Long weekends 2028 in South Australia

Public holidays 2028 in South Australia and what each one gives you

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

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

AdelaideiPhoto: Yu Chu Chin · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

• Saturday 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. It falls on a Saturday, so South Australia adds New Year's Day (additional) on Monday 3 January instead.
• Monday 3 January: New Year's 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 3 days off in a row without using any leave, 1 to 3 January.
• Wednesday 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 24 January and Tuesday 25 January off and you have 5 days in a row, 22 to 26 January.
• Monday 13 March: Adelaide Cup Day. Adelaide Cup Day is South Australia's March horse racing holiday. Racegoers head to Morphettville, and many locals use the long weekend for the Fringe and the coast. That makes 3 days off in a row without using any leave, 11 to 13 March.
• Friday 14 April: 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. That makes 4 days off in a row without using any leave, 14 to 17 April.
• Saturday 15 April: 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 South Australia's list has no weekday in lieu for it in 2028.
• Sunday 16 April: 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 South Australia's list has no weekday in lieu for it in 2028.
• Monday 17 April: 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. That makes 4 days off in a row without using any leave, 14 to 17 April.
• Tuesday 25 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. Take Monday 24 April off and you have 4 days in a row, 22 to 25 April.
• Monday 12 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. That makes 3 days off in a row without using any leave, 10 to 12 June.
• Monday 2 October: Labour 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. That makes 3 days off in a row without using any leave, 30 September to 2 October.
• Monday 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. That makes 4 days off in a row without using any leave, 23 to 26 December.
• Tuesday 26 December: Proclamation Day holiday. Proclamation Day marks the founding of the colony of South Australia in 1836. The holiday falls after Christmas, extending the summer break around the new year. You get 4 free days in a row, 23 to 26 December, with no leave needed.

The maths: days of annual leave in, days off out

With 1 day of annual leave the longest run you can build is 4 days, 22 to 25 April. Three days stretch to 9 days off (23 to 31 December). Five days, a typical week, become 12 days off around Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday and ANZAC Day, 14 to 25 April.

Ten days, the most this planner books in one go, give 18 days in a row, 8 to 25 April. 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.

How South Australia stacks up

The Australian Capital Territory has the most with 14 public holidays in 2028, Tasmania the fewest with 9. South Australia sits in between with 13.

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

Its best break, 22 to 25 April, returns 4.0 days off per day of leave. No other state or territory in our data does better this year.

South Australia in other years

2026 and 2027 are planned as well, each with its own dates and breaks.

iPhoto: JamesAviation · 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.