Every Public Holiday in Australia for 2025 and How to Maximise Your Leave

By Nick Hall - News

Published: 16 Apr 2025

National Public Holidays in 2025
State-by-State Public Holidays in 2025
How to Maximise Annual Leave in 2025

Readtime: 9 min

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If you are planning your next trip away, timing it with one of the public holidays in Australia is a smart move. With a range of bank holidays and nationwide memorial services, Aussies can expect more than a few long weekends to enjoy. Wherever in Australia you find yourself, remember to plan your holiday around one of these important dates we’ve listed below.

National Public Holidays in 2025

These are the public holidays enjoyed by every person in Australia this year:

Wednesday, 1 January: New Year’s Day
Monday, 27 January: Australia Day
Friday, 18 April: Good Friday
Saturday, 19 April: Easter Saturday
Sunday, 20 April: Easter Sunday
Monday, 21 April: Easter Monday
Friday, 25 April: Anzac Day
Monday, 9 June: King’s Birthday
Thursday, 25 December: Christmas Day
Friday, 26 December: Boxing Day

In 2025, Australia observes 10 national public holidays, across all states and territories. These are New Year’s Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

State-by-State Public Holidays in 2025

The lucky people of Victoria have the most number of public holidays, far outweighing all other territories for days off thanks to the Melbourne Cup, AFL Grand Final parade and other cultural activities. That being said, the NSW public holiday count isn’t far behind and Tasmania hosts plenty of regional days off for those lucky enough to live down south.

Here’s the full list of public holidays broken down by state:

New South Wales

Wednesday, 1 January: New Year’s Day
Monday, 27 January: Australia Day
Friday, 18 April: Good Friday
Saturday, 19 April: Easter Saturday
Sunday, 20 April: Easter Sunday
Monday, 21 April: Easter Monday
Friday, 25 April: Anzac Day
Monday, 9 June: King’s Birthday
Monday, 6 October: Labour Day
Thursday, 25 December: Christmas Day
Friday, 26 December: Boxing Day

For NSW public holidays, the 2025 event list isn’t quite as long as in previous years. Over the year, we can expect to enjoy 11 days off (10 national public holidays). In terms of trade regulations, NSW observes some regulations governing specified public holidays. For example, (Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Anzac Day before 1 p.m., Christmas Day and Boxing Day are restricted under the Retail Trading Act 2008 (NSW).

That being said, Fair Trading NSW has confirmed that there are several exemptions for different types of retailers (set out in Schedule 1 of the Act). This includes a broad exemption for small shops which are defined as having for or fewer employees.

Victoria

Wednesday, 1 January: New Year’s Day
Monday, 27 January: Australia Day
Monday, 10 March: Labour Day
Friday, 18 April: Good Friday
Saturday, 19 April: Easter Saturday
Sunday, 20 April: Easter Sunday
Monday, 21 April: Easter Monday
Friday, 25 April: Anzac Day
Monday, 9 June: King’s Birthday
Subject to AFL Schedule (Date TBC): Friday before the AFL Grand Final
Tuesday, 4 November: Melbourne Cup
Thursday, 25 December: Christmas Day
Friday, 26 December: Boxing Day

The long-crowned king of public holidays, Victoria boasts an enviable amount of days off in 2025 (13). Both the AFL Grand Final and Melbourne Cup serve as state-only events, meaning only Victorians get the day off. Outside of that, the rest of the 2025 public holiday calendar has been partially deregulated, with some small restrictions applied for Christmas, Good Friday and Anzac Day. There are exemptions for certain types of retailers, including cafes and chemists, which can be found on the Business Victoria website.

Queensland

Wednesday, 1 January: New Year’s Day
Monday, 27 January: Australia Day
Friday, 18 April: Good Friday
Saturday, 19 April: Good Saturday
Sunday, 20 April: Good Sunday
Monday, 21 April: Easter Monday
Friday, 25 April: Anzac Day
Monday, 5 May: Labour Day
Wednesday, 13 August: Royal Queensland Show (Brisbane area only)
Monday, 6 October: King’s Birthday
Wednesday, 24 December: Christmas Eve (from 6pm onward)
Thursday, 25 December: Christmas Day
Friday, 26 December: Boxing Day

* Regional show days are only observed in designated areas.

Queensland observes several public holidays in 202%, with the state securing specific days for its annual show. Importantly, Queensland recently updated its Trading (Allowable Hours) 1990 legislation in 2022, with new amendments governing the opening and closing of specific outlets. Under the new rules, trading hours are still restricted according to location and/or type of retailer. For more information, visit the Business Queensland website.

Australian Capital Territory

Wednesday, 1 January: New Year’s Day
Monday, 27 January: Australia Day
Monday, 10 March: Canberra Day
Friday, 18 April: Good Friday
Saturday, 19 April: Easter Saturday
Sunday, 20 April: Easter Sunday
Monday, 21 April: Easter Monday
Friday, 25 April: Anzac Day
Monday, 2 June: Reconciliation Day
Monday, 9 June: King’s Birthday
Monday, 6 October: Labour Day
Thursday, 25 December: Christmas Day
Friday, 26 December: Boxing Day

The 2025 ACT public holiday calendar is a heavy one, littered with important cultural events and the introduction of a new national day. Importantly, public holidays in the ACT are deregulated, which means that it is not illegal to trade during these periods. For retailers, the only requirement is that they be aware of public holidays for penalty rates and licensing restrictions. For more information, visit the Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate website.

