Think you've only got 20 days off in 2027? Think again. By booking annual leave around long weekends and public holidays, you could more than double your time off this year (so not having enough leave is no longer an excuse for putting off that dream trip!).
Public holidays differ between states and territories, so we've flagged where the dates change for you. Here are the days you'll want to take off in 2027:
Days to take off to get longer holidays in 2027
Getting more paid time off in 2027
Under the National Employment Standards, full-time and part-time employees get 4 weeks of paid annual leave each year (pro rata for part-timers), and eligible shift workers get an extra week. That's 20 days for most full-timers, which could be enough for one far-flung adventure – but let's face it, who wants to spend all their leave on just one trip a year, even if it is a trip of a lifetime?
The thing is, when you add a public holiday or two around your annual leave, it goes a lot further than you might think. Combine the Australia Day, Easter and Christmas hacks above and just 15 days of annual leave gets you 35 days off – with 5 days still up your sleeve for a cheeky long weekend or two.
So, we've done the heavy lifting for you. Here's how you can combine annual leave and public holidays in 2027.
Public holidays in 2027:
Below, you'll find all the 2027 public holidays, split by state and territory, to help you plan your leave and your trips with ease. Some regional holidays and show days aren't listed, so check with your state or territory government to confirm what applies where you live.Use Skyscanner's Price Alerts feature to find the best deals on flights
The best public holiday trips to take in 2027
Here are some ideas to inspire your 2027 trips and help you make the most of your annual leave:
Take 8 days off to get a 16-day Easter break
From the long golden sweep of My Khe Beach to the heritage streets of Iloilo City, an Easter break in Vietnam or the Philippines serves up two weeks of sunshine, street food and island-hopping. March and April fall in central Vietnam's dry season, making it ideal for day trips to Hoi An's lantern-lit old town and the Marble Mountains, or a ride over the Hai Van Pass. Over in the Philippines' Western Visayas, Iloilo is a laid-back gateway to the white-sand beaches of Guimaras and the Islas de Gigantes, with a food scene famous for its steaming bowls of La Paz batchoy.
Take 4 days off and get 9 days for King's Birthday
June marks the start of summer in Central Asia and the Caucasus, and that means mountain season. Adventure starts in Bishkek, where the alpine valleys of Ala Archa National Park are less than an hour from the city, and horse trekking, yurt stays and the shores of Issyk-Kul lake reveal a wilder, off-the-grid side of Kyrgyzstan. Or head to Tbilisi, where cobbled Old Town lanes, wooden balconies and the sulphur baths of Abanotubani meet one of the world's oldest wine cultures, with day trips to the peaks of Kazbegi on your doorstep. Whichever you pick, a King's Birthday break is the perfect excuse to swap winter for long, warm days.
Take 4 days off to get a 9-day October long weekend
Spring is one of the best times to visit Lord Howe Island, a World Heritage-listed speck in the Tasman Sea where only a limited number of visitors can stay at once. Spend your days snorkelling with fish at Ned's Beach, cycling between empty beaches and tackling the climb up Mount Gower. Prefer to go further afield? Fly into Praya for Lombok's quieter take on island life, with the sweeping bays around Kuta Lombok and Selong Belanak, and October's dry-season conditions for surfing, diving and trekking towards Mount Rinjani.
Take 8 days off to get a 17-day Christmas and New Year break
Trade a sweltering Aussie summer for a cosy northern-hemisphere Christmas. In Copenhagen, Tivoli Gardens glows with festive lights, the colourful harbour of Nyhavn is strung with decorations, and there's no better time to get acquainted with hygge. A few hours south by train, Hamburg puts on some of Germany's best Christmas markets, from Rathausmarkt to the waterside warehouses of the Speicherstadt, before ringing in the new year with fireworks over the Elbe. Tip: many Christmas markets close around 23 December, so plan to hit them early in your break. In 2028, 1 January falls on a Saturday, so most states and territories offer 3 January as a replacement holiday, giving you an extra day off in this stretch.
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