Because we all deserve some well-earned time off.

There’s always that one colleague who was organised enough to book their leave to align with the state’s holidays, leaving the rest of the office envious of their lovely two-week break with minimal leave used.

Leave maximisation is where you strategically use your annual leave days around weekends and public holidays to stretch out your break, and we’re already looking ahead to how to make the most of our time off next year.

Corporate Traveller has analysed how, with the right planning, Aussies can turn their annual leave into extended breaks in 2026. What their analysis shows is that Western Australians can get the most time off with minimal leave used, stretching 31 days of annual leave into an impressive 71 days off in total. 

Tom Walley, global managing director of Corporate Traveller, says thoughtful timing will pay dividends next year: “Public holidays in 2026 are well spaced for extended getaways. By locking in leave requests now, employees can secure the best fares and accommodation, and employers can plan resourcing well in advance. Everybody wins."

Let’s take a look…

Victoria

Victorians can strategically lock in up to 60 days off by using 20 days of annual leave alongside 13 public holidays and weekends. Over the Christmas/New Year period, you could get 16 days off in a row by using seven days of leave, or 16 days off in a row at Easter by taking eight days of leave.

Queensland

Queenslanders can be savvy and lock in up to 58 days off by using 25 days of leave alongside 12 public holidays and weekends. You can use seven days of annual leave to get 16 days off in a row during the Christmas/New Year period, use four days of annual leave to get 10 consecutive days off over Easter, or use four days of annual leave to get 10 days off in a row around Ekka Day in August.

Western Australia

Western Australians can lock in an incredible 71 days off by using 31 days of leave alongside 11 state-wide public holidays and weekends. By using seven days of annual leave around the Christmas/New Year period, you can get 16 consecutive days off, or by using four days of annual leave around Easter, you can get 10 days off in a row. 

South Australia

South Australians can get 62 days off with 27 annual leave days, thanks to 13 public holidays. For extended breaks, you can use four days of annual leave for 10 days off in a row over Easter, and seven days of annual leave for 16 consecutive days off. 

Tasmania

Tasmanians can get 50 days off by using 19 days of annual leave, thanks to 11 official state-wide public holidays, plus either Royal Hobart Regatta Day in the south or Recreation Day in the rest of the state, along with an extra day off for public servants (7 April). You can get up to 16 days off by using seven annual leave days over the Christmas/New Year period or up to 11 days off by using four days of leave (or five with Easter Tuesday) over the Easter period.

New South Wales

NSW has 11 state-wide public holidays. Employees can take up to 53 consecutive days off if they use 23 leave days around the Christmas/New Year and January holiday period, when multiple weekends and public holidays coincide. You could also give yourself a 10-day break by using just four days of your annual leave around the Easter break, from Saturday 28 March to Monday 6 April.

Australian Capital Territory

People in the ACT can get 55 days off if they take 23 days of annual leave, thanks to 13 public holidays, which include two extra long weekends – Canberra Day (Monday 9 March) and Reconciliation Day (Monday 1 June). To maximise leave, use seven days of annual leave for 16 days off over Christmas/New Year and four days of leave for 10 days off over Easter. 

Northern Territory

The Top End crowd can get 50 days off if they take 19 days of annual leave, thanks to 11 official public holidays in 2026. You can get 16 consecutive days off over Christmas/New Year by using seven days of annual leave or 10 days off over Easter by using four days of annual leave.