How to Hack QLD’s Public Holidays to Achieve Maximum Days Off in 2025
Score 53 days off next year with these QLD public holiday hacks.
If this year has you feeling spent, maybe it’s time to lock in some downtime for future you. And what if we told you there’s a way to maximise your time off, whilst barely using any of your annual leave?
We’ve crunched the numbers to get you more time to do you, by playing into the timing of next year’s public holidays.
Here’s how to score 53 days off for just 22 days of your hard-earned annual leave.
Public Holiday 1: January 26th
Coming back from the Christmas holidays can be tough, so make sure you lock in a little something to look forward to. The January 26th public holiday falls on a Sunday this year, meaning the Monday is the official leave date. Why not take a little summer sojourn and escape to somewhere with air conditioning and an infinity pool?
The trade: 9 days off for 4 annual leave days
Key dates: Pencil in Saturday 25th January to Sunday 2nd Feb
Sitchu Tip: Escape the sweltering heat of a Queensland summer for the relatively temperate climate of Tasmania.
Public Holiday 2: Easter Holidays
The Easter holiday weekend has got to be one of the most underrated heavy-hitters on the holiday scene. Four days off?! Chocolate?! Cooler temps?! It’s all here, and we’re oh-so-ready to luxuriate in it.
For a teeny three days of annual leave, you’ll nab ten sweet, sweet days of free time to spend however you please… might we suggest the Gold Coast? The water is utterly divine at this time of year.
The Trade: Ten days off for three annual leave days
Key dates: Friday 18th April to Sunday 27th April
Sitchu Tip: Looking for a coastal escape? Head down to Byron Bay to spend your summer eating delicious food, relaxing in luxurious accommodation and hitting the beach.
Public Holiday 3: The King's Birthday
You made it halfway! Now, book yourself to a midyear break and treat yourself like the royalty you are. You’ve got a couple of options here to make the most of your leave, so opt for a nine-day escape or a low-key luxe long weekend getaway.
The trade: Nine days off for four days of leave, or a cheeky four-day weekend for one day of leave.
Key dates:
- Monday 9th June to Sunday 15th June
- Or Friday 6th June to Monday 9th June
Sitchu Tip: Embrace the cooler weather with one of these romantic and cosy stays.
Public Holiday 4: Labour Day
Do future you a favour, and book a little break before the silly season is in full swing. A little Labour Day long weekend escape never did any harm, and you can really make the most of it without using much of your leave!
Head interstate for a week, or opt for a long weekend staycay to catch up on life admin (or your Goodreads Reading Challenge goal) with two different options here for maximising your holiday time.
The trade: Nine days off for four days of leave, or four days off for one day of leave
Key dates:
- Monday 6th October to Sunday 12th October
- Or Friday 3rd October to Monday 6th October
Sitchu Tip: Use this as a chance to get out of town before the madness of the final quarter of the year descends. Cairns is particularly lovely at this time of year and has a little bit of everything–from snorkelling and sunsets to rainforests and resorts.
Public Holiday 5: Christmas and New Year's 2025
Make 2025 the year you finally take a decent holiday. Whether you opt for the sixteen days we’ve suggested or stretch it out an extra week, you can minimise your annual leave usage with a strategic time off request. Just make sure you get this one in nice and early in the year, to make sure you can secure this enviable time-off period.
The trade: Sixteen days off for seven days of annual leave
Key dates: Saturday 20th December to Sunday 4th January
Sitchu tip: There is something a little bit delightful about the way Brisbane turns into a sleepy city during the festive period. Make the most of people being out of town and consider this your opportunity to explore the best beaches, walks and restaurants Sydney has to offer.
Enjoyed learning how to hack Queensland’s public holidays and keen to make the most of your time off? Be sure to catch our monthly and weekend guides for up-to-date info on what's happening around town.
