When it comes to holidays, every single day is precious. The best way to make the most of days off is to plan ahead. Look forward to the 2021 calendar to start scheming some awesome short-haul holidays for your family. Here’s how to match 2021 public holidays with annual leave to stretch out those breaks as far as you can.
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Everyone around the country can get a lovely, long summer vacation from 2020-2021 without breaking the annual leave bank. In fact, just 3 days of annual leave paired with public holidays will give you 10 days off. Christmas Day public holiday (25 December) falls on a Friday, and then Monday 28 December is an allocated public holiday in lieu of Boxing Day. Take Tuesday to Thursday off using annual leave, and then enjoy the Friday 1st January public holiday.
The same can be done from 2021 to 2022. In 2021, Christmas and Boxing Day fall on the weekend, so Monday 27th and Tuesday 28th December are public holidays in lieu. Take off Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and then enjoy Monday 3rd 2022 off for the New Year. Once again, that’s 10 days off for the price of three!
Not all states and territories are created equal when it comes to 2021 public holidays. Unfortunately, NSW gets the least. In 2021, some states get an extra day because ANZAC Day falls on a Sunday. But this isn’t the case for NSW, Victoria or Tasmania.
For the full list of 2021 public holidays by state, check below and start planning those getaways. Confirm dates at the government website here.
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Australian Capital Territory
1 Jan – New Year’s Day (Friday)
26 Jan – Australia Day (Tuesday)
8 March – Canberra Day (Monday)
2 April – Good Friday (Friday)
3 and 4 April – Easter Saturday/Sunday
5 April – Easter Monday
26 April – ANZAC Day public holiday (Monday)
31 May – Reconciliation Day (Monday)
14 June – Queen’s Birthday (Monday)
25 Dec – Christmas Day (Saturday)
26 Dec – Boxing Day (Sunday)
27 Dec – Public holiday for Christmas Day (Monday)
28 Dec – Public holiday for Boxing Day (Tuesday)
New South Wales
1 Jan – New Year’s Day (Friday)
26 Jan – Australia Day (Tuesday)
2 April – Good Friday (Friday)
3 and 4 April – Easter Saturday/Sunday
5 April – Easter Monday
25 April – ANZAC Day (Sunday)
14 June – Queen’s Birthday (Monday)
4 Oct – Labour Day (Monday)
25 Dec – Christmas Day (Saturday)
26 Dec – Boxing Day (Sunday)
27 Dec – Public holiday for Christmas Day (Monday)
28 Dec – Public holiday for Boxing Day (Tuesday)
Northern Territory
1 Jan – New Year’s Day (Friday)
26 Jan – Australia Day (Tuesday)
2 April – Good Friday (Friday)
3 April – Easter Saturday
5 April – Easter Monday
26 April – ANZAC Day public holiday (Monday)
3 May – May Day (Monday)
14 June – Queen’s Birthday (Monday)
2 Aug – Picnic Day (Monday)
24 Dec (7pm to midnight only) – Christmas Eve (Friday)
25 Dec – Christmas Day (Saturday)
26 Dec – Boxing Day (Sunday)
27 Dec – Public holiday for Christmas Day (Monday)
28 Dec – Public holiday for Boxing Day (Tuesday)
31 Dec (7pm to midnight only) – New Year’s Eve (Friday)
Queensland
1 Jan – New Year’s Day (Friday)
26 Jan – Australia Day (Tuesday)
2 April – Good Friday (Friday)
3 and 4 April – Easter Saturday/Sunday
5 April – Easter Monday
26 April – ANZAC Day public holiday (Monday)
3 May – Labour Day (Monday)
11 Aug (Brisbane area only) – Royal QLD Show (Wednesday)
4 Oct – Queen’s Birthday (Monday)
24 Dec (6pm to midnight only) – Christmas Eve (Friday)
25 Dec – Christmas Day (Saturday)
26 Dec – Boxing Day (Sunday)
27 Dec – Public holiday for Christmas Day (Monday)
28 Dec – Public holiday for Boxing Day (Tuesday)
South Australia
1 Jan – New Year’s Day (Friday)
26 Jan – Australia Day (Tuesday)
8 March – Adelaide Cup Day (Monday)
2 April – Good Friday (Friday)
3 April – Easter Saturday
5 April – Easter Monday
25 April – ANZAC Day (Sunday)
26 April – ANZAC Day public holiday (Monday)
14 June – Queen’s Birthday (Monday)
4 Oct – Labour Day (Monday)
24 Dec (7pm to midnight only) – Christmas Eve (Friday)
25 Dec – Christmas Day (Saturday)
26 Dec – Boxing Day (Sunday)
27 Dec – Public holiday for Christmas Day (Monday)
28 Dec – Public holiday for Boxing Day (Tuesday)
31 Dec (7pm to midnight only) – New Year’s Eve (Friday)
Tasmania
1 Jan – New Year’s Day (Friday)
26 Jan – Australia Day (Tuesday)
8 Feb (some areas) – Royal Hobart Regatta (Monday)
8 March – Eight Hours Day (Monday)
2 April – Good Friday (Friday)
5 April – Easter Monday
25 April – ANZAC Day (Sunday)
31 May – Reconciliation Day (Monday)
14 June – Queen’s Birthday (Monday)
2 Nov (for areas who did not observe Royal Hobart Regatta) – Recreation Day (Tuesday)
25 Dec – Christmas Day (Saturday)
26 Dec – Boxing Day (Sunday)
27 Dec – Public holiday for Christmas Day (Monday)
28 Dec – Public holiday for Boxing Day (Tuesday)
Victoria
1 Jan – New Year’s Day (Friday)
26 Jan – Australia Day (Tuesday)
8 March – Labour Day (Monday)
2 April – Good Friday (Friday)
3 and 4 April – Easter Saturday/Sunday
5 April – Easter Monday
25 April – ANZAC Day (Sunday)
14 June – Queen’s Birthday (Monday)
TBC (subject to schedule) – Friday before AFL Grand Final
2 Nov – Melbourne Cup (Tuesday)
25 Dec – Christmas Day (Saturday)
26 Dec – Boxing Day (Sunday)
27 Dec – Public holiday for Christmas Day (Monday)
28 Dec – Public holiday for Boxing Day (Tuesday)
Western Australia
1 Jan – New Year’s Day (Friday)
26 Jan – Australia Day (Tuesday)
1 March – Labour Day (Monday)
2 April – Good Friday (Friday)
5 April – Easter Monday
25 April – ANZAC Day (Sunday)
26 April – ANZAC Day public holiday (Monday)
7 June – Western Australia Day (Monday)
27 Sept (most areas) – Queen’s Birthday (Monday)
25 Dec – Christmas Day (Saturday)
26 Dec – Boxing Day (Sunday)
27 Dec – Public holiday for Christmas Day (Monday)
28 Dec – Public holiday for Boxing Day (Tuesday)
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