For many of us, there’s never quite enough annual leave to fit in all the holidays we dream of. But what if you could get more days off without burning through your entire leave balance? The secret lies in planning your time off around public holidays in 2025.
By just being a little bit strategic, you can enjoy longer breaks while using fewer leave days. Here’s how to maximise annual leave in 2025, giving you plenty of time to explore Australia’s breathtaking landscapes, relax at home, or even plan the trip to Europe you’ve been waiting for ages!
2025 Public Holidays (National)
Before we jump into any planning, let’s take a look at the national public holidays across Australia in 2025:
| Public holiday | Date |
| New Year’s Day | Wednesday, 1 January |
| Australia Day | Monday, 27 January |
| Good Friday | Friday, 18 April |
| Day following Good Friday (except TAS & WA) | Saturday, 19 April |
| Easter Sunday (except TAS) | Sunday, 20 April |
| Easter Monday | Monday, 21 April |
| Anzac Day | Tuesday, 25 April |
| Christmas Day | Thursday, 25 December |
| Boxing Day | Friday, 26 December |
Now that we’ve got all the blueprints, let’s see month-by-month how to turn these into extended breaks!
January 2025: Start the Year Right
Kick off the year with a bang by making the most of Australia Day. It falls on a Sunday, but the public holiday is observed on Monday, 27 January. Take four annual leave days from Tuesday, 28 January to Friday, 31 January, and you’ll get a nine-day break from Saturday, 25 January to Sunday, 2 February.
Annual leave used: 4 days
Holiday days off: 9 days
April 2025: Easter + Anzac Day Combo
April is the jackpot for leave maximisation. With Good Friday on 18 April, Easter Monday on 21 April, and Anzac Day on 25 April (Friday), you can enjoy an incredible 10-day break by taking leave on Tuesday, 22 April to Thursday, 24 April.
Annual leave used: 3 days
Holiday days off: 10 days
June 2025: Winter Escape
For those in states that observe the King’s Birthday holiday (Monday, 9 June), this is your mid-year escape opportunity. Take four leave days from Tuesday, 10 June to Friday, 13 June, and you’ll lock in a nine-day break from Saturday, 7 June to Sunday, 15 June.
Annual leave used: 4 days
Holiday days off: 9 days
December 2025 to January 2026: The Big Holiday
The festive season is the perfect time to splurge on a longer holiday. With Christmas Day (Thursday, 25 December), Boxing Day (Friday, 26 December), and New Year’s Day (Wednesday, 1 January 2026), you can take just seven annual leave days (22–24 December, 29–31 December, and 2 January) to enjoy a whopping 16-day break from Saturday, 20 December to Sunday, 4 January.
Annual leave used: 7 days
Holiday days off: 16 days
To Wrap Up
Strategic planning around public holidays 2025 can give you more bang for your annual leave buck. Whether you’re after short beach getaways or overseas trips, these hacks ensure you have plenty of time to unwind without sacrificing your hard-earned leave.
So, what are you waiting for? Start planning now and double up your holidays in 2025!
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