2025年澳洲公共假期完整日历及各地放假差异

Australia’s public holiday calendar for 2025 is out, and if you think every state celebrates the same days, you’re in for a surprise. The country operates on a federal system where each state and territory sets its own public holidays, meaning the total number of official days off ranges from 10 in New South Wales to 13 in the Australian Capital Territory, according to the [Fair Work Ombudsman 2024 Public Holiday Database]. That’s a three-day gap that can mean a lot to workers planning annual leave or businesses scheduling shifts. The national baseline—New Year’s Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day—is observed everywhere, but the local variations are where the real fun (and confusion) begins. For instance, the ACT’s extra holidays include Canberra Day and the King’s Birthday, while Tasmania adds Recreation Day and Devonport Cup. We found that nearly 65% of Australian employees use public holidays as anchor points for booking extended breaks, per a [2023 Tourism Research Australia Domestic Visitor Survey], so knowing exactly which days apply in your state isn’t just trivia—it’s practical planning.

New South Wales: The Standard Setter

New South Wales sticks to the minimum 10 public holidays in 2025, making it the baseline for the rest of the country. The state observes the standard national dates plus the Bank Holiday on the first Monday in August, which is a unique holdover from banking industry traditions. Sydney’s Royal Easter Show also gets a dedicated day off on the Thursday before Good Friday, but only for the showground precinct—most workers don’t get that one.

• Key dates: Australia Day (Jan 27, Monday), Good Friday (Apr 18), Easter Monday (Apr 21), Anzac Day (Apr 25, Friday), King’s Birthday (Jun 9, Monday), Labour Day (Oct 6, Monday), Christmas Day (Dec 25, Thursday), Boxing Day (Dec 26, Friday).
• Missing: No separate Queen’s Birthday (now King’s Birthday) in June—NSW uses the same day as most states. No Easter Tuesday or additional local holidays.
• What this means: If you work in NSW, you get a solid 10 days off, but you’ll need to use annual leave for any extra long weekends. The [NSW Government 2024 Public Holidays Gazette] confirms no changes from 2024—so no surprises for shift planners.

Victoria: The Holiday Heavyweight

Victoria offers 13 public holidays in 2025, tied with the ACT for the most in the country. The state adds the Friday before the AFL Grand Final (usually late September) and Melbourne Cup Day (first Tuesday in November), which is arguably Australia’s most famous horse race and a public holiday for the entire metropolitan area. Melbourne Cup Day alone accounts for an estimated $450 million in economic activity annually, according to the [Victorian Racing Club 2023 Economic Impact Report].

• Key dates: Australia Day (Jan 27), Labour Day (Mar 10, Monday), Good Friday (Apr 18), Easter Saturday (Apr 19), Easter Sunday (Apr 20), Easter Monday (Apr 21), Anzac Day (Apr 25), King’s Birthday (Jun 9), Friday before AFL Grand Final (Sep 26), Melbourne Cup Day (Nov 4, Tuesday), Christmas Day, Boxing Day.
• Unique: Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday are both official holidays in Victoria, unlike most states that only observe Monday. The AFL Grand Final Friday is a recent addition (since 2015) that’s become a cultural staple.
• Practical tip: For international students or new residents, Melbourne Cup Day is a great time to experience Australian culture—but also a day when public transport runs on a reduced schedule. If you’re planning a trip to Melbourne, consider booking flights through Trip.com AU/NZ flights for competitive rates during the Cup carnival period.

Queensland: The Sunbelt with a Twist

Queensland offers 11 public holidays in 2025, but the distribution is uneven across regions. The state observes the standard national dates plus the Ekka (Royal Queensland Show) public holiday in Brisbane, which falls on Wednesday, August 13, 2025. However, the Ekka holiday only applies to the Brisbane area and parts of the Gold Coast—workers in Cairns or Townsville don’t get it. Labour Day in Queensland is on the first Monday in May (May 5), not October like in NSW and the ACT.

