How to maximise your annual leave in 2027: state-by-state guide
Published on October 19, 2026
The trick to getting more time off in 2027 is simple: book your leave next to public holidays. A Monday holiday plus four days of leave gives you nine days in a row, and the right days around Easter or Christmas can stretch even further.
Public holidays differ between states and territories, so the best plan depends on where you live. This guide about maximising annual leave in 2027 starts with the dates that work everywhere, then lists the extra opportunities in each state and territory, including holidays that only apply in capital cities. It also covers 2027 school holidays for parents and tips if you don’t work a standard Monday to Friday week.
All public holiday dates come from the Fair Work Ombudsman’s 2027 public holidays list.
Quick answer
The best way to maximise your annual leave in 2027 is to book it next to public holidays. Four days of leave around Easter gives you 10 days off, and three days between Christmas and New Year gives you nine.
- Easter: four days of leave gives you 10 days off, and eight days gives you 16, in every state and territory
- Christmas: Christmas Day falls on a Saturday, so every state and territory has public holidays on Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 December. Leave on Wednesday 29 to Friday 31 December gives you nine days off for three days of leave
- Australia Day: it falls on Tuesday 26 January, so one day of leave on Monday 25 January gives you four days off
- State holidays: Labour Day, King’s Birthday and local show days each offer a nine-day break for four days of leave, and the plans for each state are below
- Part-time and shift workers: you only need leave for the days you’d normally work, and parents can line plans up with the 2027 school holiday dates for their state
Jump to your state or territory
Maximise 2027 annual leave plans that work in every state
These public holidays apply across Australia, so the same plan works wherever you are.
Christmas is the biggest leave opportunity in 2027. Christmas Day falls on a Saturday, so every state and territory has public holidays on Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 December. That means just three days of leave covers the whole week between Christmas and New Year.
New Year’s Day 2028 falls on a Saturday too, and many states add a substitute public holiday on the following Monday when that happens. Check your state’s 2028 list when it’s released, as it could add another day to your summer break.
Maximising annual leave in 2027 by state and territory
New South Wales
Public holidays to plan around: Anzac Day additional holiday (Monday 26 April), King’s Birthday (Monday 14 June) and Labour Day (Monday 4 October).
School holidays 2027 (Eastern division): 12 to 23 April, 5 to 16 July, 27 September to 8 October, and from 21 December. Labour Day falls inside the spring break, so the October plan lines up well with time off for parents.
Victoria
Public holidays to plan around: Labour Day (Monday 8 March), King’s Birthday (Monday 14 June), the Friday before the AFL Grand Final (date to be confirmed) and Melbourne Cup Day (Tuesday 2 November, metro Melbourne and areas that don’t hold their own cup day).
School holidays 2027: 26 March to 11 April, 26 June to 11 July, 18 September to 3 October, and from 18 December. Easter falls at the start of the autumn break, so parents can cover the whole break with nine days of leave (Tuesday 30 March to Friday 2 April, and Monday 5 to Friday 9 April).
Queensland
Public holidays to plan around: Anzac Day (Monday 26 April), Labour Day (Monday 3 May), the Royal Queensland Show (Wednesday 11 August, Brisbane area only) and King’s Birthday (Monday 4 October).
School holidays 2027: 26 March to 11 April, 26 June to 11 July, 18 September to 4 October, and from 11 December. Like Victoria, Easter starts the autumn break, and the King’s Birthday plan above sits inside the spring break.
Western Australia
Public holidays to plan around: Labour Day (Monday 1 March), the Anzac Day additional holiday (Monday 26 April), Western Australia Day (Monday 7 June) and King’s Birthday (Monday 27 September, though some regional areas use a different date).
School holidays 2027: 10 to 25 April, 3 to 18 July, 25 September to 10 October, and from 17 December. King’s Birthday falls in the first week of the spring break, which makes it a good week for a family trip.
South Australia
Public holidays to plan around: Adelaide Cup Day (Monday 8 March), King’s Birthday (Monday 14 June) and Labour Day (Monday 4 October). Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve are part-day public holidays from 7pm.
School holidays 2027: 10 to 25 April, 3 to 18 July, 25 September to 10 October, and from 11 December. Labour Day falls in the middle of the spring break.
