Public Holidays

New Year’s is one of the most popular national public holidays in Australia. The holiday celebrates the first day of the modern Gregorian calendar, used by Australia and the majority of the Western World. Australia is one of the first countries to celebrate the New Year, given its proximity to the International Date Line.

Note: South Australia and Northern Territory have a part-day public holiday for Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve from 7pm-12am.

Australia Day is the official national public holiday of Australia. In 2025, Australia Day falls on Sunday, January 26 and the public holiday will be held on the following Monday, January 27.

Easter is a Christian holiday that gives Australians a four-day weekend. The holiday includes Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday and even Easter Tuesday which is a public holiday but only for Tasmanian Public Service. 

Anzac Day is commemorated on the anniversary of Australian and New Zealand troops landing at Gallipoli in 1915 during the First World War.

Labour Day celebrates the modern eight-hour working day, which started in the 19th century. Prior to this, most labourers worked ten to twelve hours a day, up to six days a week. Labour Day supports the equal division of 24 hours in a day into three parts: eight hours for work, recreation and rest. 

As a part of the Commonwealth, Australians mark the King’s Birthday as a public holiday. The date usually isn’t the monarch's exact birthday and can be celebrated on different days in different Australian states and territories. However, it always falls on a Monday for a long weekend.

Australians celebrate Christmas Day as a religious and cultural occasion.

Landing in the middle of summer, Christmas Day in Australia is generally marked with beach swims, backyard barbecues and seafood platters.

Australians celebrate Boxing Day on the day after Christmas.  While the origin of the name is uncertain, it’s commonly linked to the tradition of “Christmas Boxes”, which were given to servants on their day off after Christmas to thank them for their hard work.