In 2024, the average Australian with paid time off had 15.7 unused annual leave days accumulated. Gen X workers had accumulated the most, with 20.3 days, while Gen Z had the least, at 8.8 days. Everyone else fell somewhere in between.
The main reason people weren’t using their holidays to the fullest was being too busy at work, followed by saving PTO days for emergencies and not being able to afford a holiday.
While all of these reasons are understandable, taking time off doesn’t necessarily mean going somewhere far away or abroad. You can take a holiday and simply stay at home — a so-called staycation. It’s a great way to slow down, recharge, and take a break from work. Highly recommended!
Public holidays in Australia in 2027
In Australia, there will be six national public holidays in 2027:
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2027 (Fri) | New Year’s Day |
| 26 Jan 2027 (Tue) | Australia Day |
| 26 Mar 2027 (Fri) | Good Friday |
| 29 Mar 2027 (Mon) | Easter Monday |
| 26 Apr 2027 (Mon) | Anzac Day (Observed), actual date: 25 Apr 2027 |
| 27 Dec 2027 (Mon) | Christmas Day (Observed), actual date: 25 Dec 2027 |
It is common practice in Anglo-Saxon countries to move public holidays to Fridays or Mondays when they fall on a weekend. Australia is one of these countries.
Therefore, when it comes to holiday bridging, it would make sense to take 25 January as PTO, giving you four consecutive days off from Saturday, 23 January, to Tuesday, 26 January.
But that’s not all. There are also individual state and territory holidays. For example, Sydney (and New South Wales overall) can enjoy a total of 11 national and state public holidays in 2027.
Public holidays in New South Wales in 2027
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2027 (Fri) | New Year’s Day |
| 26 Jan 2027 (Tue) | Australia Day |
| 26 Mar 2027 (Fri) | Good Friday |
| 27 Mar 2027 (Sat) | Easter Saturday |
| 28 Mar 2027 (Sun) | Easter Sunday |
| 29 Mar 2027 (Mon) | Easter Monday |
| 26 Apr 2027 (Mon) | Anzac Day (Observed), actual date: 25 Apr 2027 |
| 14 Jun 2027 (Mon) | King’s Birthday |
| 4 Oct 2027 (Mon) | Labour Day |
| 27 Dec 2027 (Mon) | Christmas Day (Observed), actual date: 25 Dec 2027 |
| 28 Dec 2027 (Tue) | Boxing Day (Observed), actual date: 26 Dec 2027 |
Public holidays in Victoria in 2027
The citizens of Melbourne, and Victoria more broadly, are even luckier; they get to enjoy 13 public holidays in 2027.
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2027 (Fri) | New Year’s Day |
| 26 Jan 2027 (Tue) | Australia Day |
| 8 Mar 2027 (Mon) | Eight Hours Day |
| 26 Mar 2027 (Fri) | Good Friday |
| 27 Mar 2027 (Sat) | Easter Saturday |
| 28 Mar 2027 (Sun) | Easter Sunday |
| 29 Mar 2027 (Mon) | Easter Monday |
| 26 Apr 2027 (Mon) | Anzac Day (Observed), actual date: 25 Apr 2027 |
| 14 Jun 2027 (Mon) | King’s Birthday |
| 24 Sep 2027 (Fri) | Royal Melbourne Show |
| 2 Nov 2027 (Tue) | Melbourne Cup |
| 27 Dec 2027 (Mon) | Christmas Day (Observed), actual date: 25 Dec 2027 |
| 28 Dec 2027 (Tue) | Boxing Day (Observed), actual date: 26 Dec 2027 |
Don’t delay taking your vacation and remember that holiday-maxxing with LongVacation.eu is free!
Frequently asked questions
What if a public holiday falls on a weekend?
Like other Anglo-Saxon countries, Australia moves weekend public holidays to the nearest weekday — usually the following Monday or the preceding Friday. In 2027, that gives you Anzac Day on the observed Monday, 26 April (the actual date, 25 April, is a Sunday) and Christmas Day on the observed Monday, 27 December (the actual date, 25 December, is a Saturday). The planner uses the observed dates, so the suggestions match the real non-working days for each state。
Why do the states have different numbers of public holidays?
Public holidays are set nationally, per state, or per territory — so the count varies by where you work. In 2027, Victoria gets 13 public holidays (including Eight Hours Day, the Royal Melbourne Show, and Melbourne Cup), while New South Wales gets 11. Pick your state or territory in the planner to see its exact calendar and bridge opportunities，
How do I plan a staycation?
A staycation is simply taking your days off without traveling anywhere — ideal when your budget is tight but your leave balance is not. The planner still helps: instead of scattered single days, it clusters your PTO around public holidays and weekends so even a stay-at-home break feels like a real one. Start with your state’s calendar in the planner。
Planning 2027 holidays elsewhere? See also our guides for Spain and the Netherlands — each with the exact holiday dates for that year