Holiday Hack: How You Can Turn 25 Days Off Into 59 In 2025

Christmas and New Year’s Day fall on Wednesdays this year — which makes leave placement tricky. However, with some savvy date saving you can make the most of the Chrissy and New Years festivities by booking seven days (or five, or six, depending where you live and work) of annual leave for an extended silly season. 

Holiday from: 

Saturday, December 21 – Sunday, January 5

Book these dates: 

Monday, December 23

Tuesday, December 24 (you may not need to book this day if you’re in the NT, QLD or SA)

Friday, December 27

Monday, December 30

Tuesday, December 31 (you may not need to book this day if you’re in SA or the NT) 

Thursday, January 2

Friday, January 3 

Falling in mid-April, Easter is just asking to be rolled into ANZAC Day in 2025. Maximise your leave by booking the three days between these holidays. Book early to secure your fave holiday spots – maybe it’s a luxe Hamilton Island getaway, a Bali beach break, or a trip to the mountains in New Zealand. 

Holiday from:   

Holiday from: 

Saturday, April 19 – Sunday, April 27

Book these dates: 

Tuesday, April 22

Wednesday, April 23

Thursday, April 24

(This applies to all states except QLD and WA) 

Book annual leave on the days following the King’s Birthday public holiday (June 9) to enjoy nine-days of cozy winter fun in the Barossa, Yarra or Hunter Valley, or even Thredbo! 

Holiday from: 

Saturday, June 7 – Sunday, June 15

Book these dates: 

Tuesday, June 10

Wednesday, June 11

Thursday, June 12

Friday, June 13

Expert tip: For WA, apply this strategy to September 29 and QLD, October 6.

Wow, already back to Christmas again – cheers to 2025! Those holidays you took are what got you through, and they were long overdue, we know! Get in early to maximise your holidays again and again!

Holiday from: 

Saturday, December 20 – Sunday, January 4

Book these dates: 

Monday, December 22

Tuesday, December 23

Wednesday, December 24 (you may not need to book this day if you’re in the NT, QLD or SA)

Monday, December 29

Tuesday, December 30

Wednesday, December 31 (you may not need to book this day if you’re in SA or the NT) 

Friday, January 2

Each state and territory may have additional public holidays that you can make the most of – do a quick search and mark those local public holidays in your diary now.   

Make the most of other public holidays by taking 4 days annual leave for yet another nine-day break by starting the weekend before the public holiday and stretching into the weekend after. Kapeesh?  

So, there you have it – a 101 crash course into the art of Holiday Hacking! For the 9-5 Monday to Friday worker, it’s all about maximising your weekends and booking ahead to get the most out of those annual public holidays – turning those long weekends into more than an extended trip to Bunnings!   

For the shift workers, freelancers, and contractors out there – take this same ethos to making the most of your time off and the world is your oyster!