The best part about deciding to book a holiday is the dreaming, researching and planning. And the worst is undeniably calculating how much annual leave you’ll have to take to make that dream vacation a reality.
The good news is that with some clever planning around the public holiday dates you can maximise your break while minimising how much time you need to take off from work. A 10-day trip to Bali that only requires four days of annual leave? Totally achievable.
Read on for the nationwide public holiday dates, public holidays by state and territory, and our recommendations for which days to take off to make the most of your annual leave. And if you need travel inspiration for your trip, we’ve got that covered, too.
Australia public holidays 2024
Monday 1 January – New Year’s Day
Friday 26 January – Australia Day
Friday 29 March – Good Friday
Saturday 30 March – Easter Saturday
Sunday 31 March – Easter Sunday
Monday 1 April – Easter Monday
Thursday 25 April – Anzac Day
Wednesday 25 December – Christmas Day
Thursday 26 December – Boxing Day
Jump to public holidays for each state
How to maximise your annual leave
January 2024
Use four days of leave to get a nine-day break.
Public holiday: Friday 26 January.
Take leave on: Monday 22 January – Thursday 25 January.
Book your trip: Depart the evening of Friday 19 January 2024 and return on Sunday 28 January 2024.
Holiday inspiration: Taste your way through Tassie on a road trip along the cheese and wine trail with an evening flight to Hobart.
Or for a beach getaway, dive straight into paradise with a morning flight to Fiji. Stay at a resort on Denarau Island for easy access to day trips on the reef or combine travels with an island experience, checking into one of the many resorts in the Mamanucas Islands.
March/April 2024
Use four days of leave to get a 10-day break.
Public holidays: Friday 29 March – Monday 1 April.
Take leave on: Tuesday 2 April – Friday 5 April.
Book your trip: Depart evening Thursday 28 March 2024 and return on Sunday 7 April 2024.
Holiday inspiration: Pack a sarong and unwind for 10 days at a Balinese retreat by taking an evening flight from Melbourne or Sydney to Bali. Get amongst the vibrant surf culture of Canggu or enjoy a yoga retreat in Ubud – with so many things to do in Bali, you might feel like 10 days just isn’t enough!
For those who’d prefer to stay local, the warm April temperatures in Cairns make it an ideal domestic tropical getaway. Book a night flight to Cairns to get the most out of the holiday, ensuring a full day of snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef on day one of your holiday.
April/May 2024
Use six days of annual leave for a 11-day break.
Public holiday: Thursday 25 April.
Take leave on: Friday 26 April; Monday 29 April – Friday 3 May.
Book your trip: Depart the evening of Wednesday 24 April 2024 and return on Sunday 5 May 2024.
Holiday inspiration: Head overseas on a flight to Tokyo for a memorable 11-day holiday experience right in the middle of Cherry Blossom season. The afternoon flight has you touching down in Tokyo just in time to head to Omoide Yokocho for ramen!
Use one day of annual leave for a four-day break.
Public holiday: Thursday 25 April.
Take leave on: Friday 26 April.
Book your trip: Depart the evening of Wednesday 24 April 2024 and return on Sunday 28 April 2024.
Holiday inspiration: Give Adelaide’s vibrant food and wine scene the time it deserves with an extended long weekend of exploration. Head to the airport after work on Wednesday 24 April to catch a night flight to Adelaide to maximise your long weekend festivities - we recommend heading out to the Barossa Valley wineries!
December 2024/January 2025
Use five days of annual leave for a 12-day break.
Public holidays: Wednesday 25 December – Thursday 26 December
Take leave on: Monday 23 December – Tuesday 24 December; Friday 27 December; Monday 30 December – Tuesday 31 December
Book your trip: Depart the evening of Friday 20 December 2024 and return on Wednesday 1 January 2025
Holiday inspiration: Take an evening flight to the Gold Coast for a festive family holiday in the sunshine. Devote days to beach-hopping and immerse yourself in an adrenaline-filled day at Dreamworld or Movie World.
Alternatively, plan a unique holiday to tropical Vanuatu. With direct flights from Brisbane to Vanuatu in under three hours, December is the perfect time to travel to this Pacific paradise. Among the things to do in Vanuatu, enjoy the wonderful local culture, explore pristine beaches, and try a tongue-numbing kava.
Public holidays by state and territory
There’s even more chance to hack your 2024 annual leave by taking advantage of the public holiday dates in your state. For example, both the King’s Birthday and Labour Day public holidays fall on a Monday, so taking the four days of annual leave from the Tuesday to Friday that follow can give you a nine-day break.
