Holiday Hack: How You Can Turn 22 Days Off Into 56 In 2023!

Long weekend not cutting it? Feel guilty taking time off? Forget your holiday scheduling blues and turn over a new leaf in 2023 – time off is so important to rest and recharge so we can ultimately bring our best selves to work in the long run. Mark these key dates in your calendar that will give your annual leave allocation a boost and turn 22 days off into 56 by making the most of your weekends and public holidays! Go on, you deserve it!  

Welcome to the highlight of the year - because Christmas and New Year’s fall on weekends this year, so we’re given three public holidays during the week instead! Huzzah! Make the most of the Chrissy and New Year festivities by booking three days of annual leave for an extended silly season.  

Holiday from:  

Saturday, December 24 – Sunday, January 1 

Book these dates:  

Wednesday, December 28 

Thursday, December 29 

Friday, December 30 

Book leave either side of the 26 January public holiday and you’ll have an extended summer holiday that feels like the festive season is kicking on!   

Holiday from:  

Saturday, January 21 – Sunday, January 29  

Book these dates:  

Monday, January 23 

Tuesday, January 24 

Thursday, January 25 

Friday, January 27 

April gives you the chance to either take the first or last weeks off (or both) thanks to Easter (7, 8 and 9 April) and Anzac Day (25 April). Use four days leave from April 1 to get nine days off around Easter or four leave days from April 22 to get nine days off. Why not go even bigger and take the eight days in between as well and take the whole month. Book early to secure your fave holiday spots – maybe it’s a camping trip by the sea or to the mountains? A trip to New Zealand, or maybe Bali or beyond!   

Holiday from:  

Saturday, April 1 – Tuesday, April 11 

Saturday, April 22 – Sunday, April 30 

Book these dates:  

Monday, April 3 

Tuesday, April 4 

Wednesday, April 5 

Thursday, April 6 

Monday, April 24 

Wednesday, April 26 

Thursday, April 27 

Friday, April 28 

 
Expert Tip: If taking the last week off in April – Queenslanders will get an extra day with their Labour Day falling on May 1.

(This one goes for all states except QLD and WA)  

Book annual leave on the days following the Queen’s (King’s) Birthday public holiday (12 June). Imagine curling up by the fire in wine country in the Barossa, Yarra Valley or Hunter, or hit the slopes in Thredbo!   

Holiday from:  

Saturday, June 10 – Sunday, June 18 

Book these dates:  

Tuesday, June 13  

Wednesday, June 14 

Thursday, June 15 

Friday, June 16 
 

Expert Tip: For QLD apply this strategy to 2 October and WA, 25 September.   

Wow, already back to Christmas again – cheers to 2023! Those holidays you took are what got you through, and they’d been long overdue, we know! Get in early to maximize your holidays again and again!  

Holiday from:  

Saturday, December 23 – Monday, January 1 

Book these dates:  

Wednesday, December 27 

Thursday, December 28 

Friday, December 29 

Expert Tip: Take the week from Monday, January 1 to give yourself a 16-day break.  

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.   

Melbournians can make the most of the Melbourne Cup public holiday (7 November) or the AFL Grand Final Friday holiday (29 September) by taking 4 days annual leave for yet another nine-day break for each by starting the weekend before for public holiday and stretching into the weekend after. Kapeesh?  

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!   

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