2025 will once again offer plenty of opportunities for long weekends or short breaks if we make skilful use of public holidays and ‘bridging days’ – the days between a public holiday and a weekend. A total of nine national public holidays, plus additional ones that apply in individual federal states, mean you can plan some relaxing breaks. What could be better than an exciting city break?
Whether cultural discoveries, culinary experiences or simply the unique flair of a new city – thanks to 2025’s public holidays and bridging days, you can enjoy urban life to the fullest. We’ll tell you how to get the most out of your free days and give you tips on how to keep the annual leave you take to a minimum while maximising the time you spend on your travels.
Public holidays and ‘bridging days’
January
6/1/2025, Epiphany*:
taking four days’ leave = 10 days off
(28/12/24 to 6/1/25)
March
this day falls on a Saturday this year
April
21/4/2025, Easter Monday:
taking eight days’ leave = 16 days off
(12/4/25–27/4/25)
May
taking one day of leave = four days off
(1/5/25–4/5/25)
29/5/2025, Ascension Day:
taking one day of leave = four days off
(29/5/25–1/6/25)
June
taking four days’ leave = nine days off
(7/6/25–13/6/25)
19/6/2025, Corpus Christi*:
taking one day of leave = four days off
(19/6/25–22/6/25)
August
taking four days’ leave = nine days off
(9/8/25–17/8/25)
October
taking four days’ leave = nine days off
(27/9/25–5/10/25)
31/10/2025, Reformation Day*:
taking four days’ leave = nine days off
(25/10/25–2/11/25)
November
falls on a Saturday this year
19/11/2025, Day of Repentance and Prayer*:
taking two days’ leave = five days off
(15/11/25–19/11/25 or 19/11/25–23/11/25)
December
26/12/2025, Boxing Day:
taking three days’ leave = nine days off
(20/12/25–28/12/25)
*The public holidays marked with * are not public holidays in all federal states. This calculation assumes a five-day week with the working days Monday to Friday.