Northern Territory

Wednesday, 1 January: New Year’s Day
Monday, 27 January: Australia Day
Friday, 18 April: Good Friday
Saturday, 19 April: Easter Saturday
Sunday, 20 April: Easter Sunday
Monday, 21 April: Easter Monday
Friday, 25 April: Anzac Day
Monday, 5 May: May Day
Monday, 9 June: King’s Birthday
Monday, 4 August: Picnic Day
Wednesday, 24 December: Christmas Eve (From 7pm onward)
Thursday, 25 December: Christmas Day
Friday, 26 December: Boxing Day
Wednesday, 31 December: New Year’s Eve (from 7pm onward)

* Regional show days only observed in designated areas.

Similar to the ACT, public holidays in the Northern Territory are deregulated. As a result, retailers need only to be aware of public holidays for penalty rates and licensing restrictions. For more information, visit the NT.gov.au website.

South Australia

Wednesday, 1 January: New Year’s Day
Monday, 27 January: Australia Day
Monday, 10 March: Adelaide Cup Day
Friday, 18 April: Good Friday
Saturday, 19 April: Easter Saturday
Sunday, 20 April: Easter Sunday
Monday, 21 April: Easter Monday
Friday, 25 April: Anzac Day
Monday, 9 June: King’s Birthday
Monday, 6 October: Labour Day
Wednesday, 24 December: Christmas Eve (From 7pm onward)
Thursday, 25 December: Christmas Day
Friday, 26 December: Boxing Day / Proclamation Day
Wednesday, 31 December: New Year’s Eve (From 7pm onward)

In South Australia, the public holiday calendar for 2025 is quite varied. The state has implemented a series of new reforms to its Shop Trading Hour Act 1977 which enables less restricted trading hours. As a result, most shops can now open from 9am on Sundays and Public Holidays, with certain retailers able to trade on Boxing Day. Specified stores can even undertake three midnight trading days in the lead-up to Christmas. For more information, visit the SafeWork SA website.

Tasmania

Wednesday, 1 January: New Year’s Day
Monday, 27 January: Australia Day
Monday, 10 February: Royal Hobart Regatta (only in certain areas of the state)
Monday, 10 March: Eight Hours Day
Friday, 18 April: Good Friday
Monday, 21 April: Easter Monday
Tuesday, 22 April: Easter Tuesday (generally only for the Tasmanian Public Service)
Friday, 25 April: Anzac Day
Monday, 9 June: King’s Birthday
Monday, 3 November: Recreation Day (for areas of the state that don’t observe the Royal Hobart Regatta)
Thursday, 25 December: Christmas Day
Friday, 26 December: Boxing Day

* Regional show days only observed in designated areas.

When it comes to regional public holidays Tasmania is king. The Southernmost state in Australia is home to several specific events across 2025, each of which is designated a holiday within their elected region. From the Royal Hobart Show to the Burnie Show, Tasmania is loaded up with festivities, which is a win for retailers. Tasmanian trading hours are regulated under the Shop Trading Hours Act 1984 according to location and/or type of shop.

Western Australia

Wednesday, 1 January: New Year’s Day
Monday, 27 January: Australia Day
Monday, 3 March: Labour Day
Friday, 18 April: Good Friday
Sunday, 20 April: Easter Sunday
Monday, 21 April: Easter Monday
Friday, 25 April: Anzac Day
Monday, 2 June: Western Australia Day
Monday, 29 September: King’s Birthday (some regional areas hold this public holiday on a different date)
Thursday, 25 December: Christmas Day
Friday, 26 December: Boxing Day

*Some regional areas in WA hold the King’s Birthday public holiday on a different date.

The 2025 WA public holiday calendar features much of the same dates as other states, however, there are a few unique events to keep an eye out for. For retailers, trading in WA over public holidays is governed under the Retail Trading Hours Act 1987 (WA). This legislation dictates specific trading requirements according to the location and/or category of the retailer with small retail shops unrestricted. You can find more information about these rules at the Government of Western Australia, Department of Mines, Industry Regulations and Safety website.

How to Maximise Annual Leave in 2025

We all want to make it a step up from the year just passed, and one way to do this is by maximising annual leave to get the most out of the year. The way to do this is by using annual leave combined with public holidays to get longer breaks, which means more time to completely zone out or finally go on that holiday. The good news is making the most of your holiday time in 2025 is well worth the effort.

January: Trade in Four for Nine

Make the most of the Australia Day public holiday to get an extra-long weekend off in January. Take off four days from Saturday, 25 January to Monday, 3 February, which will mean you’ll get a 9-day break.

Take these dates off:

Tuesday, 28 January
Wednesday, 29 January
Thursday, 30 January
Friday, 31 January

Easter/ ANZAC Long Weekend: Trade in 7 for 16

Better still, between April and May, you can make the most of the Easter break by turning 7 days of annual leave into 16 full days off in a row. You’ll have from Saturday, 12 April to Sunday, 27 April off in one nice, big unbroken block.

Take these dates off:

Monday, 14 April
Tuesday, 15 April
Wednesday, 16 April
Thursday, 17 April
Tuesday, 22 April
Wednesday, 23 April
Thursday, 24 April

June: Trade in 4 for 9

The King’s Birthday long weekend has opened an entirely new can of worms for public holiday maximisers, this new date lets you trade in 4 working days for 9 days off. It’s not the best use of your annual leave compared to other options here, but it’s a great opportunity if you’re thinking of heading away.

Take these dates off:

Tuesday, June 10
Wednesday, June 11
Thursday, June 12
Friday, June 13

Christmas: Trade in 6 for 16

The Christmas break is the best time of year, full of plenty of drinks, beach days and eating, so why not make it longer? If you take 6 days of annual leave from December 22 to January 2rd, you’ll get a 16-day break from Saturday, 20 December to Sunday, 4 January.

Take these dates off: