Crack the holiday code.
Think your annual leave is locked in an unbreakable vault of deadlines and emails? Think again, we’ve got the key to turning 2025 into one mini holiday after another, all within your precious 20 days. With a bit of calendar sleuthing and spreadsheet work, you can transform those days into a year full of adventure.
January 26th, Australia Day, lands on a Sunday in 2025, which means the public holiday rolls over to Monday, January 27th. The perfect excuse for a long weekend? Absolutely. Take either Friday, January 24th, or Tuesday, January 28th, off to create a breezy four-day escape. But why stop there? Use four annual leave days from January 28th to 31st, and you’ve unlocked a glorious nine-day break.
March 10th brings Labour Day for Victorians, and it’s your chance to level up that public holiday. Fall into a sweet rhythm of relaxation by taking leave from March 11th to 14th. Four annual leave days equal nine blissful days off. Picture it now: late summer afternoons, long lunches with friends, or even a quick getaway to recharge before the Easter rush.
Speaking of Easter, it’s the MVP of public holiday hacks. Good Friday lands on April 18th in 2025, offering the perfect long weekend. But don’t stop at four days of freedom! Take leave from April 22nd to 24th, and you’ll enjoy a ten-day holiday, stretching from Good Friday to the following Sunday, April 27th. Even better, this one only costs you three days of leave. That’s right: ten days of chocolate-fuelled, adventure-packed bliss.
The King’s Birthday on June 9th is another golden opportunity to stretch your leave days. Sure, you could settle for a four-day weekend by taking either Friday, June 6th, or Tuesday, June 10th, off. But we say go big. Take four days of leave from June 10th to June 13th, and suddenly, you’ve got a nine-day holiday at your fingertips. Whether it’s a local road trip or a tropical escape, the choice is yours.
Fast forward to November, and Melbourne Cup Day graces the calendar on Tuesday, November 4th. Don’t just stop at a four-day weekend by taking Monday, November 3rd, off. Go the extra mile and use four days of leave for the whole week, turning Melbourne Cup into a nine-day festival of leisure, indulgence, and plenty of downtime.
Finally, as December rolls in, the festive season offers the ultimate opportunity for a reset. Christmas Day lands on Thursday, December 25th, with Boxing Day following on Friday, December 26th. Take just three days of leave—December 29th to 31st—and you’ll unlock an 11-day stretch to celebrate, recharge, and ring in 2026 in style. Or, if you’re feeling extra ambitious, tack on a few more days into early January for a truly epic end-of-year adventure.
Remember, these are just the blueprints. Customise them to your wanderlust’s wildest dreams. Explore national parks, chase local festivals, or simply bask in the glorious freedom of having time truly on your side.
