The 2027 Annual Leave Hack: How to Turn 16 Days of Leave Into 42 Days Off

If there’s one thing Australian workers love more than a public holiday, it’s finding a way to stretch that public holiday into a proper break.

And 2027 is looking very kind to anyone who knows how to play the calendar.

With a little planning, you can use just 16 days of annual leave 2027 and score up to 42 days away from work.

That’s 42 days of sleep-ins, road trips, family holidays, sitting on the couch in your pyjamas until midday, or finally finishing the book that’s been on your bedside table since last winter.

The dates shift a little depending on where you live, but don’t stress. We’ve done the calendar maths for you, state by state.

How Do You Turn 16 Days of Annual Leave 2027 Into 42 Days Off in 2027?

The trick is simple: book your leave on the working days that sit between public holidays and weekends. Five well-placed blocks of leave and you’re laughing.

Here’s how it breaks down.

JANUARY:
One Day of Leave Gets You a Four-Day Weekend

Australia Day lands on Tuesday, 26 January 2027, which basically hands you a four-day weekend on a platter.

All you need to do is book Monday, 25 January off.

• Annual leave used: 1 day
• Time off: 4 days
• Book off: Monday, 25 January
• Break: Saturday, 23 January to Tuesday, 26 January

One day of leave for four days off? We’ll take that.

EASTER:
Four Days Of Leave For A 10-Day Break

Good Friday falls on Friday, 26 March, with Easter Monday on Monday, 29 March.

Book Tuesday, 30 March through to Friday, 2 April and four days of leave becomes 10 days off in a row.

That’s enough time for an Easter getaway, a trip to see the grandparents, or finally tackling the cupboard you’ve been avoiding since 2024. (We won’t judge which one you pick.)

• Annual leave used: 4 days
• Time off: 10 days
• Book off: Tuesday, 30 March to Friday, 2 April
• Break: Friday, 26 March to Sunday, 4 April

Tassie tip: Easter Tuesday (30 March) is generally a holiday for the Tasmanian Public Service, so if that’s you, you’ll only need three days of leave.

APRIL:
Anzac Day Hands Us Another Long Weekend (In Most States)

Anzac Day falls on Sunday, 25 April 2027, and here’s where things get a bit state-specific.

NSW, WA and the ACT get an additional public holiday on Monday, 26 April. Queensland and the NT move the Anzac Day holiday to the Monday instead. Either way, Monday’s a day off.

If you’re in one of those places, book Tuesday, 27 April through to Friday, 30 April.

• Annual leave used: 4 days
• Time off: 9 days
• Book off: Tuesday, 27 April to Friday, 30 April
• Break: Saturday, 24 April to Sunday, 2 May

Queensland and NT, you’ve hit the jackpot. Your Labour Day (QLD) and May Day (NT) public holiday lands on Monday, 3 May, so that same four days of leave actually stretches to 10 days off, running all the way to Monday, 3 May.

The catch: Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania don’t get a Monday holiday when Anzac Day falls on a Sunday. But don’t toss your calendar across the room just yet, because we’ve got you covered further down.

JUNE:
Another Four Days Of Leave, Another Nine Days Off

For workers in NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory, the King’s Birthday falls on Monday, 14 June 2027.

Book Tuesday, 15 June through to Friday, 18 June and you’ve got a nine-day winter escape without burning through a fortnight of leave.

• Annual leave used: 4 days
• Time off: 9 days
• Book off: Tuesday, 15 June to Friday, 18 June
• Break: Saturday, 12 June to Sunday, 20 June

WA and Queensland, your King’s Birthday arrives later:

• Western Australia: King’s Birthday is Monday, 27 September. Book Tuesday, 28 September to Friday, 1 October for nine days off (Saturday, 25 September to Sunday, 3 October).
• Queensland: King’s Birthday is Monday, 4 October. Book Tuesday, 5 October to Friday, 8 October for nine days off (Saturday, 2 October to Sunday, 10 October).

Christmas: Three Days Of Leave For 10 Days Off

This is where your annual leave really earns its keep.

In 2027, Christmas Day falls on Saturday, 25 December and Boxing Day on Sunday, 26 December. That means Monday, 27 and Tuesday, 28 December are both public holidays right around the country.

Book Wednesday, 29 December through to Friday, 31 December, and with New Year’s Day 2028 falling on a Saturday, the substitute holiday is expected to land on Monday, 3 January 2028.

• Annual leave used: 3 days
• Time off: 10 days
• Book off: Wednesday, 29 December to Friday, 31 December
• Break: Saturday, 25 December to Monday, 3 January 2028

If you’ve ever needed an excuse to eat pavlova leftovers for breakfast, this is it.

Missed Out on ANZAC? Here’s Your Backup Plan

Victoria, SA and Tassie, this one’s for you. You can still hit the magic 42.

Monday, 8 March 2027 is a public holiday in four places:

• Victoria: Labour Day
• South Australia: Adelaide Cup Day
• Tasmania: Eight Hours Day
• ACT: Canberra Day

Book Tuesday, 9 March to Friday, 12 March and you’ll get nine days off from Saturday, 6 March to Sunday, 14 March. That swaps neatly in for the Anzac break, and it’s only a fortnight before Easter. Hello, autumn of rest.

More Bonus Breaks If You’ve Got Leave Left Over

Got a few spare days burning a hole in your pay slip? Try these:

• WA: Labour Day is Monday, 1 March. Book 2 to 5 March for nine days off. WA Day is Monday, 7 June, so book 8 to 11 June for another nine.
• NSW, ACT and SA: Labour Day is Monday, 4 October. Book 5 to 8 October for nine days off.
• Melbourne: Melbourne Cup Day is Tuesday, 2 November. Book Monday, 1 November and you’ve got a four-day weekend for one day of leave.

Your 2027 Annual Leave Cheat Sheet

Here’s the whole plan at a glance:

That’s 16 days of annual leave 2027 for up to 42 days off. (Queenslanders and Territorians, you actually get 43. Show-offs.)

Check Before You Book

Public holidays vary between states and territories, some are regional only, and your workplace may have its own rules around leave approvals, shutdowns or rostering. So check your state government public holiday calendar and have a chat with your boss before you lock anything in.

Then get your calendar out, start plotting, and prepare to become the person in the group chat who knows exactly when everyone should book their leave.

You’re welcome.

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