Aerial photo of a surfer on the water, Bali

Credit: Bisual Studio/Stocksy from stock.adobe.com

Ticking off the travel bucket list in 2024 just got easier with annual leave hacks that'll help you double your days off this year.

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.   

Tropical resort at Nananu-i-Ra island, Fiji

Credit: Donyanedomam from stock.adobe.com

Ready to go? Book a flight today!

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.  

Jatiluwih, Bali, Indonesia

Credit: Image Source from stock.adobe.com

 

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! 

Shibuya crossing, Tokyo, Japan

Credit: robertharding from stock.adobe.com

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. 

Welcome sign at a beach in Mystery Island, Vanuatu

Credit: Thomas Haupt/Westend61 from stock.adobe.com

 

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

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