Tasmania
Public holidays to plan around: Eight Hours Day (Monday 8 March) and King’s Birthday (Monday 14 June) apply statewide. Hobart and the south also have the Royal Hobart Regatta (Monday 8 February) and the Royal Hobart Show (Thursday 21 October), while Launceston and the areas that don’t observe the Regatta have Recreation Day (Monday 1 November). Note that Tasmania doesn’t have Easter Saturday or Easter Sunday holidays, and Easter Tuesday is generally for the state public service only.
School holidays 2027: 10 to 25 April, 3 to 18 July, 25 September to 10 October, and from 17 December.
Australian Capital Territory
Public holidays to plan around: Canberra Day (Monday 8 March), Anzac Day (Monday 26 April), Reconciliation Day (Monday 31 May), King’s Birthday (Monday 14 June) and Labour Day (Monday 4 October).
School holidays 2027: 10 to 27 April, 3 to 19 July, 25 September to 11 October, and from 18 December. Anzac Day falls inside the autumn break, and Labour Day falls inside the spring break.
Northern Territory
Public holidays to plan around: Anzac Day (Monday 26 April), May Day (Monday 3 May), King’s Birthday (Monday 14 June), Darwin Show Day (Friday 23 July, Darwin) and Picnic Day (Monday 2 August). Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve are part-day public holidays from 7pm.
School holidays 2027: 3 to 12 April, 19 June to 12 July, 18 September to 4 October, and from 10 December. King’s Birthday sits just before the long dry season break, which makes June a good time to start a longer family trip.
Planning leave around school holidays
If you have school-aged children, the best leave dates are the ones that line up with term breaks. A few tips:
- Look for public holidays inside the break. In 2027, Easter starts the autumn holidays in Victoria and Queensland. The October long weekend falls inside the spring break in NSW, SA, the ACT and Queensland, while in WA the King’s Birthday long weekend on Monday 27 September falls at the start of the spring break
- Book early. School holidays are the busiest time to take leave, so colleagues with children will be asking for the same weeks
- Expect higher prices. Flights and accommodation usually cost more during school holidays, so a public holiday plan just outside the break can save money if your children are old enough to manage a day or two of school around it
School holiday dates are for government schools. Independent and Catholic schools often have different dates, so check with your school.
Tips for maximising leave if you don’t work Monday to Friday
The plans above assume a standard working week. If your hours look different, you can still make the most of 2027.
Part-time workers
You only need leave for the days you’d normally work. If you work Tuesday to Thursday, for example, the Easter plan (Tuesday 30 March to Friday 2 April) might only need three days of leave. Look for public holidays that fall on your usual working days, as these give you the most value.
Shift and rostered workers
If you work weekends, nights or rotating rosters, public holidays may be ordinary working days for you. Ask for your preferred dates as early as you can, before rosters are set. Booking leave next to your rostered days off works the same way as booking leave next to a public holiday, and swapping shifts with colleagues can stretch a break further.
Casual workers
Casual employees don’t get paid annual leave, so time off is unpaid. You can still use the same dates to plan breaks, and long weekends are a natural time to step back from shifts. If you’re weighing up how work types compare, our guide to casual vs part-time vs full-time work explains the differences.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to maximise annual leave in 2027?
Book leave next to public holidays, especially Easter and Christmas. In every state, eight days of leave around Easter gives you 16 days off, and three days between Christmas and New Year gives you nine days off.
Why is Christmas 2027 good for annual leave?
Christmas Day falls on a Saturday, so every state and territory has public holidays on Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 December. Booking Wednesday 29 to Friday 31 December gives you nine days off for three days of leave.
Is there a public holiday for Anzac Day in 2027?
Anzac Day falls on Sunday 25 April. NSW and WA add a holiday on Monday 26 April, and Queensland, the ACT and the NT observe Anzac Day on that Monday. Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania don’t have an extra day.
When are the 2027 school holidays?
It depends on your state. Victoria and Queensland start their autumn break on 26 March and the Northern Territory follows on 3 April, while WA, SA, Tasmania and the ACT start on 10 April and NSW on 12 April. The state sections above list every 2027 break for government schools.
Which state has the most long weekends in 2027?
The ACT and Queensland have some of the best options, thanks to holidays such as Reconciliation Day in the ACT and back-to-back Anzac Day and Labour Day long weekends in Queensland. The NT gets the same combination with Anzac Day and May Day.
Sources
- 2027 public holidays, Fair Work Ombudsman
- 2027 school term dates: government school dates published by each state and territory education department
