14 Feb 2026Mon 16 Feb 20263
Adelaide Cup DaySat 7 Mar 2026Mon 9 Mar 20263
March long weekendSat 14 Mar 2026Mon 16 Mar 20263
EasterSat 28 Mar 2026Mon 6 Apr 202610
ANZAC long weekendSat 25 Apr 2026Mon 27 Apr 20263
May long weekendSat 16 May 2026Mon 18 May 20263
King's BirthdaySat 6 Jun 2026Mon 8 Jun 20263
July long weekendSat 18 Jul 2026Mon 20 Jul 20263
August long weekendSat 8 Aug 2026Mon 10 Aug 20263
September long weekendSat 5 Sep 2026Mon 7 Sep 20263
Labour DaySat 3 Oct 2026Mon 5 Oct 20263
November long weekendSat 14 Nov 2026Mon 16 Nov 20263
Christmas/New YearSun 20 Dec 2026Mon 4 Jan 202716
Total66

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

How to turn your annual leave into 66 days off in Tasmania

Tasmania
There are 10 official public holidays in Tasmania in 2026. 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 2026Thu 1 Jan 2026Sun 4 Jan 20264
Australia DaySat 24 Jan 2026Mon 26 Jan 20263
Royal Hobart RegattaSat 7 Feb 2026Mon 9 Feb 20263
February long weekendSat 14 Feb 2026Mon 16 Feb 20263
8 Hours DaySat 7 Mar 2026Mon 9 Mar 20263
March long weekendSat 14 Mar 2026Mon 16 Mar 20263
EasterSat 28 Mar 2026Mon 6 Apr 202610
ANZAC long weekendSat 25 Apr 2026Mon 27 Apr 20263
May long weekendSat 16 May 2026Mon 18 May 20263
King's BirthdaySat 6 Jun 2026Mon 8 Jun 20263
July long weekendSat 18 Jul 2026Mon 20 Jul 20263
August long weekendSat 8 Aug 2026Mon 10 Aug 20263
September long weekendSat 5 Sep 2026Mon 7 Sep 20263
November long weekendSat 14 Nov 2026Mon 16 Nov 20263
Christmas/New YearSun 20 Dec 2026Mon 4 Jan 202716
Total66

Outside Hobart, folks get Recreation Day 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 69 days off in the Australian Capital Territory

Parliament House
There are a whopping 11 official public holidays in the ACT in 2026 (public servants know what they're doing). Here's how to space them for maximum effect:

BreakStartFinishDays
New Year's Day 2026Thu 1 Jan 2026Sun 4 Jan 20264
Australia DaySat 24 Jan 2026Mon 26 Jan 20263
February long weekendSat 14 Feb 2026Mon 16 Feb 20263
Canberra DaySat 7 Mar 2026Mon 9 Mar 20263
March long weekendSat 14 Mar 2026Mon 16 Mar 20263
EasterSat 28 Mar 2026Mon 6 Apr 202610
ANZAC long weekendSat 25 Apr 2026Mon 27 Apr 20263
May long weekendSat 16 May 2026Mon 18 May 20263
Reconcilliation DaySat 30 May 2026Mon 1 Jun 20263
King's BirthdaySat 6 Jun 2026Mon 8 Jun 20263
July long weekendSat 18 Jul 2026Mon 20 Jul 20263
August long weekendSat 8 Aug 2026Mon 10 Aug 20263
September long weekendSat 5 Sep 2026Mon 7 Sep 20263
Labour DaySat 3 Oct 2026Mon 5 Oct 20263
November long weekendSat 14 Nov 2026Mon 16 Nov 20263
Christmas/New YearSun 20 Dec 2026Mon 4 Jan 202716
Total69

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 69 days off in the Northern Territory

Darwin
There are 11 official public holidays in the NT in 2026. To get the most consecutive days off, plan for these breaks:

BreakStartFinishDays
New Year's Day 2026Thu 1 Jan 2026Sun 4 Jan 20264
Australia DaySat 24 Jan 2026Mon 26 Jan 20263
February long weekendSat 14 Feb 2026Mon 16 Feb 20263
Canberra DaySat 7 Mar 2026Mon 9 Mar 20263
March long weekendSat 14 Mar 2026Mon 16 Mar 20263
EasterSat 28 Mar 2026Mon 6 Apr 202610
ANZAC long weekendSat 25 Apr 2026Mon 27 Apr 20263
May DaySat 2 May 2026Mon 4 May 20263
May long weekendSat 16 May 2026Mon 18 May 20263
King's BirthdaySat 6 Jun 2026Mon 8 Jun 20263
July long weekendSat 18 Jul 2026Mon 20 Jul 20263
Darwin Show DayFri 24 Jul 2026Sun 26 Jul 20263
August long weekendSat 8 Aug 2026Mon 10 Aug 20263
September long weekendSat 5 Sep 2026Mon 7 Sep 20263
November long weekendSat 14 Nov 2026Mon 16 Nov 20263
Christmas/New YearSun 20 Dec 2026Mon 4 Jan 202716
Total69

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 2026, Anzac Day falls on a Saturday, so you don't get an extra day off (though we've suggested you take one anyway).

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.

Sources

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Editor-at-large

Angus Kidman is Finder’s International Editor-at-Large and an award-winning journalist with over 30 years of experience in tech, travel and finance. He was previously the editor of Lifehacker Australia and Australian Personal Computer, and is a recognised commentator, appearing on shows like Sunrise and The Project. A two-time IT Journalism Award winner, Angus has written for top publications such as The Sydney Morning Herald, the AFR, The Australian and Gizmodo, and is known for his expertise in travel rewards and consumer technology. See full bio

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