planning your annual leave to get extra vacation time and time away from the office to be properly rested and rejuvenated on vacation based on your standard 20 days’ annual paid leave.
Knowing Australia’s public holiday calendar for 2025 is the key to getting the most out of your time off — as long as you plan your leave days around these dates.
This definitive guide explains exactly how to plan your way through the 2025 calendar year, lifting your ordinary practice of saving personal leave days to a game in which you can supercharge your short breaks into longer stints away without using up your leave this year.
A Guide to Annual Leave Entitlements in Australia
So before we get into the planning bits, here’s a refresher of the basic annual leave entitlements in Australia:
Employees who have worked for their employer in the same or a similar role for 12 months are entitled to 4 weeks’ (20 days’) paid annual leave per year.
Pro-rata entitlement for part-time workers is calculated by hours worked. Casual employees do not get paid annual leave, receiving a loading on their hourly rate in compensation.
Annual leave is accrued throughout the year on an accruement basis and generally carries over if not taken, but your employer may have its own policy about this. Many employers also work with employees to buy extra leave or offer leave loading (often 17.5%) when leave is taken.
Australian Public Holidays 2025
Public holidays in Australia differ from state to state and territory to territory, presenting unique opportunities based on where you are. Here is a complete list of all national and state-specific public holidays in 2025:
National Public Holidays
New Year’s Day: Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025
Australia Day: Monday, January 27, 2025 (observed, because January 26 is on Sunday)
Good Friday: Friday, April 18, 2025
Easter Monday: 21 April 2025
Anzac Day: 25 April 2025 (Friday)
Christmas Day: Last Thursday, December 25, 2025
Boxing Day Friday, December 26, 2025
Public holidays vary from state to state
New South Wales (NSW)
Labour Day: Monday, Oct. 6, 2025
The following is a list of the upcoming bank holidays.
Victoria (VIC)
Labour Day — Monday 10 March 2025
Queen’s Birthday: Monday, June 9, 2025
AFL Grand Final Friday: 26 September 2025 (provisional)
Melbourne Cup Day — Tuesday, 4 November 2025
Queensland (QLD)
Labour Day: Monday, 5 May, 2025
Queens Birthday: Monday 6 October 2025
South Australia (SA)
Adelaide Cup Day: Monday, 10 March 2025
Queen’s Birthday: Monday, 9 June 2025
Labour Day: Monday, 6 October 2025
Western Australia (WA)
Labour Day: Monday, 3 March, 2025
Western Australia Day: Monday, 2 June 2025
Catholic Feast Day: September 29, 2025 (proclaimed; observed on another day if Sunday)
Tasmania (TAS)
Eight Hours Day: Monday, 10 March 2025
Queen’s Birthday: Monday 9 June 2025
Recreation Day : Monday, November 3, 2025 (Northern Tasmania)
Hobart Regatta Day: Monday 10th February 2025 (Southern Tasmania)
Northern Territory (NT)
May Day: Monday, May 5, 2025
Picnic Day — Monday, August 4, 2025
Queen’s Birthday: Monday, 9 June 2025
Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
Canberra Day — 10 March 2025 (Monday)
Day of Reconciliation: Monday, 26 May 2025
Queen’s Birthday: Monday, 9 June 2025
Labour Day: Monday, Oct. 6, 2025
Planning Ahead: Using Leave Strategically in 2025
January 2025: New Year Extended Break
Dates to take: January 2-3, 6-10 Days used: 7 Total time off: 12 days (December 28, 2024 — January 12, 2025)
Because New Year’s Day is a Wednesday, you can book leave for the days around it to create an extended break that stretches from the end of December 2024 into January 2025. Ideal for a summer holiday in Australia’s hottest season.
The Easter and Anzac Day Triple-Header of 2025: April
Dates to book: April 14-17, April 22-24 Leave days used: 7 Total days off: 11 (April 12-27, 2025)
The Easter (April 21) and Anzac Day (April 25) are on the same week, which gives a special calendar for 2025 when Good Friday (April 18), Easter Monday (April 21), and Anzac Day (April 25) experiences within a period of two weeks. Book less than a week of annual leave between these public holidays and travel for half of November.
Melbourne Cup Week (Victoria)
Dates to book: Nov. 3, 5-7 Leave days taken: 4 Total time off: 9 (Nov. 1-9, 2025)
Victorian workers need only take leave around the days between Melbourne Cup Day and the weekend, allowing them to take a 9-day break (with only 4 days taken as leave), as well as the opportunity to indulge.
