Australia's year starts with summer, so the best leave of 2027 comes early: New Year's Day, Australia Day and an early Easter all fall in the first three months. Here is how to use them, based on the public holidays that apply across the whole country.
Your 2027 at a glance
This is where the planner puts 10 days of leave across the year, using the national public holidays only. Your state adds more.
Australia)One page for each break, in date order. Hover or tap a page for the days to book.
All 10 breaks in words
Fri 1 Jan – Mon 4 Jan 2027
New Year's Day
Book 1 day off: Mon 4 Jan 2027.
You get 4 days off in a row, from Fri 1 Jan 2027 to Mon 4 Jan 2027.
4× your leave
Fri 8 Jan – Sun 10 Jan 2027
Long weekend
Book 1 day off: Fri 8 Jan 2027.
You get 3 days off in a row, from Fri 8 Jan 2027 to Sun 10 Jan 2027.
3× your leave
Fri 15 Jan – Sun 17 Jan 2027
Long weekend
Book 1 day off: Fri 15 Jan 2027.
You get 3 days off in a row, from Fri 15 Jan 2027 to Sun 17 Jan 2027.
3× your leave
Sat 23 Jan – Tue 26 Jan 2027
Australia Day
Book 1 day off: Mon 25 Jan 2027.
You get 4 days off in a row, from Sat 23 Jan 2027 to Tue 26 Jan 2027.
4× your leave
Fri 29 Jan – Sun 31 Jan 2027
Long weekend
Book 1 day off: Fri 29 Jan 2027.
You get 3 days off in a row, from Fri 29 Jan 2027 to Sun 31 Jan 2027.
3× your leave
Fri 5 Feb – Sun 7 Feb 2027
Long weekend
Book 1 day off: Fri 5 Feb 2027.
You get 3 days off in a row, from Fri 5 Feb 2027 to Sun 7 Feb 2027.
3× your leave
Fri 12 Feb – Sun 14 Feb 2027
Long weekend
Book 1 day off: Fri 12 Feb 2027.
You get 3 days off in a row, from Fri 12 Feb 2027 to Sun 14 Feb 2027.
3× your leave
Thu 25 Mar – Mon 29 Mar 2027
Good Friday & Easter Monday
Book 1 day off: Thu 25 Mar 2027.
You get 5 days off in a row, from Thu 25 Mar 2027 to Mon 29 Mar 2027.
5× your leave
Fri 24 Dec – Tue 28 Dec 2027
Christmas Day & Boxing Day
Book 1 day off: Fri 24 Dec 2027.
You get 5 days off in a row, from Fri 24 Dec 2027 to Tue 28 Dec 2027.
5× your leave
Fri 31 Dec 2027 – Mon 3 Jan 2028
New Year's Day
Book 1 day off: Fri 31 Dec 2027.
You get 4 days off in a row, from Fri 31 Dec 2027 to Mon 3 Jan 2028.
4× your leave
The best single days to book
Fri 1 Jan – Mon 4 Jan 2027
New Year's Day
Book 1 day off: Mon 4 Jan 2027.
You get 4 days off in a row, from Fri 1 Jan 2027 to Mon 4 Jan 2027.
4× your leave
Sat 23 Jan – Tue 26 Jan 2027
Australia Day
Book 1 day off: Mon 25 Jan 2027.
You get 4 days off in a row, from Sat 23 Jan 2027 to Tue 26 Jan 2027.
4× your leave
Thu 25 Mar – Mon 29 Mar 2027
Good Friday & Easter Monday
Book 1 day off: Thu 25 Mar 2027.
You get 5 days off in a row, from Thu 25 Mar 2027 to Mon 29 Mar 2027.
5× your leave
Fri 24 Dec – Tue 28 Dec 2027
Christmas Day & Boxing Day
Book 1 day off: Fri 24 Dec 2027.
You get 5 days off in a row, from Fri 24 Dec 2027 to Tue 28 Dec 2027.
5× your leave
Sat 25 Dec 2027 – Mon 3 Jan 2028
Christmas Day & Boxing Day & New Year's Day
Book 3 days off: Wed 29, Thu 30 and Fri 31 Dec 2027.
You get 10 days off in a row, from Sat 25 Dec 2027 to Mon 3 Jan 2028.
3.3× your leave
Fri 31 Dec 2027 – Mon 3 Jan 2028
New Year's Day
Book 1 day off: Fri 31 Dec 2027.
You get 4 days off in a row, from Fri 31 Dec 2027 to Mon 3 Jan 2028.
4× your leave
Australia, 2027: the best-value day or days for each holiday. Hover or tap a day for the details.
Summer: New Year to Australia Day
Many workplaces close over Christmas and New Year, and Australia Day comes three weeks later. If you want a long summer break at the start of the year:
Book off: Mon 4, Tue 5, Wed 6, Thu 7 and Fri 8 Jan 2027.
Bank holidayBook offWeekend
Easter 2027
With Good Friday and Easter Monday together, leave on the workdays around them gives a long autumn break. This is the longest one you can get with up to eight days of leave:
Book off: Mon 22, Tue 23, Wed 24, Thu 25, Tue 30 and Wed 31 Mar 2027 and Thu 1 and Fri 2 Apr 2027.
Bank holidayBook offWeekend
Annual leave rules in Australia
Under the National Employment Standards, full-time and part-time employees get four weeks of paid annual leave a year, and some shift workers get five (Fair Work Ombudsman: annual leave).
- Your employer can only refuse a leave request if the refusal is reasonable (Fair Work: taking annual leave).
- There is no minimum or maximum block. If you and your employer agree, you can take part of a day, a single day or several weeks.
- Leave accumulates. Untaken annual leave carries over from year to year, and your award or agreement may have rules about large balances or a Christmas shutdown.
- Public holidays during leave are not taken out of your annual leave if you would normally work that day.
Your state changes the picture
Each state and territory adds its own holidays: the King's Birthday (June in most states, other dates in Queensland and Western Australia), Labour Day on different dates, Melbourne Cup Day in parts of Victoria, and more. Those extra days create bridges that the national figures here do not show. Open the Australia planner and pick your state for your real dates.
Frequently asked questions
How many days of annual leave do I get in Australia?
Four weeks a year for full-time and part-time employees, which is 20 days on a five-day week. Part-time employees get it in proportion to their hours. Casual employees do not get paid annual leave.
When is the best time to take leave in 2027?
The Monday before Australia Day and the days around Easter give the best value. Easter 2027 is early, so book it before the end of 2026 if you can.
Does a public holiday count as annual leave?
No. If a public holiday falls during your annual leave on a day you would normally work, you are paid for the public holiday and it is not deducted from your leave.
Plan your own 2027
Open the Australia plannerHow to maximise annual leave in 2027 (Australia)
How we work it out. Every date and number here comes from our holiday data, checked against official government sources (see About). Always confirm days off with your employer.