While we’re all about advocating for everyday outdoor adventures, sometimes your plans require a little more time. The camping trip, the multi-day hike, the staycation. Sometimes a weekend doesn’t quite cut it.
So, we turn to annual leave: those precious days where the agenda is whatever we want it to be. But let’s face it, the annual conundrum of how to maximise limited annual leave days is real.
This is your guide to making the most of your annual leave days this year.
TLDR: The Annual Leave Strategy Hack
Looking to stretch your annual leave as far as it can go? The strategy to maximise annual leave is all about looking for the days around and in between public holidays and weekends.
What that looks like: public holiday on a Thursday? We’re taking the Friday as annual leave to connect the public holiday with the weekend, earning ourselves a four day break from Thursday through Sunday.
Understanding your annual leave entitlements
In Australia, full-time and part-time employees are entitled to “4 weeks of annual leave, based on their ordinary hours of work”. Learn more about annual leave (paid time off) in Australia.
What Days to Book as Annual Leave in 2026
These are the days to book as annual leave in order to make the most of your paid time off throughout the year. Remember to plan ahead so you can lock in your dates.
January Long Weekend
The Australia Day public holiday falls on Monday 26 January. You have two options to maximise this annual leave opportunity in January.
Option 1: The (longer) long weekend
- Friday 23 January: book annual leave
- Saturday 24 January: weekend
- Sunday 25 January: weekend
- Monday 26 January: public holiday
Option 2: The holiday
- Saturday 24 January: weekend
- Sunday 25 January: weekend
- Monday 26 January: public holiday
- Tuesday 27 January: book annual leave
- Wednesday 28 January: book annual leave
- Thursday 29 January: book annual leave
- Friday 30 January: book annual leave
- Saturday 31 January: weekend
- Sunday 1 February: weekend
Easter
In 2026, Easter happens at the start of April. Here’s when to take annual leave to make the most of the Easter public holidays. Again, you have two options depending on how much leave you have accrued and how much of a break you’d like!
Option 1: The 10 day break
- Friday 3 April (Good Friday): public holiday
- Saturday 4 April (Easter Saturday): weekend
- Sunday 5 April (Easter Sunday): weekend
- Monday 6 April (Easter Monday): public holiday
- Tuesday 7 April: book annual leave
- Wednesday 8 April: book annual leave
- Thursday 9 April: book annual leave
- Friday 10 April: book annual leave
- Saturday 11 April: weekend
- Sunday 12 April: weekend
Option 2: The 16 day break
- Saturday 28 March: weekend
- Sunday 29 March: weekend
- Monday 30 March: book annual leave
- Tuesday 31 March: book annual leave
- Wednesday 1 April: book annual leave
- Thursday 2 April: book annual leave
- Friday 3 April (Good Friday): public holiday
- Saturday 4 April (Easter Saturday): weekend
- Sunday 5 April (Easter Sunday): weekend
- Monday 6 April (Easter Monday): public holiday
- Tuesday 7 April: book annual leave
- Wednesday 8 April: book annual leave
- Thursday 9 April: book annual leave
- Friday 10 April: book annual leave
- Saturday 11 April: weekend
- Sunday 12 April: weekend
King’s Birthday
Let’s turn the June long weekend into a leisurely week or so out of office. Ready?
- Saturday 6 June: weekend
- Sunday 7 June: weekend
- Monday 8 June (King’s Birthday): public holiday
- Tuesday 9 June: book annual leave
- Wednesday 10 June: book annual leave
- Thursday 11 June: book annual leave
- Friday 12 June: book annual leave
- Saturday 13 June: weekend
- Sunday 14 June: weekend
Labour Day (NSW/ACT/SA)
Alrighty, we’re into Q4, the home stretch of 2026. Let’s get re-energised with a sneaky October break.
- Saturday 3 October: weekend
- Sunday 4 October: weekend
- Monday 5 October (Labour Day): public holiday
- Tuesday 6 October: book annual leave
- Wednesday 7 October: book annual leave
- Thursday 8 October: book annual leave
- Friday 9 October: book annual leave
- Saturday 10 October: weekend
- Sunday 11 October: weekend
Christmas and New Years 2026-27
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Summer has arrived and the festive season is upon us. Here’s when to book your annual leave over Christmas and New Years.
- Saturday 19 December: weekend
- Sunday 20 December: weekend
- Monday 21 December: book annual leave
- Tuesday 22 December: book annual leave
- Wednesday 23 December: book annual leave
- Thursday 24 December: book annual leave
- Friday 25 December (Christmas): public holiday
- Saturday 26 December (Boxing Day): weekend
- Sunday 27 December: weekend
- Monday 28 December (Boxing Day observed): public holiday
- Tuesday 29 December: book annual leave
- Wednesday 30 December: book annual leave
- Thursday 31 December: book annual leave
- Friday 1 January: public holiday
- Saturday 2 January: weekend
- Sunday 3 January: weekend
FAQs
When are the public holidays in Australia in 2026?
The public holidays in Australia in 2026 take place on:
- Thursday 1 January: New Year’s Day
- Monday 26 January: Australia Day
- Friday 3 April: Good Friday
- Saturday 4 April: Easter Saturday (weekend)
- Sunday 5 April: Easter Sunday (weekend)
- Monday 6 April: Easter Monday
- Saturday 25 April: Anzac Day (weekend)
- Monday 8 June: King’s Birthday (observed on different dates in WA & QLD)
- Monday 5 October: Labour Day (NSW/ACT/SA, observed on different dates in QLD/VIC/WA)
- Friday 25 December: Christmas Day
- Saturday 26 December: Boxing Day (weekend)
- Monday 28 December: Boxing Day observed
Some states have additional public holidays. In Victoria, both the Friday before the AFL Grand Final and Melbourne Cup are public holidays.
How can I maximise my annual leave in 2026?
A great strategy for maximising your annual leave entitlements is to book leave in between public holidays and weekends. Using this method can turn four days of leave into a nine day break over Easter, or seven days of leave into a 16 day break over Christmas and New Years.
Where can I learn about public holidays and annual leave in Australia?
The best resource for learning about Australia’s public holidays and your leave entitlements is the Fair Work Ombudsmen.
