ADVERTISEMENT
Taking regular breaks away from work is more than just a luxury – it’s essential for our mental health, for spending quality time with family and friends, and for exploring this beautiful country of ours. And who doesn’t love a holiday hack that lets you stretch your time away from the office without hammering your annual leave balance?
So break out the calendar and start lodging those leave requests (before everyone else does) to ensure you score a better work/life balance in 2026. And remember, NRMA members enjoy sizeable discounts at over 50 holiday parks and resorts around the country, so now is the perfect time to start planning your next getaway.
Below, we’ll break down the key 2026 public holidays in Australia, with a special emphasis on NSW public holidays. Think of it as your one-stop shop for annual leave hacks in 2026, plus a guide to the best time to travel and how to plan annual leave like a seasoned pro.
If you’re wondering how to maximise annual leave in Australia 2026, keep reading!
Public holiday: Monday January 26
Annual leave required: Four days (Jan 27-30)
Potential break: Nine days off (Jan 24-Feb 1)
Australia Day conveniently falls on a Monday in 2026, guaranteeing a three-day long weekend from January 24-26. But if you can spare four days of leave (Jan 27-30), you’ll unlock a luxurious nine-day break to recover from the chaos of the new year.
It’s the perfect excuse to decompress after the summer rush, and with NRMA members scoring hefty discounts at 50+ holiday parks and resorts around the country, it’s a prime time for a beach escape or regional NSW road trip.
If burning four days so early in the year isn’t feasible, there’s still an easy win: take a single day off (either Jan 23 or Jan 27) and convert it into a four-day break. Not a bad return on investment.
Public holidays: Good Friday (April 3), Easter Monday (April 6)
Annual leave required: One day (April 2 or April 7)
Potential break: Five days off (April 2-6)
Easter lands in the first week of April this year, which means you can’t stack it with Anzac Day like in previous calendar quirks. But don’t worry, the Easter long weekend is still ripe for smart planning.
With public holidays from April 3 to April 6, taking just one annual leave day (either April 2 or April 7) turns your break into five days off. It’s a great chance to explore NSW’s coast before the chill sets in or head inland for crisp mornings and warm afternoons.
Want to go bigger? It is possible to turn eight days of leave into 16 days off between March 28 and April 12:
As for Anzac Day, it falls on a Saturday in 2026 meaning no extra Monday off for most states including NSW, QLD, VIC, TAS and SA. WA and ACT residents, however, do pick up Monday April 27 as a public holiday.
Public holiday: Monday June 8
Annual leave required: Four days (June 9-12)
Potential break: Nine days off (June 6-14)
Winter is one of the most underrated seasons to travel in Australia, and the mid-year King’s Birthday long weekend offers a perfect opportunity.
By taking four days of leave after the Monday public holiday, you can lock in nine days off across June 6-14. That’s prime time for a road trip through the NSW Southern Highlands, a snowy escape to the Alps, or a sunny migration north to Queensland’s warmth.
(Excludes QLD and WA, which celebrate the holiday on different dates.)
Public holiday: Monday October 5 (ACT, NSW, SA – and QLD for King’s Birthday)
Annual leave required: Four days (Oct 6-9)
Potential break: Nine days off (Oct 3-11)
If you live in NSW, the October long weekend is one of the best annual leave plays of the year. Labour Day falls on Monday October 5, which means booking leave from October 6-9 secures you nine days off, including both weekends.
This is the perfect window for spring travel – wildflowers, warmer weather, fewer crowds – whether you're cruising down the South Coast, tackling a high country 4WD adventure or unwinding at a coastal holiday park.
Public holidays:
Annual leave required: Seven days (Dec 21-24 + Dec 29-31)
Potential break: 16 days off (Dec 19-Jan 3)
It’s never too early to start planning your Christmas break, especially when 2026 offers one of the best end-of-year leave hacks in ages.
With Christmas falling on a Friday and Boxing Day on a Saturday, the Boxing Day public holiday shifts to Monday December 28. That gives you four straight days off without dipping into your leave balance.
But if your personal battery is running on empty, you can turn seven days of leave into a massive 16-day break. Simply book annual leave from Dec 21-24, and again from Dec 29-31.
Whether you're planning road trips, beach escapes or simply some well-earned downtime, 2026 is packed with opportunities to stretch your annual leave further than ever. With a little strategy you can work smarter, travel longer, and make the most of every public holiday the year has to offer.
Now all that’s left to do? File those leave forms before your colleagues do.
