How to get 54 days of holiday in 2022 by only taking 23 annual leave days

Borders are opening up and Aussies are more keen for a holiday next year than ever before - here’s how to get the most bang for your annual leave buck.

2 min read

October 11, 2021 - 3:51PM

Qantas announces the return of international travel for vaccinated Australians

Thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, it’s been almost two years since Australians have been free to take a substantial holiday either overseas or interstate.

And according to a recent survey from Instant Offices, that says eight in 10 Australians are dealing with burnout, there’s no better time to get away.

A new study from Instant Offices has broken down the data and analysed exactly how much Aussies can get away next year – for only a fraction of their leave.

There are a few tricks to maximise your leave next year. Picture: iStock

January

Christmas Day this year and New Year’s Day both fall on weekends.

This means there’s a number of “substitute” public holidays in December and January.

Monday, December 27 is the public holiday replacing Christmas Day while Monday, January 3 will replace the usual public holiday for New Year’s Day.

This means for only four days leave, you can get 10 days off.

April/May

Easter celebrations and Anzac Day will give Aussies another chance to get away from work for a good amount of time.

Good Friday, and its accompanying public holiday, will be on April 15 next year.

Easter Monday, falling April 18, will also be a public holiday.

Anzac Day, on April 25, falls on the following Monday and is another public holiday.

This means for only four days leave, you can get 11 days off.

Or, if you’re feeling adventurous, extend your leave until Friday, April 29, which will give you 17 days off for only eight days of leave.

The leave dates you can take for extra holidays. Picture: Instant Offices

May/June

Depending on what state or territory you’re in, May and June bring a number of public holidays.

In the Australian Capital Territory, Canberra holds a public holiday for Reconciliation Day, marking the start of National Reconciliation week.

Reconciliation Day is held on the first Monday after or on May 27, the anniversary of the 1967 referendum.

Next year, the public holiday for Reconciliation Day will be held on Monday, May 30.

This means Canberrans can use four days of leave to get nine days off between Saturday, May 28 to Sunday, June 5.

The Queen’s birthday long weekend, which will have its public holiday on Monday, June 13 next year, means Canberrans could also use nine days of leave for 17 days off.

October

Labour Day will be celebrated on Monday, October 3 next year with Aussies being able to use the same tactic – four days leave for nine days holiday – from Saturday, October 1 to Monday, October 10.