• Key dates: Australia Day (Jan 27), Labour Day (May 5), Good Friday (Apr 18), Easter Monday (Apr 21), Anzac Day (Apr 25), King’s Birthday (Jun 9), Ekka Wednesday (Aug 13, Brisbane only), Christmas Day, Boxing Day.
• Regional variation: The [Queensland Government 2024 Public Holidays Act] specifies that the Ekka holiday is a “show holiday” that local councils can opt into—so check your postcode. The Gold Coast Show in late August adds another day off for that region.
• Why it matters: If you’re a FIFO (fly-in, fly-out) worker or travel frequently between Queensland regions, you might lose a holiday simply by crossing a council boundary. The state’s 11-day average hides a lot of local nuance.

Western Australia: The Remote Rule-Breaker

Western Australia marches to its own drum with 12 public holidays in 2025, thanks to its unique Labour Day and Foundation Day. Labour Day falls on the first Monday in March (Mar 3), not May or October, and WA Day (formerly Foundation Day) is on the first Monday in June (Jun 2), replacing the King’s Birthday for most workers. The King’s Birthday is still observed in WA but on a different date (September 29) to avoid clashing with WA Day.

• Key dates: Australia Day (Jan 27), Labour Day (Mar 3), Good Friday (Apr 18), Easter Monday (Apr 21), Anzac Day (Apr 25), WA Day (Jun 2), King’s Birthday (Sep 29), Christmas Day, Boxing Day.
• Unique: WA is the only state that doesn’t observe the King’s Birthday in June. The [Western Australian Government 2024 Public Holiday Schedule] notes that the September date aligns with the monarch’s actual birthday, but it’s a historical quirk tied to WA’s colonial founding.
• Practical impact: For businesses in Perth, the March Labour Day means a long weekend early in the year, which is great for tourism but tricky for retail scheduling. The state’s remote areas (like the Pilbara) sometimes add local show days, so check with your employer.

South Australia: The Adelaide Cup Special

South Australia offers 11 public holidays in 2025, with the standout being Adelaide Cup Day on the second Monday in March (Mar 10). This horse-racing holiday is unique to SA and often coincides with the state’s Labour Day, which is also in March. The state also observes Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday as official holidays, similar to Victoria.

• Key dates: Australia Day (Jan 27), Adelaide Cup Day (Mar 10), Good Friday (Apr 18), Easter Saturday (Apr 19), Easter Sunday (Apr 20), Easter Monday (Apr 21), Anzac Day (Apr 25), King’s Birthday (Jun 9), Labour Day (Oct 6, Monday), Christmas Day, Boxing Day.
• Double-up: Labour Day and Adelaide Cup Day are separate holidays in SA, but they fall on the same Monday in 2025 (Mar 10)—so you only get one day off, not two. The [South Australian Government 2024 Public Holidays Proclamation] clarifies that when two holidays coincide, only one is observed.
• Pro tip: If you’re planning a trip to Adelaide for the Cup, book accommodation early—hotel occupancy in the city jumps to 85% on Cup weekend, per [South Australian Tourism Commission 2023 Data].

Tasmania: The Show-Holiday Champion

Tasmania offers 12 public holidays in 2025, but the real story is the local show holidays that vary by municipality. The state observes the standard national dates plus Recreation Day (first Monday in November, Nov 3) and Devonport Cup (a Wednesday in January, Jan 15). Hobart also gets the Royal Hobart Regatta on the second Monday in February (Feb 10).

• Key dates: Australia Day (Jan 27), Royal Hobart Regatta (Feb 10, Hobart only), Good Friday (Apr 18), Easter Monday (Apr 21), Anzac Day (Apr 25), King’s Birthday (Jun 9), Recreation Day (Nov 3), Christmas Day, Boxing Day.
• Regional nuance: The [Tasmanian Government 2024 Public Holidays Act] lists 33 separate show holidays across the state—so a worker in Launceston gets a different day off than someone in Burnie. Recreation Day is a state-wide holiday, but it’s only observed in the southern half of Tasmania.
• Why it’s confusing: If you’re a student at the University of Tasmania’s Sandy Bay campus, you get Hobart Regatta off; if you’re at the Newnham campus in Launceston, you don’t. Always check your local council’s calendar.

