Australia is known for its beaches, laid-back lifestyle, and love of a good long weekend. But how many days off do Aussies actually get thanks to public holidays? It might sound like a simple question, but the answer isn't as clear-cut as you might think. Depending on where you live, your annual public holiday tally can look very different.
Why it depends on where you live
Unlike some countries with a fixed national calendar, Australia's public holidays are a mix of national, state, and local observances. This means someone in Sydney might be off work on one day, while their friend in Perth is at their desk.
There are a handful of national holidays observed across the entire country, like New Year’s Day and ANZAC Day. But each state and territory adds its own to the list. Even within states, some local government areas get special one-off holidays like show days or regional events.
The national holidays everyone gets
Every Australian, no matter where they live, gets these standard public holidays (unless they fall on a weekend and aren’t substituted):
- New Year’s Day (1 January)
- Australia Day (26 January)
- Good Friday
- Easter Monday
- ANZAC Day (25 April)
- Christmas Day (25 December)
- Boxing Day (26 December)
That’s seven solid public holidays that are virtually guaranteed for everyone. But what about the rest?
State-specific additions
This is where the numbers start to shift. Each state and territory adds a few holidays to the list. Here's a snapshot of the average annual public holiday count per region:
- Victoria: 13 days (includes Melbourne Cup Day and AFL Grand Final holiday)
- New South Wales: 11 days (includes the Queen’s Birthday and Labour Day)
- Queensland: 11 days (plus regional show holidays)
- South Australia: 12 days (includes Adelaide Cup Day and Proclamation Day)
- Western Australia: 10 days (has its own Foundation Day, skips Easter Saturday)
- Tasmania: 10 to 12 days depending on region (some areas observe Regatta Day)
- Australian Capital Territory: 11 days
- Northern Territory: 10 days (includes Picnic Day)
As you can see, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Victoria tends to lead the pack, while WA and NT usually have the fewest.
The wildcard: local holidays
On top of state and national holidays, many areas have unique local holidays. These might celebrate regional festivals, agricultural shows, or special events. For example, Brisbane residents get the Ekka Wednesday holiday, while some country towns in NSW have a local show day off work.
These can add one or two extra days to your annual total, but only if you live in the right spot. They're often forgotten in public holiday counts, but they matter if you're lucky enough to get them.
Public holidays vs annual leave
It's worth noting that public holidays are separate from your annual leave. Full-time employees in Australia get four weeks of paid leave per year, and public holidays don’t come out of that total. If a public holiday falls on a workday during your annual leave, it’s a bonus day off that doesn’t reduce your leave balance.
However, if you’re a casual worker or work irregular hours, the rules can get more complicated. You only get paid for public holidays if you were rostered on that day. So the number of paid public holidays you get might be fewer than the calendar shows.
So, how many days off do you really get?
Let’s cut to the chase. If you live in Australia, the number of public holidays you get each year falls somewhere between 10 and 13. Add in any regional days off and you might hit 14 or even 15. But the "real" number of days off depends on where you work, your job type, and whether those holidays fall on weekends that don’t get a substitute.
For example, if Christmas and Boxing Day land on a Saturday and Sunday, most states move those holidays to Monday and Tuesday. But not all states handle this the same way.
What this means for your time off
If you're planning a break, it's smart to check your local public holiday calendar. Line up your annual leave with long weekends to stretch your holidays even further. Some Aussies manage to score 10-day trips using just four days of leave by doing this.
So while the official number of public holidays may vary, a little planning can make those days go a long way. In the end, whether you get 10 or 13, they’re all sweet little gifts of time to spend however you like.