2023 is over and what better way to celebrate the new year than planning your 2024 annual leave to maximise your time off.
Using a couple of clever tricks you can turn 23 days of annual leave into 48 luscious days off in 2024.
And we’re going to show you how.
But before we start, a couple of caveats:
- In order for these dates to work, you have to be in a job that does not require you to work any national or state public holidays
- Dates will vary from state to state because some public holidays change around the country
Okay lets go!
January: Book four days leave for nine days off
Already run down by the end of January? You can nab yourself a lovely start-of-year vacay at the end of the month thanks to the January 26 holiday falling on a Friday.
To secure time off from:
- Saturday, January 20 — Sunday, January 28
Book annual leave on these dates:
- Monday, January 22
- Tuesday, January 23
- Wednesday, January 24
- Thursday, January 25
March/April: Book eight days leave for 16 days off
Ah, the bliss of Easter falling in March. Take advantage of the bunny hopping along early in 2024 to turn eight days of annual leave into over half a month of time off.
To secure time off from:
- Saturday, March 23 — Sunday, April 7
Book annual leave on these dates:
- Monday, March 25
- Tuesday, March 26
- Wednesday, March 27
- Thursday, March 28
- Tuesday, April 2 (Tasmanians can skip this day thanks to their Easter Tuesday holiday)
- Wednesday, April 3
- Thursday, April 4
- Friday, April 5
June: Book four days leave for nine days off
This hack is built around the King’s Birthday holiday on Monday, June 10.
Sorry, Queensland and Western Australia you won’t be able to get on board with this one.
But you can use the same configuration for your state’s King’s Birthday holiday in October for Queensland and September for WA.
To secure time off from:
- Saturday, June 8 — Sunday, June 16
Book annual leave on these dates:
- Tuesday, June 11
- Wednesday, June 12
- Thursday, June 13
- Friday, June 14
December/January 2025: book seven days leave for 14 days off
Annnnnnd we’re back to Christmas! This hack will work for most of the country but South Australia and Northern Territory only have to book five days off (lucky ducks).
To secure time off from:
- Saturday, December 21 — Sunday, January 5
Book annual leave on these dates:
- Monday, December 23
- Tuesday, December 24 (don’t worry about booking this date if you’re in NT and SA)
- Friday, December 27
- Monday, December 30
- Tuesday, December 31 (don’t worry about booking this date if you’re in NT and SA)
- Thursday, January 2
- Friday, January 3
Quick tip!
You can pull the ol’ four days annual leave for nine days off for most public holidays that fall on a Monday or Friday.
For example, Northern Territory’s Picnic Day holiday falls on Monday August 5. Take August 6, 7, 8 and 9 off to enjoy a prolonged break.
Make sure you take a look at when your state’s unique public holidays fall to maximise your leave.
You can check your state public holidays on the Fair Work Australia website.
When is Easter in 2024?
Unlike Christmas Day, which is on the same date every year, Easter can move around from year to year.
In 2024, Easter is coming early with Good Friday falling on March 29, Easter Sunday on March 31 and Easter Monday on April 1.
Technically Easter can fall any time between March 25 and April 25. The reason it moves every year actually has to do with the Moon.
In 325AD the first major church council, the Council of Nicaea, determined that Easter should fall on the Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox.
That is why the date moves and why Easter festivities are often referred to as “moveable feasts” — we’re all waiting for the Moon to be juuuuust right.