Finder makes money from featured partners, but editorial opinions are our own.

How to turn 20 days of annual leave into 53 days of holiday time in NSW

NSW, here's how to get 53 days of holiday time in 2023 from only 20 days of annual leave.

Do you wish you could have more than 1 holiday a year? Keen for an extended trip to New Zealand but also want a couple of city breaks as well?

With a bit of holiday-hacking and clever annual leave planning, you can be on holidays for a whopping 53 days of 2023, with no unpaid leave.

20 days is the legal minimum amount of annual leave for full-time employees in Australia. So this hack is doable for full-time workers working Monday–Friday (non-rostered).

Just book your days off early before your colleagues discover this hack too.


When to plan your holidays:

Picture not described

Holiday datesPublic holiday/sHoliday lengthDates to book annual leaveNumber of annual leave daysHoliday suggestionDeals per month
1–2 January2 January (New Year's Day observed)2 daysN/A0Take a trip up to the Hunter Valley for a cheeky break before you have to return to the 9–5.See January deals
21–29 January26 January (Australia Day)9 days23-25 January and 27 January4Go on an interstate road trip to Melbourne. The scenic itinerary takes around 5 days. That gives you a few days to see the city before taking the non-scenic route home.See January deals
1–16 April7 April (Good Friday), 10 April (Easter Monday)16 days3-6 April and 11-14 April8Take on Japan during cherry blossom season.See April deals
22–25 April25 April (Anzac Day)4 days24 April1Spend a long weekend in our nation's capital for the Anzac Day celebrations and to explore the city.See April deals
10–12 June12 June (King's Birthday)3 daysN/A0Book a hotel stay in Sydney and catch Vivid's light installations and live music events.See June deals
30 September – 8 October2 October (Labour Day)9 days3-6 October4Get some sun in Thailand on a Thai Island Hopper West tourSee September deals
23 December – 1 January25 December (Christmas Day), 26 December (Boxing Day), 1 January (New Year's Day)10 days27-29 December3Spend your New Year's Eve somewhere newSee December deals

Total:

  • Total holiday days: 53 days
  • Annual leave used: 20 days

That's a lot of travelling. Keep an eye on our Boxing Day flight sales to get these holidays booked.

Looking for a travel bargain to fill your annual leave days? Check out our latest deals