Aussies could boost their leave days in 2026 with just a little strategic planning.

Most Australians are entitled to 4 weeks, or 20 days, of annual leave every year.

It all comes down to scheduling your time off around public holidays and surrounding weekends.

Booking days off around the Easter long weekend, for example, could turn what would be four annual leave days into a 10-day break.

So what are the dates you should cross off your calendar?

In 2025, Christmas to New Year's comprises the longest period of potential time away, offering 16 days of holidays for eight days of annual leave.

Public holidays for this period land on December 25 and 26 and then again on January 1.

By booking seven days of annual leave - from December 22 to 24, then 29 to 31 - and one day on January 2, yo

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