If you’re working full-time for some other prick, you’ve probably got four weeks of paid annual leave each year, so why not get the most out of it? If you put a bit of strategy behind your days off (& get in early enough with the bosses), you can maximise these hours to get yourself some big breaks throughout the year.
Here's our top picks that you should look at submitting today:
Christmas & New Year 2024-25
Got a bit of annual leave left to burn for 2024? Here’s how you can turn it into a 12-day break with only five days off:
- Saturday, 21 Dec: Weekend
- Sunday, 22 Dec: Weekend
- Monday, 23 Dec: Take Annual Leave
- Tuesday, 24 Dec: Take Annual Leave
- Wednesday, 25 Dec: Christmas Day (Public Holiday)
- Thursday, 26 Dec: Boxing Day (Public Holiday)
- Friday, 27 Dec: Take Annual Leave
- Saturday, 28 Dec: Weekend
- Sunday, 29 Dec: Weekend
- Monday, 30 Dec: Take Annual Leave
- Tuesday, 31 Dec: Take Annual Leave
- Wednesday, 1 Jan: New Year's Day (Public Holiday)
Australia Day 2025
If you’re after a cheeky four-day weekend, just book off the Friday before:
- Friday, 24 Jan: Take Annual Leave
- Saturday, 25 Jan: Weekend
- Sunday, 26 Jan: Weekend
- Monday, 27 Jan: Australia Day (Public Holiday)
Easter & ANZAC Day 2025
This is where it gets even better – 10 days off with only three days of annual leave... plenty of time for a Bali run:
- Friday, 18 April: Good Friday (Public Holiday)
- Saturday, 19 April: Weekend
- Sunday, 20 April: Easter Sunday
- Monday, 21 April: Easter Monday (Public Holiday)
- Tuesday, 22 April: Take Annual Leave
- Wednesday, 23 April: Take Annual Leave
- Thursday, 24 April: Take Annual Leave
- Friday, 25 April: ANZAC Day (Public Holiday)
- Saturday, 26 April: Weekend
- Sunday, 27 April: Weekend
King’s Birthday 2025 (Different dates in QLD & WA)
Snag a four-day weekend with just one day of leave:
- Friday, 6 June: Take Annual Leave
- Saturday, 7 June: Weekend
- Sunday, 8 June: Weekend
- Monday, 9 June: King’s Birthday (Public Holiday)
Christmas & New Year 2025-26
Looking ahead to the next holiday season? With seven days of leave, you could score a massive 16-day break.
- Saturday, 20 Dec: Weekend
- Sunday, 21 Dec: Weekend
- Monday, 22 Dec: Take Annual Leave
- Tuesday, 23 Dec: Take Annual Leave
- Wednesday, 24 Dec: Take Annual Leave
- Thursday, 25 Dec: Christmas Day (Public Holiday)
- Friday, 26 Dec: Boxing Day (Public Holiday)
- Saturday, 27 Dec: Weekend
- Sunday, 28 Dec: Weekend
- Monday, 29 Dec: Take Annual Leave
- Tuesday, 30 Dec: Take Annual Leave
- Wednesday, 31 Dec: Take Annual Leave
- Thursday, 1 Jan: New Year's Day (Public Holiday)
- Friday, 2 Jan: Take Annual Leave
- Saturday, 3 Jan: Weekend
- Sunday, 4 Jan: Weekend
After all that, you'll still have plenty of days up your sleeve to scatter them across the year for extra-long weekends here and there.
For example, Victorians could pair a day off with Melbourne Cup Day for a four-day breather. Just check out the Fair Work Ombudsman to stay up-to-date on all the public holidays.
Take advantage of the system in 2025, good luck!
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