Strategic leave can turn 20 days of annual leave into holiday stints of more than 50 days a year

Australians can score holiday periods of up to 59 days in 2023 by shrewdly booking just 20 days of leave around public holidays.  

By taking full weeks off around public holidays, workers are advised they can get more out of their annual leave entitlement.

While we get Anzac Day, Australia Day and the King’s Birthday, among others, as nationwide public holidays, states also mark individual holidays which results in some Aussies getting more holidays than others. 

Lucky residents of the ACT, Victoria and Tasmania, for example, can utilise their leave this year to get up to 59 days off, followed by workers in Western Australia, South Australia, and Northern Territory, who could potentially get 56 days off.

Queenslanders can get up to 56 days off while those in New South Wales get the least out of every state with a potential 53 days off.

Aussies can regularly book just four days of leave and get nine days off in return during the year, taking the working week off around public holidays such as Australia Day, ANZAC Day and the King’s Birthday.

A potential 16-day holiday stint can be taken over the Easter weekend across Australia in 2023 by taking eight days off over the first two weeks of April, giving workers time off from April 1 to April 16. 

Workers in Queensland and Northern Territory, for instance, can achieve a 16-day holiday from just eight days of leave taken between April 22 and May 7 because of Anzac Day on Tuesday, April 25 and Labor Day in Queensland and May Day in the Northern Territory falling on the following Monday, May 1. 

A 10-day holiday between Christmas and New Year can be achieved by taking just three days off between December 27-29, stretching a summer break from December 23 December through to January 2.

By taking the first two working weeks off in April and using eight days of annual leave, workers can embark on a 16-day holiday over Easter, while public holidays regularly give Aussies a nine-day break from just four days of leave (pictured, Australia Day celebrations)

However, Aussies looking to book around public holidays are reminded to book their time off as early as possible as they aren’t the only ones looking to travel. 

‘These annual leave hacks work around public holidays which are peak travel seasons. That’s why it’s a good idea to submit your annual leave request as soon as you can,’ Angus Kidman, Finder’s editor-in-chief, said in a media release. 

Finder has found that 55 per cent of Aussies are already planning a holiday in the new year.

A majority of travel planners are looking to travel domestically, while only 14 per cent of Australians are looking to go overseas for a holiday.

‘Don’t be the one who misses out,’ Kidman said.

‘Also, book your trip as early as you can to secure your spot – as well as the best prices.’