Australia’s public holiday system is one of the most confusing things visitors encounter — not because it’s complicated in any individual state, but because each state and territory has its own set of holidays on top of the national ones, which means a day when every shop in Brisbane is closed might be a perfectly normal Wednesday in Sydney. Add to this the famous Australian “long weekend” culture (Australians defend their long weekends with extraordinary conviction), and you quickly realise that planning around public holidays is genuinely important for travel logistics.
This guide covers every national public holiday, explains which additional holidays apply in which states, and helps you plan your trip to either avoid the closures and crowds or lean into the celebrations — because an Australian public holiday in a major city often brings festivals, events, and a sense of occasion that’s worth experiencing.
📋 TL;DR – Public Holidays in Australia: A State-by-State Guide for Trave…
- 📅 National holidays: New Year’s Day, Australia Day (Jan 26), Good Friday, Easter Saturday/Sunday/Monday, Anzac Day (Apr 25), Christmas Day (Dec 25), Boxing Day (Dec 26).
- 🏖️ Long weekends are a big deal: Book accommodation well in advance around any Monday public holiday — popular destinations fill up months ahead.
- ⚠️ Australia Day controversy: Jan 26 is observed as a public holiday nationally but is contested — some businesses, councils, and communities mark it differently or not at all.
- 🏪 What’s open: Supermarkets usually open on public holidays (reduced hours); small businesses and attractions may close; major tourist sites usually stay open.
- 💸 Surcharges: Restaurants legally add 10–15% on public holidays — this should be on the menu.
- 🎆 Best to visit during: Vivid Sydney (June), Melbourne Cup (Nov), New Year’s Eve in Sydney.
📅 National public holidays (all states and territories)
- New Year’s Day — 1 January. The day after New Year’s Eve. Sydney’s harbour fireworks the night before are among the world’s most watched — the city is packed and accommodation must be booked many months ahead.
- Australia Day — 26 January. Marks the anniversary of the First Fleet’s arrival in Sydney Cove in 1788. Nationally observed with barbecues, fireworks, citizenship ceremonies, and increasingly, protests and alternative commemoration events by Indigenous Australians and their supporters who refer to it as Invasion Day. The political and cultural debate around this date is ongoing and significant.
- Good Friday — date varies (March/April). The Friday before Easter Sunday. One of the few days when most businesses genuinely close — including supermarkets in some states. Stock up the day before if you’re self-catering.
- Easter Saturday — date varies. A public holiday in most (but not all) states.
- Easter Sunday — date varies. Public holiday nationally.
- Easter Monday — date varies. The most consistent long weekend of the year. The Rip Curl Pro surf contest at Bells Beach runs this weekend; coastal destinations everywhere are packed.
- Anzac Day — 25 April. Australia’s most solemn national day, commemorating the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who fought at Gallipoli in 1915 and in all subsequent conflicts. Dawn services are held at war memorials nationwide and are deeply attended. Most businesses close in the morning; two-up (a traditional gambling game) is legally played in pubs only on Anzac Day. A genuinely moving day to be in Australia.
- Christmas Day — 25 December. Almost everything closes. Note that Christmas in Australia falls in midsummer — beach barbecues and 35°C+ temperatures are the norm rather than snow and mulled wine.
- Boxing Day — 26 December. Major retail sales, the Boxing Day Test cricket match in Melbourne, and the start of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race all happen on this day.
🗺️ State and territory-specific holidays
On top of the national holidays, each state and territory has its own additional public holidays. Here are the most significant ones for travellers:
🏙️ best places to visit in New South Wales
Bank Holiday (first Monday in August) and Queen’s Birthday (second Monday in June — note: this is different from Victoria and other states). NSW also observes Easter Saturday as a public holiday.
🏙️ Victoria
Melbourne Cup Day (first Tuesday in November) — Victoria is the only state where this horse race is a public holiday, which tells you a great deal about how seriously the Melbourne Cup is taken. The city essentially stops for the 3-minute race. Also AFL Grand Final Friday (Friday before the AFL Grand Final, held on the last Saturday of September) — a relatively recent addition that gives Melbourne a long weekend around its biggest sporting event.
🏙️ Queensland
Queensland Day (11 June) and Royal Queensland Show Day (Ekka, typically in August — date varies and applies to the Brisbane area only). Queen’s Birthday in QLD is in June.
🏙️ Western Australia
Foundation Day (first Monday in June) and Queen’s Birthday (fourth Monday in September — notably later than other states). WA’s late September Queen’s Birthday creates a WA-only long weekend that locals use for road trips to the South West or the Kimberley.
If you’re planning further afield, our guides to Best Places to Visit New South Wales are well worth a look.
🏙️ South Australia
Adelaide Cup Race Day (second Monday in May) and Proclamation Day (28 December, the day after Boxing Day). SA is one of the most holiday-generous states.
🏙️ Tasmania
Regatta Day (second Monday in February, Hobart area), Launceston Cup Race Day (last Wednesday in February), Eight Hours Day (second Monday in March), and Royal Hobart Show Day (Thursday in late October).
🏙️ Northern Territory
Picnic Day (first Monday in August) and Darwin Show Day (Friday in July).
🎆 The best Australian public holidays to experience as a visitor
- Anzac Day (25 April). The dawn service at Sydney’s Martin Place or the Australian War Memorial in Canberra is a genuinely moving, authentically Australian experience. Two-up in the pub afterwards is something you won’t find any other day of the year.
- Australia Day (26 January) in a major city. If you can set aside the political complexity, the fireworks, citizenship ceremonies, and beach gatherings are spectacular. Sydney Harbour is extraordinary on this night.
- Melbourne Cup Day in Melbourne. Even if you have no interest in horse racing, spending the first Tuesday in November in Melbourne — in any pub, bar, or garden — is a genuinely unique cultural experience. Everyone dresses up, everyone has a bet, and the whole state stops for three minutes.
- Easter long weekend at the coast. Crowded, but the atmosphere at coastal towns across Australia over Easter is festive and energetic.
👉 Book New Year’s Eve and Festival Experiences in Sydney on GetYourGuide →
💡 Practical tips for travelling around Australian public holidays
- Book accommodation 3–6 months ahead for long weekends. Popular coastal destinations — Byron Bay, Noosa, Margaret River, the Whitsundays — sell out completely on long weekends, often months in advance.
- Check what’s open before heading out. On Good Friday and Christmas Day especially, shops and attractions may be closed. Call ahead or check websites the day before.
- Budget for surcharges. The 10–15% public holiday surcharge at restaurants is legal and standard — it’s not a rip-off, it’s the cost of paying staff legally required higher wages. Check the menu for disclosure.
- Domestic flights fill up fast. If you’re flying between cities over a public holiday long weekend, book your flights early — prices spike and popular routes sell out.
Planning your trip to Australia, read our guides to best festivals in Australia, best snorkeling spots Australia, Australia travel tips for first time visitors, best hikes in Australia, best whale watching Australia, and best glamping in Australia.