Christmas and New Year 2022-2023
Dates to book: Dec. 22-24, Dec. 29-31 Leave days used: 6 Total days off: 12 (Dec. 20, 2025 — Jan. 4, 2026)
Christmas is on a Thursday this year, and Boxing Day (December 26) is on the Friday, so taking leave for the days that sandwich those public holidays gives you a good chunk of time off at the end of the year. This time is perfect for summer vacations and family get-together.
State-Specific Opportunities
Western Australia
Dates to book: Feb. 27-28, March 4-7 Leave days used: 5 Total days off: 9 (Feb. 27-March 9, 2025)
Labour Day is on Monday, 3rd of March 2025 meaning Western Australians could take leave surrounding the public holiday for a total of 9 days in a row using just 5 of their annual leave.
Queensland
Dates to book: May 6-9 Leave days used: 4 Total days off: 9 (May 3-11, 2025)
Then that leaves just 4 days leave if you book off the rest of that week May 5, Labour day is on Monday, 9 days!
Victoria
Travel dates: Sept. 22-25, Sept. 29-30 Days off used: 6 Total days off: 10 (Sept. 20-30, 2025)
With the AFL Grand Final Friday (September 26), Victorians now have an opportunity to beef up spring break by taking leave on the days either side.
Strategies to Plan for Leave Success
Book Early
High demand periods, such as those around Christmas and Easter, are in big demand. Plan your annual leave well in advance — so you have a good chance of getting the dates you want before anyone else.
Consider Workplace Policies
Some workplaces have policies limiting the number of employees who may take leave at the same time or so-called blackout times during the busiest periods. Before making your plans, check your company’s specific policies.
Diversify Business and Family Priorities
Please maximise that leave (your wellbeing will thank you) but, not at the cost of your work during your absence. And when building in longer breaks, be mindful of project deadlines and team commitments.
Take Leave for Real Recovery
Research repeatedly indicates that taking regular breaks boosts productivity, creativity and job satisfaction. Schedule your leave strategically, not only to maximize the number of days off but to actually disconnect and recharge.
Consider Off-Peak Travel
By travelling at less popular times, you can save a lot of money on travel, as well as accommodation. Everyone wants a leave on public holidays, but taking time off during non-public holidays could have its own advantages.
Costs of Planning for Leave
Budgeting for Extended Breaks
If you are taking extended time off work, be sure to budget for it. Your annual leave may be paid, extended trips can involve extra costs.
Leave Loading
Under annual leave, many Australian workers are entitled to receive leave loading (usually 17.5%). Account for this possible uptick in your money planning.
Tax Implications
If you take a long leave towards the end of the financial year (June) it can impact your taxable income for that year. But when it’s time for major leave near tax time, see a financial adviser.
Remote Work Opportunities
It has been almost three years since the world of work flipped upside down early in 2020, when millions of employers began offering flexible or remote work arrangements. Here are some factors to consider when planning your leave:
Work-from-Anywhere Weeks
Some employers permit staff to work remotely from anywhere for stints lasting weeks or months. This can give you more time out without tapping into leave days.
Compressed Work Weeks
Check with your employer about compressed work weeks around public holidays, in which you work longer hours on selected days to get back extra days off.
Strategic Leave Planning: The Wellbeing Benefits
Maximising time off is not the only reason for planning your annual leave strategically: it’s an empowering move for your mental health and wellbeing.
Research indicates that longer breaks (7+ days) do a better job of relieving stress than shorter, more frequent weekends away.
Extended breaks allow you to:
Unplug from all work-related stressors
Get more involved with family and personal endeavors
Come back sharper and more energized
Consider traveling to locations that are longer distance
Learn how to make the most of your 2025 Australian calendar and annual leave with these strategic tips. Planning around public holidays and weekends can take those 20 days of leave into proper breaks of rest and rejuvenation.
Also, the focus of leave planning should not just be about getting the maximum number of days off, but rather that you show up for meaningful breaks so that you can disconnect, recharge your battery and come back to work renewed and with a new perspective.
Use this guide to help plan out your leave calendar for 2025 strategically so that you can maximise on your annual leave entitlement without compromising your professional responsibilities.
And do so, think ahead to a year balanced between work and rest in 2025!
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