Long weekends 2027 in the Northern Territory

Every public holiday in the Northern Territory in 2027

Here is each day off in date order, what it marks, and the quickest way to turn it into a longer break.

AustraliaiPhoto: DXR · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

SydneyiPhoto: Bernard Gagnon · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

• Friday 1 January: New Year's Day. New Year's Day follows the fireworks over Sydney Harbour and other cities. It falls in the middle of summer holidays, peak time for the beach and camping. You get 3 free days in a row, 1 to 3 January, with no leave needed.
• Tuesday 26 January: Australia Day. Australia Day on 26 January marks the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788 and is a day of barbecues, beach days and citizenship ceremonies, as well as reflection for many First Nations people. It falls in the middle of summer holidays. Take Monday 25 January off and you have 4 days in a row, 23 to 26 January.
• Friday 26 March: Good Friday. Good Friday opens the Easter long weekend, when most shops close. Easter often overlaps with autumn school holidays, so it is one of the busiest travel times of the year. You get 4 free days in a row, 26 to 29 March, with no leave needed.
• Saturday 27 March: Easter Saturday. Easter Saturday, the day after Good Friday, is a public holiday in several states and territories. Most shops open with reduced hours as families start the long Easter weekend. It falls on a Saturday, and the Northern Territory's list has no weekday in lieu for it in 2027.
• Sunday 28 March: Easter Sunday. Easter Sunday is a public holiday in some states and territories. Families gather for egg hunts and long lunches in the middle of the four day Easter weekend. It falls on a Sunday, and the Northern Territory's list has no weekday in lieu for it in 2027.
• Monday 29 March: Easter Monday. Easter Monday closes the four day Easter weekend across Australia. Roads back from the coast and the bush are at their busiest in the afternoon. You get 4 free days in a row, 26 to 29 March, with no leave needed.
• Monday 26 April: Anzac Day. Anzac Day on 25 April remembers Australians and New Zealanders who served and died in war. Dawn services and marches come first, followed by two up games in pubs in the afternoon. You get 3 free days in a row, 24 to 26 April, with no leave needed.
• Monday 3 May: May Day. Labour Day honours the labour movement and the eight hour day. Its date differs between states and territories, from March to October, and it always creates a long weekend. You get 3 free days in a row, 1 to 3 May, with no leave needed.
• Monday 14 June: King's Birthday. The King's Birthday gives a long weekend in June in most states, and later in the year in Queensland and Western Australia. In June it marks the start of the ski season. You get 3 free days in a row, 12 to 14 June, with no leave needed.
• Monday 2 August: Picnic Day. Picnic Day on the first Monday of August is a Northern Territory tradition dating back to railway workers' picnics. The Harbour to Harbour race at Darwin and the dry season weather make it a great long weekend. You get 3 free days in a row, 31 July to 2 August, with no leave needed.
• Saturday 25 December: Christmas Day. Christmas in Australia lands in summer: lunches outdoors, seafood and beach days. It opens the long summer school holidays, the peak season for coastal stays. It falls on a Saturday, so the Northern Territory adds Christmas Day (additional) on Monday 27 December instead.
• Sunday 26 December: Boxing Day. Boxing Day brings the start of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, the Boxing Day cricket test in Melbourne and post Christmas sales, in the middle of the summer holidays. It falls on a Sunday, so the Northern Territory adds Christmas Day (additional) on Monday 27 December instead.
• Monday 27 December: Christmas Day (additional). An extra public holiday given when the holiday itself falls on a weekend. Workers get the weekday off instead, so the long weekend still happens. You get 4 free days in a row, 25 to 28 December, with no leave needed.
• Tuesday 28 December: Boxing Day (additional). An extra public holiday given when the holiday itself falls on a weekend. Workers get the weekday off instead, so the long weekend still happens. That makes 4 days off in a row without using any leave, 25 to 28 December.

What 1 to 10 days of annual leave get you

With 1 day of annual leave the longest run you can build is 4 days, 23 to 26 January. Three days stretch to 10 days off (25 December 2027 to 3 January 2028). Five days, a typical week, become 11 days off around Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Christmas Day (additional) and Boxing Day (additional), 18 to 28 December.

iPhoto: Frances76 at English Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Ten days, the most this planner books in one go, give 18 days in a row, 11 to 28 December. For nine days or more away you need 3 days of annual leave.

Four weeks of annual leave is twenty working days. Two days at Easter and three over Christmas and New Year still leave three full weeks for a big trip.

The Northern Territory compared with other states and territories

The Australian Capital Territory has the most with 16 public holidays in 2027, Tasmania the fewest with 10. The Northern Territory sits in between with 14.

TasmaniaiPhoto: Charles J. Sharp · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Its best break, 23 to 26 January, returns 4.0 days off per day of leave. No other state or territory in our data does better this year.

The Northern Territory in other years

2026 and 2028 are planned as well, each with its own dates and breaks.

iPhoto: Виктор Пинчук · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Holiday dates move every year: fixed-date days change their weekday, and Easter moves between late March and late April, which is why the best breaks are never the same twice.