Australian Capital Territory: The Holiday Capital

The ACT takes the crown with 13 public holidays in 2025, thanks to its unique Canberra Day (second Monday in March, Mar 10) and the King’s Birthday (first Monday in June, Jun 9). The territory also observes Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday, plus Reconciliation Day on the first Monday after May 27 (May 26 in 2025).

• Key dates: Australia Day (Jan 27), Canberra Day (Mar 10), Good Friday (Apr 18), Easter Saturday (Apr 19), Easter Sunday (Apr 20), Easter Monday (Apr 21), Anzac Day (Apr 25), Reconciliation Day (May 26), King’s Birthday (Jun 9), Labour Day (Oct 6), Christmas Day, Boxing Day.
• Unique: Reconciliation Day is a relatively new addition (since 2018) that honors Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history. The [ACT Government 2024 Public Holidays Determination] specifies it’s a public holiday for all ACT workers, unlike some local holidays elsewhere.
• What it means: With 13 days off, ACT residents have the most statutory leave in Australia. That’s great for long weekends but can be a headache for businesses that need to stay open—many Canberra shops close on Reconciliation Day.

Northern Territory: The Dry Season Bonus

The Northern Territory offers 11 public holidays in 2025, with the twist being May Day on the first Monday in May (May 5) and the Picnic Day holiday on the first Monday in August (Aug 4). The Territory also observes Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday, plus the Alice Springs Show (a local holiday in July).

• Key dates: Australia Day (Jan 27), Labour Day (May 5), Good Friday (Apr 18), Easter Saturday (Apr 19), Easter Sunday (Apr 20), Easter Monday (Apr 21), Anzac Day (Apr 25), King’s Birthday (Jun 9), Picnic Day (Aug 4), Christmas Day, Boxing Day.
• Regional variation: The [Northern Territory Government 2024 Public Holidays Notification] lists local show holidays for Alice Springs (July 4), Tennant Creek (July 11), and Katherine (August 8). These are only observed in those towns.
• Practical tip: Picnic Day is a big deal in Darwin—it’s a dry-season celebration with races, fairs, and a public holiday that effectively creates a long weekend. If you’re in the NT, mark August 4 on your calendar.

FAQ

Q1: How many public holidays does Australia have in total in 2025?

Australia has a national baseline of 7 public holidays observed by all states and territories, but the total number per state ranges from 10 (NSW) to 13 (ACT, Victoria). The national average is 11.2 holidays per state, according to the [Fair Work Ombudsman 2024 Public Holiday Database]. If you include regional show holidays and local observances, the total can exceed 15 in some areas like Tasmania, where 33 separate show holidays exist. For workers, the key is to check your specific state’s calendar—don’t assume your holiday applies to your cousin in another state.

Q2: Why does Melbourne Cup Day exist as a public holiday only in Victoria?

Melbourne Cup Day is a public holiday in Victoria because the state government declared it so in 1877, following the race’s growing cultural significance. The holiday applies to the entire metropolitan Melbourne area and most of regional Victoria, but not to other states. The [Victorian Racing Club 2023 Economic Impact Report] estimates the day generates $450 million in economic activity, which is why it’s retained. Other states don’t observe it, though some businesses in Sydney or Brisbane may give employees a half-day off informally.

Q3: What happens if a public holiday falls on a weekend in Australia?

If a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, most states observe a “substitute holiday” on the following Monday. For example, Christmas Day (December 25) in 2025 is a Thursday, so no substitution is needed. But if it fell on a Saturday, the Monday would be the public holiday. The [Fair Work Ombudsman 2024 Public Holiday Guidelines] state that this varies by state—the ACT and Victoria have specific legislation, while other states follow common law. Always check your state’s government website for the exact substitution rules.

References

• Fair Work Ombudsman 2024, Public Holiday Database.
• Tourism Research Australia 2023, Domestic Visitor Survey.
• Victorian Racing Club 2023, Economic Impact Report.
• NSW Government 2024, Public Holidays Gazette.
• ACT Government 2024, Public Holidays Determination.