For many of us, there aren’t enough annual leave days in the calendar year. We hoard our annual leave days and allow them to accumulate so that when we do want to go on a big holiday, we can do so without taking unpaid leave.

But we’re here to tell you that you can take a holiday without sacrificing a big chunk of your annual leave days. All you have to do is time your annual leave days with public holidays. 

So if you’re looking to take a trip in 2026, but don’t want to burn through all your annual leave, here’s a month-by-month guide on how you can take 16 days of leave while only using up eight days of annual leave, or even just a nine-day holiday that only uses up four days of annual leave.  

January 2026

New year, new holiday. Treat yourself to a little break at the beginning of the year by taking advantage of the Australia Day public holiday (January 26). In 2026, Australia Day falls on a Monday. If you take four days of annual leave from Tuesday, January 37 to Friday, January 30, the weekends on either end, plus the public holiday give you a nine-day break in exchange for just four annual leave days. Which gives you just enough time to explore some of Australia’s most gorgeous beach towns when they’re at their best, in the peak of summer. 

Annual leave used: 4 days

Holiday days off: 9 days (January 24 – February 1)

April 2025 

Easter is when you can really cash on taking a break for fewer annual leave days. In 2025, Good Friday falls on April 3 and Easter Monday is on April 6, so if you take four days of annual leave from Monday, March 30 to Thursday, April 2 and then Tuesday, April 7 to Friday, April 10 you will get 16 days of leave for the price of 8 annual leave days. This is also the perfect time of the year to hit up some of Australia’s best regional towns. 

Annual leave used: 8 days

Holiday days off: 16 days (March 28 – April 12)

June 2025

Sorry, Queensland and Western Australia, but this one is only going to benefit those living in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory and ACT, which observe the King’s Birthday in June. If you take four days of annual leave from Tuesday, June 9 to Friday, June 12, you trade in four days’ annual leave for a nine-day holiday. If you’re planning a trip to Europe, this is the time to do it. Western Australia observes the King’s Birthday in September and the same holiday math applies. Take annual leave from Tuesday, September 29 to Friday, October 2 and you’ll get 9 days off for the sweet price of four. 

Annual leave used: 4 days

Holiday days off: 9 days (June 6-14)

October 2025 

Labour Day in ACT, New South Wales and South Australia falls on Monday, October 5 in 2026 and it’s the perfect time to take some extra leave to get you through the remainder of the working year. If you take leave from Tuesday October 6 to Friday, October 9 you’ll be rewarded with nine days off for only four days of annual leave. It also happens to herald the start of spring which is the perfect time for an extra long weekend away. Here are the best short breaks in NSW and beach towns in South Australia to discover. Queensland also recognises the King’s Birthday on October 5 in 2026, so the same annual leave days apply to earn 9 days off. 

Annual leave used: 4 days

Holiday days off: 9 days (October 3-11)

December 2026 – January 2027

Good things come to those who wait. If you’re keen for an extra-long break at the end of the year you’ll reap the benefits of the Christmas and New Year’s public holidays in December and January. Take annual leave from Monday, December 21 to Wednesday, December 24 and Monday, December 28 to December 30 and you’ll get 16 days off for the price of 7 annual leave days (even less in Northern Territory, Queensland and South Australia as those states also get Christmas Eve as a public holiday, and Northern Territory and South Australia observe New Years Eve as a public holiday). 

Annual leave used: 8 days 

Holiday days off: 16 days (December 19 – January 3)

Related story: 26 regional restaurants in Australia worth travelling to in 2026