Best ways to satisfy your wanderlust in Australia

THE maths is simple: four weeks of annual leave, 10 public holidays, and 105 weekend days. Here’s how to make the most of them.

How would you feel about working remotely from the Outback for a week? Picture: Tim Phillips

RIGHT now you’re either at work or on your way, and there’s probably something else you should be doing.

You might be stressed, wondering how on earth you’re going to deliver the numbers your boss wants, and preparing to stay late. You’re eyes are itchy, you’re craving another coffee, and you can’t focus.

You wonder how long it’s been since your last holiday.

It’s probably far more recent than you’d believe.

Think about it. The average Australian gets four weeks annual leave a year. You’re entitled to enjoy about 10 public holidays, depending on your state or territory. There are also 105 weekend days in 2016, in which you’re free from the office.

Simply it put: that’s more than a third of a year. As Henry Brydon, founder of travel website We Are Explorers puts it, “the possibilities suddenly become endless”.

But are you spending it wisely?

Sure, you might not be able to scrape together enough leave for a beach holiday in Thailand, a hiking trip to Argentina, or a European extravaganza, but there’s plenty of opportunity to satisfy your holiday cravings in your own backyard.

Here’s how:

EXPLORE A NEW NEIGHBOURHOOD

The first step in getting away from work is, well, getting away from work.

Make an effort to knock off on time, and remember that for the next 16 hours, you’re free.

Let’s be honest. Most of us go home, cook dinner, park ourselves on the couch, and watch fake people living a fake life inside a small flashing box, before going to bed.

How about spicing up your own life a midweek micro-adventure?

Tausha Cowan, founder of The Globe Getter, says exploring a new neighbourhood “feels like a no-brainer, but so often, we take advantage of our cities and stick to our usual routines”.

Try out a new pub or cafe, road trip to the next suburb or town for dinner, go to the beach after work, or invite your friends for a picnic dinner in the local park.

You don’t need to bleed your bank account to have a good time, and feel refreshed.

There are 105 weekend days up for grabs in 2016. How about a mini-break to Hobart? Picture: Anthony Tong Lee

EMBRACE A DAY TRIP OR WEEKEND ESCAPE

Planning ahead will help you maximise your weekends and public holidays.

The Queen’s Birthday might fall on a Tuesday, for example, and if you get in before your colleagues you might be able to get the Monday off. Hello, four-day weekend!

Similarly, rather than saving up all your leave for chunky overseas holidays, how about taking a Friday here and a Monday there, giving yourself a regular mini-break?

Depending where you live, you could spend a weekend in Hobart, check out Lord Howe Island, go wine-tasting in the Barossa Valley, or nip over to Fremantle for something different.

Try a different style of accommodation than you’re used to — be it a fancy hotel, a luxury glamping experience, a good old-fashioned tent, or even a backpackers hostel.

You never know — a regular breath of fresh air may even boost your output at work.

ASK YOUR BOSS ABOUT WORKING REMOTELY

How much of your work is done on the internet, or your company’s intranet?

Let’s face it: most office jobs are now inextricably linked to the world wide web, and as long as you have Wi-Fi, there’s no reason you have to work from the office.

What if you booked a hotel in Darwin for the week, logged on during the day, and then explored the local streets by night? You might even catch one of Mindil Beach’s famous sunsets.

What about heading to the Blue Mountains? Houseboating down the Murray?

Relocating for a week at a time lets you delve deeper into the local experience. According to We Are Explorers, “there’s actually never been a better time to propose this notion to your boss”.

Plan ahead to maximise your weekends, so take a Friday off and explore the Blue Mountains. Picture: Andrii Slonchak

START PLANNING YOUR NEXT BIG TRIP

Nothing is more exciting than planning an adventure. You might want to road trip the West Australian coast, go sailing in the Whitsundays, hike across Tasmania, or head overseas.

Book it. Book it now.

According to Tausha Cowan, the pleasure of anticipation can be the best part.

It will give you a target to focus on, as well as extra motivation to finish off your projects and tidy up your workload. Even if the date is far away, you’ll get a rush from applying for leave and booking flights, which will help you through the day.