How to maximise your annual leave in 2027

Because we all deserve some well-earned time off.

There’s always one colleague who books their leave in September and vanishes for a fortnight, having only used four days of annual leave. In 2027, that should be you, because the calendar does most of the work.

Leave maximisation is the art of stacking annual leave against weekends and public holidays to turn a handful of days into a proper trip. Some years the holidays land badly, and there’s little to gain. This isn’t one of them.

The good weeks go to whoever asks first. Here’s where the value is, window by window.

The one-day trick in January

Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary — In January, four annual leave days can become nine days off. (Credit: South Australian Tourism Commission)

Book Monday 25 January off and you get Saturday 23 to Tuesday 26 off. One leave day, four days away. Nothing else in the year returns that ratio.

Stretch it by adding Wednesday 27 to Friday 29 January and four leave days become nine days off, Saturday 23 January to Sunday 31 January. This works in every state and territory.

The March long weekends

A boat at Rottnest Island — Spend relaxing days on Rottnest Island. (Credit: Tourism Australia)

Western Australia’s Labour Day is Monday 1 March. Book 2 to 5 March for nine days off.

Victoria’s Labour Day, South Australia’s Adelaide Cup Day, Tasmania’s Eight Hours Day and Canberra Day all land on Monday 8 March. Take Tuesday 9 to Friday 12 March, and you’re off from Saturday 6 to Sunday 14 March.

Easter is early in 2027

A family enjoys the sights and sounds of the Sydney Royal Easter Show — Easter is at the end of March in 2027. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Good Friday is 26 March and Easter Monday is 29 March, an early Easter period. Take Tuesday 30 March to Friday 2 April, and four leave days deliver 10 days off, from Friday 26 March to Sunday 4 April. For a proper trip, add Monday 22 to Thursday 25 March. Eight leave days get you 16 days off, from Saturday 20 March to Sunday 4 April.

An early Easter also pulls the autumn school holidays forward, so the shoulder weeks in April are quieter and cheaper than usual.

Tasmanian public servants do better. Easter Tuesday 30 March is a holiday, so three leave days buy the same 10 days.

Anzac Day, and who misses out

Two people walking around the Bungle Bungle Range is located in the Purnululu National Park. — Western Australians get an additional public holiday for Anzac Day. (Credit: Tourism Australia)

Monday 26 April is a public holiday in NSW, the ACT, Queensland, the NT and WA. Take Tuesday 27 to Friday 30 April, and four leave days become nine days off, Saturday 24 April to Sunday 2 May.

Queenslanders and Territorians get the best block of the year here. Labour Day in Queensland and May Day in the NT both fall on Monday 3 May, one week later. The same four leave days stretch to 10 days off, Saturday 24 April to Monday 3 May. Add Tuesday 4 to Friday 7 May, and eight leave days deliver 16 days off.

If you’re in Victoria, SA or Tasmania, there’s nothing here. Plan the rest of your year around it.

Mid-year

Two people in a hot springs in the Mornington Peninsula — Spend your leave relaxing in hot springs in the Mornington Peninsula. (Credit: Tourism Australia)

King’s Birthday is Monday 14 June in NSW, Victoria, SA, Tasmania, the NT and the ACT. Four leave days, nine days off, Saturday 12 to Sunday 20 June.

WA runs its own timetable: Western Australia Day on Monday 7 June and King’s Birthday on Monday 27 September, each worth nine days off for four days of leave.

Canberra has the best block in the country. Reconciliation Day is on Monday 31 May, and King’s Birthday is on Monday 14 June. Take the nine working days between them, and you get 17 consecutive days off, from Saturday 29 May to Monday 14 June.

Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.

Spring

AFL Grand Final at the MCG — AFL Grand Final Friday is the only public holiday in the country set by a sporting fixture. (Credit: Australian Football League)

Labour Day falls on Monday 4 October in NSW, SA and the ACT, and Queensland’s King’s Birthday is the same day. Book Tuesday 5 to Friday 8 October for nine days off.

Victorians get Melbourne Cup on Tuesday 2 November. Take Monday 1 and Wednesday 3 to Friday 5 November for nine days off. Tasmanians in the north get Recreation Day on Monday 1 November, which does the same job.

Victorians have one more long weekend coming, but nobody can book it yet. AFL Grand Final Friday is the only public holiday in the country set by a sporting fixture, and the 2027 date isn’t confirmed until the AFL releases its finals schedule. It almost always lands on the last Friday in September, which in 2027 is 24 September. If it holds, four leave days from Monday 20 to Thursday 23 September buys nine days off.

