Hack to maximise your annual leave in 2024 and get more consecutive days off

Annual leave is a precious commodity that allows all hardworking Australians to recharge and spend time on things beyond work. In 2024, with just four weeks (20 days) of annual leave at your disposal, it’s essential to make the most of every day.

By strategically planning your time off around public holidays, you can extend your vacations and create longer breaks for a well-deserved rest. This guide provides a national, and state breakdown of public holidays in Australia for 2024 and suggests the ideal days to take annual leave to maximise your time away from work.

Public Holidays in Australia (2024):

Before diving into the strategy, let’s take a look at the public holidays across Australia in 2024:

1. New Year’s Day: January 1 (Monday)
2. Australia Day: January 26 (Friday)
3. Labour Day: March 5 (Monday)
4. Good Friday: April 19 (Friday)
5. Easter Monday: April 22 (Monday)
6. Anzac Day: April 25 (Thursday)
7. Queen’s Birthday: June 10 (Monday)
8. Labour Day (ACT, NSW, SA): October 7 (Monday)
9. Queen’s Birthday (WA): October 7 (Monday)
10. Labour Day (VIC): October 7 (Monday)
11. Queen’s Birthday (QLD): October 7 (Monday)
12. Melbourne Cup Day (VIC): November 5 (Tuesday)
13. Christmas Day: December 25 (Wednesday)
14. Boxing Day: December 26 (Thursday)

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Strategic Planning:

Now, let’s strategically plan the use of your 20 days of annual leave to maximise your time off:

1. January:
   • Take leave on January 2 (Tuesday) and January 3 (Wednesday) to create a five-day break around New Year’s Day.
2. April:
   • Utilise the Easter break: Take leave on April 18 (Thursday) and April 23 (Tuesday) to enjoy a 10-day break including Good Friday, Easter Monday, and the weekend.
3. June:
   • Extend the Queen’s Birthday long weekend: Take leave on June 11 (Tuesday) to create a four-day break.
4. September/October:
   • Capitalise on the Labour Day break: Take leave on October 8 (Tuesday) for an extended break including the Labour Day weekend.
5. November:
   • Create a long weekend around Melbourne Cup Day: Take leave on November 6 (Wednesday) to enjoy a five-day break.
6. December:
   • Maximise the Christmas break: Take leave on December 27 (Friday) and December 30 (Monday) to create a 10-day break including Christmas and New Year’s Day

New South Wales (NSW):

1. January:
   • Take leave on January 2 (Tuesday) and January 3 (Wednesday) to create a five-day break around New Year’s Day.
2. April:
   • Utilise the Easter break: Take leave on April 18 (Thursday) and April 23 (Tuesday) to enjoy a 10-day break including Good Friday, Easter Monday, and the weekend.
3. June:
   • Extend the Queen’s Birthday long weekend: Take leave on June 11 (Tuesday) to create a four-day break.
4. October:
   • Capitalise on the Labour Day break: Take leave on October 8 (Tuesday) for an extended break including the Labour Day weekend.
5. November:
   • Create a long weekend around Melbourne Cup Day: Take leave on November 6 (Wednesday) to enjoy a five-day break.
6. December:
   • Maximise the Christmas break: Take leave on December 27 (Friday) and December 30 (Monday) to create a 10-day break including Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Victoria (VIC):

1. January:
   • Take leave on January 2 (Tuesday) and January 3 (Wednesday) to create a five-day break around New Year’s Day.
2. April:
   • Utilise the Easter break: Take leave on April 18 (Thursday) and April 23 (Tuesday) to enjoy a 10-day break including Good Friday, Easter Monday, and the weekend.
3. June:
   • Extend the Queen’s Birthday long weekend: Take leave on June 11 (Tuesday) to create a four-day break.
4. November:
   • Create a long weekend around Melbourne Cup Day: Take leave on November 6 (Wednesday) to enjoy a five-day break.
5. December:
   • Maximise the Christmas break: Take leave on December 27 (Friday) and December 30 (Monday) to create a 10-day break including Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Queensland (QLD):

1. January:
   • Take leave on January 2 (Tuesday) and January 3 (Wednesday) to create a five-day break around New Year’s Day.
2. April:
   • Utilise the Easter break: Take leave on April 18 (Thursday) and April 23 (Tuesday) to enjoy a 10-day break including Good Friday, Easter Monday, and the weekend.
3. June:
   • Extend the Queen’s Birthday long weekend: Take leave on June 11 (Tuesday) to create a four-day break.
4. October:
   • Capitalise on the Labour Day break: Take leave on October 8 (Tuesday) for an extended break including the Labour Day weekend.
5. November:
   • Create a long weekend around Melbourne Cup Day: Take leave on November 6 (Wednesday) to enjoy a five-day break.
6. December:
   • Maximise the Christmas break: Take leave on December 27 (Friday) and December 30 (Monday) to create a 10-day break including Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Western Australia (WA):

1. January:
   • Take leave on January 2 (Tuesday) and January 3 (Wednesday) to create a five-day break around New Year’s Day.
2. April:
   • Utilise the Easter break: Take leave on April 18 (Thursday) and April 23 (Tuesday) to enjoy a 10-day break including Good Friday, Easter Monday, and the weekend.
3. June:
   • Extend the Queen’s Birthday long weekend: Take leave on June 11 (Tuesday) to create a four-day break.
4. October:
   • Capitalise on the Labour Day break: Take leave on October 8 (Tuesday) for an extended break including the Labour Day weekend.
5. November:
   • Create a long weekend around Melbourne Cup Day: Take leave on November 6 (Wednesday) to enjoy a five-day break.
6. December:
   • Maximise the Christmas break: Take leave on December 27 (Friday) and December 30 (Monday) to create a 10-day break including Christmas and New Year’s Day.

South Australia (SA):

1. January:
   • Take leave on January 2 (Tuesday) and January 3 (Wednesday) to create a five-day break around New Year’s Day.
2. April:
   • Utilise the Easter break: Take leave on April 18 (Thursday) and April 23 (Tuesday) to enjoy a 10-day break including Good Friday, Easter Monday, and the weekend.
3. June:
   • Extend the Queen’s Birthday long weekend: Take leave on June 11 (Tuesday) to create a four-day break.
4. October:
   • Capitalise on the Labour Day break: Take leave on October 8 (Tuesday) for an extended break including the Labour Day weekend.
5. November:
   • Create a long weekend around Melbourne Cup Day: Take leave on November 6 (Wednesday) to enjoy a five-day break.
6. December:
   • Maximise the Christmas break: Take leave on December 27 (Friday) and December 30 (Monday) to create a 10-day break including Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Australian Capital Territory (ACT):

1. January:
   • Take leave on January 2 (Tuesday) and January 3 (Wednesday) to create a five-day break around New Year’s Day.
2. April:
   • Utilise the Easter break: Take leave on April 18 (Thursday) and April 23 (Tuesday) to enjoy a 10-day break including Good Friday, Easter Monday, and the weekend.
3. June:
   • Extend the Queen’s Birthday long weekend: Take leave on June 11 (Tuesday) to create a four-day break.
4. October:
   • Capitalise on the Labour Day break: Take leave on October 8 (Tuesday) for an extended break including the Labour Day weekend.
5. November:
   • Create a long weekend around Melbourne Cup Day: Take leave on November 6 (Wednesday) to enjoy a five-day break.
6. December:
   • Maximise the Christmas break: Take leave on December 27 (Friday) and December 30 (Monday) to create a 10-day break including Christmas and New Year’s Day.

Remember to confirm these dates with your employer and plan ahead for a seamless and rejuvenating break from work.