How to maximise your annual leave in 2026 - Easter weekend and ANZAC Day public holiday dates
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 (ANZAC Day now inclduded). 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!
Easter public holidays 2026 (April): Turn one day of leave into five days off
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:
- March 28-29: Weekend
- March 30-April 2: Annual leave
- April 3-6: Easter public holidays
- April 7-10: Annual leave
- April 11-12: Weekend
ANZAC Day (April): Turn one day of leave into a long weekend
As for ANZAC Day, NSW has recently confirmed it will do the same as WA and the ACT and mark ANZAC with an additional public holiday on Monday April 27. The same rule will apply in NSW in 2027, when ANZAC Day falls on a Sunday.
Taking a day of leave on Friday April 24 or Tuesday April 28, will give you a four day weekend, which represents a great opportunity to plan a road trip and have a regional ANZAC day experience.
King’s Birthday (June): Turn four days of leave into nine days off
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.)
Labour Day (October): Turn four days of leave into nine days off
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.
Christmas / New Year 2026: Turn seven days of leave into 16 days off
Public holidays:
- Christmas Day (Friday Dec 25)
- Boxing Day (Saturday Dec 26, public holiday Monday Dec 28)
- New Year’s Day (Thursday Jan 1)
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.
Start booking!
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.