The holidays only some of you get.

A car crossing a bridge in a rainforest — Savvy travellers use annual leave days around weekends and public holidays to stretch out their break. (Credit: Tourism Australia)

A handful of 2027’s best long weekends are regional, and they’re the reason the state totals below look so uneven.

Hobart and southern Tasmania get the Royal Hobart Regatta on Monday 8 February, the only February public holiday in the country. Take Tuesday 9 to Friday 12 February and four leave days become nine days off, from Saturday 6 to Sunday 14 February. Southern Tasmanians get a second one in spring: the Royal Hobart Show on Thursday 21 October. Because it’s a Thursday, the cheap version is very cheap. Book the Friday alone, and you have four days off for one day of leave, the same ratio as Australia Day and the only other time all year you’ll get it.

Early August belongs to Darwin and Brisbane. Picnic Day falls on Monday 2 August in the NT, and four leave days from Tuesday 3 to Friday 6 August buy nine days off, Saturday 31 July to Sunday 8 August.

Nine days later, Brisbane gets the Royal Queensland Show on Wednesday 11 August. A midweek holiday is the expensive kind, so there’s no shortcut: book Monday 9, Tuesday 10, Thursday 12 and Friday 13, and you’re off from Saturday 7 to Sunday 15 August. Outside the Brisbane area, most Queensland towns get their own show day instead, so check your local date.

None of these travel. They’re the difference between a Hobart reader and a Launceston one, and they’re worth knowing about before you book anything else.

The festive season

People entering the water at a beach at Byron Bay — Byron Bay is one of the most popular NSW towns to spend summer at. (Credit: Tourism Australia)

Christmas Day is Saturday 25 December 2027, so the substitutes fall on Monday 27 and Tuesday 28 December. Take Wednesday 29 to Friday 31 December, and three leave days buy 10 days off, through to Monday 3 January 2028.

Go bigger by adding Monday 20 to Friday 24 December. Eight leave days become 17 days off, Saturday 18 December 2027 to Monday 3 January 2028.

State-by-state

ACT

Leave days: 31

Days off: 74

WA

Leave days: 27

Days off: 65

Tasmania (Hobart)

Leave days: 27

Days off: 65

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Victoria

Leave days: 27

Days off: 65

Queensland (Brisbane)

Leave days: 27

Days off: 63

NT

Leave days: 27

Days off: 63

NSW

Leave days: 23

Days off: 56

South Australia

Leave days: 23

Days off: 56

Tasmania (north)

Leave days: 23

Days off: 56

Queensland (regional)

Leave days: 23

Days off: 54

Tasmania splits because Hobart gets the Regatta and the Show, while the north gets Recreation Day instead. Queensland splits because the Brisbane area gets the Royal Queensland Show.

Come for a couple of unmissable festivals, stay for a long, leisurely weekend of wining, dining and exploring all the heritage-rich glory Ballarat has to offer.

Far from a sleepy town, the historic city of Ballarat is an unexpectedly vibrant cultural and culinary destination. Year-round, it hosts a roster of events and experiences – including the upcoming Ballarat Heritage Festival, a celebration of the city’s past, and the new Ballarat Craft and Design Week, a must for fans of all things handmade and thoughtfully designed.

Beyond the festivals, there’s a bevy of things to see, do, eat and drink – making a weekend in Ballarat an absolute no-brainer.

Plus, just 90 minutes away from Melbourne by car along the Western Freeway or an easy train ride from Southern Cross, getting here is simple and stress-free.

Day 1

Morning

Perridak Arts ballarat — Peruse works by local First Nations artists at Perridak Arts. (Credit: Tony Evans)

Start your Ballarat jaunt at Johnny Alloo, a beautifully restored cafe harking back to the 1870s with original details and contemporary touches. Order a seasonal plate from the all-day brunch menu alongside a cleverly reimagined ‘cup of tea’ – the cafe’s very own Earl Grey-infused early bird spritz.

Next, head to Perridak Arts, a First Nations-owned and operated gallery filled with powerful works by local First Nations artists. Your next stop is Hop Lane, an alleyway crowned by a floating canopy of technicoloured umbrellas and centred on Hop Queen, a striking mural of a commanding female figure.

Afternoon

The Pottage ballarat — Create your own artworks at The Pottage. (Credit: Mass Motion)

Cobb’s Coffee is a firm favourite for consistently good coffee and thoughtful food, making it a solid lunch spot. The cafe’s signature sandwiches and toasties are well worth trying as you take in the heritage surrounds.

