Holiday Hack: How You Can Turn 24 Days Off Into 58 In 2024

Long weekend not cutting it? Feel guilty taking time off? Forget your holiday scheduling blues and turn over a new leaf in 2024 – time off is so important to rest and recharge so we can ultimately bring our best selves to work in the long run... and take as many holidays as possible! 

Mark these key dates in your calendar that will give your annual leave allocation a boost and turn 24 days off into 58 by making the most of your weekends and public holidays! Go on, you deserve it!  

• December 2023 / January 2024
• January 2024
• March / April 2024
• June 2024
• December 2024 / January 2025

Welcome to the highlight of the year, because Christmas and New Year’s fall on Mondays this year – did someone say long weekend? Make the most of the Chrissy and New Years festivities by booking three days of annual leave for an extended silly season.  

Holiday from:  

Saturday, December 23 – Monday, January 1 

Book these dates:  

Wednesday, 27 December 

Thursday, 28 December 

Friday 29, December 

With the January 26 public holiday falling on a Friday this year, book leave for the four days leading up to the weekend for an extended summer holiday that feels like the festive season is kicking on! 

Holiday from:  

Saturday, January 20 – Sunday, January 28 

Book these dates:  

Monday, January 22 

Tuesday, January 23 

Wednesday, January 24 

Thursday, January 25 

Enjoy a smooth transition from March to April with Easter falling on the last weekend of March. Double your leave by booking the four days before the Easter long weekend, as well as the four days following to get a total of 16 days off. Book early to secure your fave holiday spots – maybe it’s a luxe Hamilton Island getaway, a Bali beach break, or a trip to the mountains in New Zealand.  

Holiday from:  

Saturday, March 23 – Sunday, April 7 

Book these dates:  

Monday, March 25 

Tuesday, March 26 

Wednesday, March 27 

Thursday, March 28 

Tuesday, April 2 (Tasmanians can save this day of leave for later with the Easter Tuesday Holiday)  

Wednesday, April 3 

Thursday, April 4 

Friday, April 5 

(This applies to all states except QLD and WA)  

Book annual leave on the days following the King’s Birthday public holiday (10th June) to enjoy nine-days of cozy winter fun in the Barossa, Yarra or Hunter Valley, or even Thredbo!  

Holiday from:  

Saturday, June 8 – Sunday, June 16 

Book these dates:  

Tuesday, June 11 

Wednesday, June 12 

Thursday, June 13 

Friday, June 14 

Expert tip: For WA, apply this strategy to September 23 and QLD, October 7.

Wow, already back to Christmas again – cheers to 2024! Those holidays you took are what got you through, and they were long overdue, we know! Get in early to maximise your holidays again and again! 

Holiday from:  

Saturday, December 21 – Sunday, January 5 

Book these dates:  

Monday, December 23 

Tuesday, December 24 (don’t worry about booking this day if you’re in the NT, QLD or SA) 

Friday, December 27 

Monday, December 30 

Tuesday, December 31 (don’t worry about booking this day if you’re in SA or the NT)  

Thursday, January 2 

Friday, January 3 

Each state and territory may have additional public holidays that you can make the most of – do a quick search and mark those local public holidays in your diary now.    

Make the most of other public holidays by taking 4 days annual leave for yet another nine-day break by starting the weekend before the public holiday and stretching into the weekend after. Capeesh?   

So, there you have it – a 101 crash course into the art of Holiday Hacking! For the 9-5 Monday to Friday worker, it’s all about maximising your weekends and booking ahead to get the most out of those annual public holidays – turning those long weekends into more than an extended trip to Bunnings!    

For the shift workers, freelancers, and contractors out there – take this same ethos to making the most of your time off and the world is your oyster!