Annual leave hacks 2027 in Australia

Four weeks of annual leave, planned around your state's public holidays, make between 54 and 57 days off in 2027. Pick your state for the exact days to book.

Dates from each state and territory government, checked 26 October 2026. Updated 26 October 2026.

Days off with four weeks' leave, by state

Days off in 2027 with 20 days of annual leave, by state and territory
State or territory	Days off	Breaks	The plan
The Australian Capital Territory	57	11	ACT plan
The Northern Territory	57	11	NT plan
Victoria	56	11	VIC plan
Western Australia	56	11	WA plan
South Australia	56	11	SA plan
New South Wales	55	11	NSW plan
Tasmania	55	11	TAS plan
Queensland	54	10	QLD plan

The same 20 days of leave go further where there are more weekday public holidays to build around. Each state's page has the exact days to book.

Your leave in Australia

Full-time and part-time employees (not casuals) get 4 weeks of paid annual leave a year under the National Employment Standards (NES), based on their ordinary hours of work. Awards and registered agreements can't give less but can give more. Source
Employees defined as shiftworkers by their award or registered agreement (for the purposes of the NES) get 5 weeks of paid annual leave a year. Source
Annual leave accumulates gradually during each year of service, based on the ordinary hours worked, from the first day of employment (including any probation period). Source
Unused annual leave rolls over from year to year; it doesn't have to be taken each year and can be taken as soon as it has accumulated. Source
Annual leave loading is not part of the NES: it's an extra payment some employees get when they take annual leave, depending on their award or agreement. Many awards set it at 17.5% (in some, shiftworkers get the higher of 17.5% or their shift loading). Source
If a public holiday falls during paid annual leave, it isn't counted as annual leave, so the leave balance isn't reduced for that day (10 days off that include a Monday public holiday use 9 days of leave). This may not apply to leave granted above the NES minimum. Source

Questions

Which state gets the most days off in 2027?

The Australian Capital Territory: 20 days of annual leave make 57 days off, planned around its public holidays.

How much annual leave do I get in Australia?

Four weeks a year for full-time and part-time employees under the National Employment Standards (five for some shiftworkers). It builds up through the year and unused leave rolls over.