While away your afternoon at The Pottage, where Ballarat ceramicist and social media favourite Shelby Sherritt has just moved into brand-new digs. Try a throwing workshop, or pick a piece of pottery to paint from the extensive collection (the team will post it to you once it’s fired).

Now it’s time to check into Hotel Vera, the newest boutique accommodation in the city’s already-impressive line-up. The hotel presents a modern spin on Ballarat’s gold rush-era past – think design-led rooms, gold detailing and a curated art collection. There are only seven suites, each as beautifully finished as the next, with high-quality linens and plush furnishings.

Evening

Babae hotel vera ballarat — Sit down to a seven-course feast at Babae. (Credit: Einwick)

Treat yourself to a pre-dinner drink at Grainery Lane. The saloon-style bar has rich, period-inspired decor (including an original bar top sourced from Chicago) and drinks reminiscent of 1900s classics, crafted with local ingredients.

Head back to Hotel Vera for a seven-course feast at Babae. This intimate dining room serves up a refined, ever-evolving menu made with exceptional produce and is a truly memorable experience.

Day 2

Spencer & Nick Ballarat Craft and Design Week — Spend the day at Ballarat Craft and Design Week. (Credit: Klapper Films)

Linger over a slow breakfast at Hotel Vera. You’ll graze your way through a spread of locally sourced treats, from toasted granola and pastries to seasonal fruit, and will need a strong coffee before a busy day at the main event: Ballarat Craft and Design Week.

This year marks the event’s inauguration, a celebration of artists, makers, designers and manufacturers. It’s a testament to Ballarat’s position as a UNESCO Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art.

The festival features a thoughtfully curated roster of events and activities, including free talks, hands-on workshops where you can craft your own keepsake, displays, studio tours and more. The central theme is Bound, with a flagship exhibition hosted in Ballarat’s grand and iconic Mining Exchange. The exhibition brings together five immersive projects designed to be touched, explored and experienced.

Afternoon

Pancho ballarat — Discuss your favourite artworks over lunch at Pancho. (Credit Einwick)

The Craft and Design program continues at The Unicorn Collection. The gallery is hosting Why Are You Here?, an installation presented by artists from the community that centres on the meaning of Ballarat as home.

Recharge with lunch at Pancho, which turns out vibrant food from across Central and South America. Make sure to order from the specials board, often featuring dishes from more far-flung locations.

For a top-up of local craftsmanship, a visit to Wootten is a must. This workshop and retail space is a Ballarat institution, making and selling made-to-order and customised footwear alongside a selection of handcrafted leather goods.

Evening

Mr Jones restaurant in Ballarat — Ballarat’s streets contain incredible dining options. (Credit: Tony Evans)

Book a table at Mr Jones, headed by chef Damian Jones, who’s worked in Michelin-Starred restaurants around the globe. The modern Asian menu changes weekly, but you can always expect the very best ingredients cooked with precision and restraint.

Finish off your day of art and exploration with a nightcap (and maybe a cheeky late-night snack) at Renard. This intimate and atmospheric cocktail bar does clever drinks alongside French-leaning small plates – we love the smoked trout pate and goat’s cheese doughnuts.

Day 3

Morning

Stop into Black Cat Truffles before heading home. (Credit Einwick)

It’s your final morning in Ballarat (that is, until you inevitably return), so it’s worth making it an unhurried one. Turret Cafe is your best bet for a relaxed and satisfying breakfast, with a produce-driven all-day menu and excellent coffee inside a character-filled setting.

A wander around the leafy Ballarat Botanical Gardens, followed by an excursion to Ross Creek Gallery, is the ideal way to stretch your legs after your morning feast. The gardens are replete with seasonal flower displays and heritage-listed trees, while the gallery is hosting a group exhibition centred on printmakers from across the region as part of Craft and Design Week.

Farewell your weekend escape – and fuel up for the journey home – at Black Cat Truffles. True to its name, the restaurant serves truffle-infused dishes (alongside regular fare) and the surrounding farm hosts truffle hunts and experiences. Pair your meal with a drop from the on-site Meredith Wines cellar door.

Can’t make it for Ballarat Craft + Design Week? Time this itinerary for the annual Ballarat Heritage Weekend, returning 21-24 May, or the magical Ballarat Winter Festival, 27 June – 19 July. Start planning at visitballarat.com.au.

How to maximise your annual leave in 2027

Because we all deserve some well-earned time off.

The one-day trick in January

The March long weekends

Easter is early in 2027

Anzac Day, and who misses out

Mid-year

Spring

The holidays only some of you get.

The festive season

State-by-state

ACT