Daylight saving happens at the same time every year but somehow catches us off guard each time. Despite being literal clockwork and being observed in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, the ACT (and Norfolk Island), the annual shift sneaks up, so we’ve broken down what daylight saving time is. And more importantly, when daylight saving ends for 2025.

When does daylight saving end?

Daylight saving time began on Sunday, October 6, 2024 at 2am local time when clocks were put forward one hour. It ends on Sunday, April 6, 2025 at 2am (which is 3am daylight saving time), when clocks are put back one hour.

Does time move forward or back when daylight saving time ends?

When daylight saving time ends on Sunday, April 6, 2025 time will go back an hour, which means you get an extra hour of sleep. So if you’re manually adjusting a clock or watch when you wake up on April 6, adjust accordingly.

Why do we even have daylight savings?

Daylight savings in Australia was initially introduced in 1916 as a means of preserving energy in the midst of WWI, when many nations had to tighten their belts during what was essentially a war of attrition. Changing the clocks by an hour meant taking advantage of longer sunlit hours so that workers could be productive during the day and cease work before dark.

During both World Wars, all states had to observe daylight savings under federal law but it wasn’t until the late 1960s and early 1970s that many states opted in voluntarily. This is the season for Hot Toddies and roaring fires.

Related story: 11 picture-perfect NSW towns to visit this April long weekend