NSW public holidays 2024
Monday 1 January – New Year’s Day
Friday 26 January – Australia Day
Friday 29 March – Good Friday
Saturday 30 March – Easter Saturday
Sunday 31 March – Easter Sunday
Monday 1 April – Easter Monday
Thursday 25 April – Anzac Day
Monday 10 June – King's Birthday
Monday 7 October – Labour Day
Wednesday 25 December – Christmas Day
Thursday 26 December – Boxing Day
VIC public holidays 2024
Monday 1 January – New Year’s Day
Friday 26 January – Australia Day
Friday 29 March – Good Friday
Saturday 30 March – Saturday before Easter Sunday
Sunday 31 March – Easter Sunday
Monday 1 April – Easter Monday
Thursday 25 April – Anzac Day
Monday 10 June – King's Birthday
Date TBC – Friday before AFL Grand Final
Monday 7 October – Labour Day
Tuesday 5 November – Melbourne Cup
Wednesday 25 December – Christmas Day
Thursday 26 December – Boxing Day
ACT public holidays 2024
Monday 1 January – New Year’s Day
Friday 26 January – Australia Day
Monday 11 March - Canberra Day
Friday 29 March – Good Friday
Saturday 30 March – Easter Saturday – the day after Good Friday
Sunday 31 March – Easter Sunday
Monday 1 April – Easter Monday
Monday 27 May - Reconciliation Day
Thursday 25 April – Anzac Day
Monday 10 June – King's Birthday
Monday 7 October – Labour Day
Wednesday 25 December – Christmas Day
Thursday 26 December – Boxing Day
QLD public holidays 2024
Monday 1 January – New Year’s Day
Friday 26 January – Australia Day
Friday 29 March – Good Friday
Saturday 30 March – The day after Good Friday
Sunday 31 March – Easter Sunday
Monday 1 April – Easter Monday
Thursday 25 April – Anzac Day
Monday 6 May - Labour Day
Wednesday 14 August - Royal Queensland Show (Brisbane area only)
Monday 7 October – King's Birthday
Tuesday 24 December – Christmas Eve (from 6pm to midnight)
Wednesday 25 December – Christmas Day
Thursday 26 December – Boxing Day
Wednesday 25 December – Christmas Day
Thursday 26 December – Boxing Day
SA public holidays 2024
Monday 1 January – New Year’s Day
Friday 26 January – Australia Day
Monday 11 March – Adelaide Cup Day (subject to proclamation)
Friday 29 March – Good Friday
Saturday 30 March – Easter Saturday
Sunday 31 March – Easter Sunday
Monday 1 April – Easter Monday
Thursday 25 April – Anzac Day
Monday 10 June – King's Birthday
Monday 7 October – Labour Day
Tuesday 24 December - Christmas Eve (from 7pm to midnight)
Wednesday 25 December – Christmas Day
Thursday 26 December – Proclamation Day public holiday / Boxing Day
Tuesday 31 December – New Year's Eve (from 7pm to midnight)
NT public holidays 2024
Monday 1 January – New Year’s Day
Friday 26 January – Australia Day
Friday 29 March – Good Friday
Saturday 30 March – Easter Saturday
Sunday 31 March – Easter Sunday
Monday 1 April – Easter Monday
Thursday 25 April – Anzac Day
Monday 6 May - May Day
Monday 10 June – King's Birthday
Monday 5 August - Picnic Day
Tuesday 24 December - Christmas Eve (from 7pm to midnight)
Wednesday 25 December – Christmas Day
Thursday 26 December – Boxing Day
Tuesday 31 December – New Year's Eve (from 7pm to midnight)
WA public holidays 2024
Monday 1 January – New Year’s Day
Friday 26 January – Australia Day
Monday 4 March – Labour Day
Friday 29 March – Good Friday
Sunday 31 March – Easter Sunday
Monday 1 April – Easter Monday
Thursday 25 April – Anzac Day
Monday 3 June - Western Australia Day
Monday 23 September – King's Birthday
Wednesday 25 December – Christmas Day
Thursday 26 December – Boxing Day
TAS public holidays 2024
Monday 1 January – New Year’s Day
Friday 26 January – Australia Day
Monday 12 February - Royal Hobart Regatta (only observed in certain areas of the state)
Monday 11 March - Eight Hours Day
Friday 29 March – Good Friday
Monday 1 April – Easter Monday
Tuesday 2 April - Easter Tuesday (generally Tasmanian Public Service only)
Thursday 25 April – Anzac Day
Monday 10 June - King's Birthday
Monday 4 November - Recreation Day (areas of the state that don’t observe Royal Hobart Regatta)
Wednesday 25 December – Christmas Day
Thursday 26 December – Boxing Day