What have AUS public holidays got in store for you? 2020 has got off to a good start and like most expats living and working in Australia; you have probably hit the ground running. Another thing that has already taken off at high speed is the days that are ticking off the calendar. It seems as if Christmas 2020 is just around the corner, but hang on…aren’t there a few public holidays we need to get to enjoy first? Of course, South African public holidays aren’t going to serve you well in Australia, but that doesn’t mean that you will miss out. Australia too has a plethora of public holidays lined up that will make getting through the work year just a little bit easier. You might want to take advantage of these upcoming AUS public holidays alone or with the family – either way, they are bound to be a treat.
Public holidays in Australia: How National & State/Territory Declared Public Holidays in Australia Work
If you think you can just play it by ear when it comes to public holidays in AUS, think again. The system is a little more complicated in Australia and so you need to put some effort into determining which holidays you will get to enjoy and when too. When it comes to public holidays, Australia does things a little differently – that’s a fact. There are National Public Holidays that are in place as follows that everyone gets to enjoy at the same time:
- New Year’s Day – 1 January.
- Australia Day – 26 January (in 2020 this will be on 27 January as 26 January is a Sunday).
- Good Friday – 10 April.
- Easter Monday – 13 April.
- Anzac Day – 25 April.
- Christmas Day – 25 December.
- Boxing Day – 26 December in some territories and 28 December in others.
But these are not the only public holidays available to you. Then there are other Public Holidays, such as Labour Day and the Queen’s Birthday that are determined by the various states and territory governments. What does this mean? It means that some states celebrate the same public holiday on completely different dates. Some states might not celebrate every single public holiday too!
It doesn’t have to be overwhelmingly difficult though. The Australian government does what it can to ensure that its people know precisely which holidays are allotted to them and when. Calendar printing must be hard in AUS!
The biggest tip one can follow is to spend a bit of time consulting with an AUS public holidays calendar that’s local, just to make sure that a public holiday you are keen on enjoying is actually declared in your particular state and territory. It is also best to ask your employer for a list of the public holidays that will be observed by the company for the year. This will ensure that you don’t make any mistakes.
NSW Public Holidays 2020 & Public Holidays QLD; for Labour Day & the Queen’s Birthday
In New South Wales, Labour Day is celebrated on the 5th of October 2020, whereas it is celebrated on the 6th of May 2020, in Queensland. The Queen’s Birthday is celebrated on the 8th of June in New South Wales and on the 5th of October in 2020 in Queensland. If it’s starting to sound a tad confusing, you should take a look at the official publication of dates as listed on the Australian Government website’s Public Holiday’s page.
What to Do on Public Holidays in Australia
Now that you have a better idea of the public holidays that will affect you in Australia, it’s time to put a bit of thought into what you will do. There’s plenty to see and do in Australia over the public holidays. New South Wales offers a variety of options for people with families in particular. This area is quite popular for the Easter Holidays, Australia Day (28 January in NSW) and the Queen’s Birthday. In New South Wales the family can enjoy an Aboriginal culture tour, a visit to the Blue Mountains National Park or Dorrigo National Park, or even spend a bit of time at one of the many attractions including Bondi Beach, Port Jackson Bay, The Rocks markets, and Taronga Zoo.
Another firm favourite for public holiday festivities is Queensland which offers a great day outdoors. Spend some time exploring the Great Barrier Reef, Fraser Island, Daintree Rainforest, or the Glass House Mountains on the Sunshine Coast – you can’t go wrong. Queensland is especially popular for families looking to get back to nature on their days off. Here you will find the perfect opportunity at the likes of the Springbrook National Park, Lamington National Park, and the Noosa National Park to name a few. Whether it’s just for the day or camping for the weekend, you probably won’t feel like you’re too far from home as fauna and flora abound in these areas.
Of course, like any public holiday, you might just want to rest up and recuperate before you head back to work. In which case it is completely acceptable to celebrate your entire public holiday from the comfort of your couch!
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