Already dreading being back on the tools? Then it’s time to start planning your annual leave for 2025.
This year, anyone willing to pony up roughly 20 days from their hard-earned balance could potentially enjoy over 50 days worth of an equally hard-earned break.
That is assuming nobody at head office — or the cubicle next to yours — makes too much of a fuss about the almost two-month absence.
Take note of the following proposed annual leave dates in relation to where you reside and book your time off accordingly. And remember: there’s a good chance you won’t be the only one thinking about this, so be sure to secure those dates before your colleagues do.
20 days is the legal minimum of annual leave afforded to your average full-time employee in Australia. Certain state holidays may vary, e.g. Victoria’s AFL Grand Final holiday, Melbourne Cup holiday (meaning even more bang for your buck if you’re savvy).
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The Best Annual Leave Dates To Book (2025)
January
Annual leave spent: 6 days
Total time off: 12 days
The best way to end the first month of the year after returning from holiday is with another holiday. This opening stretch of obligation-free, post-Christmas/New Year’s vacationing is, of course, thanks to Australia Day (January 26th).
We’ve bolded the dates that you need to book annual leave to maximise the HR-sanctioned bludgery.
Nation-wide
- Wednesday, January 1 (New Year’s Day)
- Thursday, January 2
- Friday, January 3
- Saturday, January 4
- Sunday, January 5
- Saturday, January 25
- Sunday, January 26 (Australia Day)
- Monday, January 27 (Australia Day public holiday)
- Tuesday, January 28
- Wednesday, January 29
- Thursday, January 30
- Friday, January 31
March/April/May
Annual leave spent: Varies
Total time off: 10-19 days
This is the juicy one in any given calendar year due to Easter-ANZAC Day. Three days down for 10 days off? It’s a no-brainer. Bonus burst on either side of this two-banger if you live outside of ACT, NSW, or SA.
WA
- Saturday, March 1
- Sunday, March 2
- Monday, March 3 (Labour Day in WA)
- Tuesday, March 4
- Wednesday, March 5
- Thursday, March 6
- Friday, March 7
- Saturday, March 8
- Sunday, March 9
VIC & TAS
- Saturday, March 8
- Sunday, March 9
- Monday, March 10 (Labour Day in VIC & TAS)
- Tuesday, March 11
- Wednesday, March 12
- Thursday, March 13
- Friday, March 14
- Saturday, March 15
- Sunday, March 16
Nation-wide
- Friday, April 18 (Good Friday)
- Saturday, April 19
- Sunday, April 20 (Easter Sunday)
- Monday, April 21 (Easter Monday)
- Tuesday, April 22
- Wednesday, April 23
- Thursday, April 24
- Friday, April 25 (ANZAC Day)
- Saturday, April 27
- Sunday, April 28
NT & QLD
- Saturday, May 3
- Sunday, May 4
- Monday, May 5 (Labour Day in NT & QLD)
- Tuesday, May 6
- Wednesday, May 7
- Thursday, May 8
- Friday, May 9
- Saturday, May 10
- Sunday, May 11
June
Annual leave spent: 4 days
Total time off: 9 days
Say what you will about old King Charles… at least he’s letting us take a day off.
Unfortunately for the folks over in Queensland and Western Australia, you won’t be able to take advantage of this specific hack. But you can finesse something similar when the time comes for your respective states’ King’s Birthday holiday on September 29th (WA) and October 6th (QLD); which we’ve outlined in the subsequent sections.
Nation-wide excluding WA & QLD
- Saturday, June 7
- Sunday, June 8
- Monday, June 9 (King’s Birthday for every state/territory except WA & QLD)
- Tuesday, June 10
- Wednesday, June 11
- Thursday, June 12
- Friday, June 13
- Saturday, June 14
- Sunday, June 15
September/October 2025
Annual leave spent: Varies
Total time off: Varies
WA
- Saturday, September 27
- Sunday, September 28
- Monday, September 29 (King’s Birthday for WA)
- Tuesday, September 30
- Wednesday, October 1
- Thursday, October 2
- Friday, October 3
- Saturday, October 4
- Sunday, October 5
NSW, ACT, & SA
- Saturday, October 4
- Sunday, October 5
- Monday, October 6 (Labour Day in ACT, NSW, & SA)
- Tuesday, October 7
- Wednesday, October 8
- Thursday, October 9
- Friday, October 19
- Saturday, October 20
- Sunday, October 21
December/January 2025
Annual leave spent: 5-6 days
Total time off: 16 days
You’ve made it to the end of the year You’ve earned this. Now game it to the max, and don’t you dare return to the office until January 5th, 2026.
Nation-wide with minor differences
- Saturday, December 20
- Sunday, December 21
- Monday, December 22
- Tuesday, December 23
- Wednesday, December 24 (Christmas Eve public holiday for QLD & SA)
- Thursday, December 25 (Christmas Day)
- Friday, December 26 (Boxing Day)
- Saturday, December 27
- Sunday, December 28
- Monday, December 29
- Tuesday, December 30
- Wednesday, December 31 (New Year’s Eve public holiday for NT & SA)
- Thursday, January 1 (New Year’s Day)
- Friday, January 2
- Saturday, January 3
- Sunday, January 4
The Best Annual Leave Dates To Book In 2025 — Frequently Asked Questions
Despite petitions to change the date, currently, Australia Day remains on January 26th. This year, the hotly-debated public holiday falls on a Sunday.
This year, Australia’s Good Friday falls on April 18th, with Easter Sunday occurring on April 20th, followed by Easter Monday on April 21st.
Similar to previous years, ANZAC Day will occur on April 25th.
This year, the King’s Birthday will occur on June 9th for all states and territories except for Queensland and Western Australia. Western Australia’s King’s Birthday is scheduled for September 29th while Queensland enjoys their day off on October 6th.
A full-time employee is entitled to a minimum of four weeks (20 days) in paid annual leave for each year of service with their employer. An employee’s entitlement to annual leave accumulates continuously based on the number of ordinary hours they work.
