Double Your Annual Leave & Maximise Your Holidays in 2026 | South Australia
How to maximise your family holiday time off in 2026 if you live in South Australia.
It always pays to plan ahead when it comes to booking a family holiday for many reasons, such as cheaper flights, coordinated family catch ups and not missing out on your favourite shack by the sea. Parents working full time know how hard it is to plan around only 4 weeks of annual leave each year, but if you’re strategic with your leave request days you can extend that much needed holiday, or book in multiple breaks.
These annual leave hacks are great for school holiday periods when families with school age children are restricted to travelling. By using the guide below, book in your annual leave days on the dates highlighted in RED. The other days off are either weekends or public holidays.
The best tip is to remember to take advantage of any public holiday falling on a Monday or Friday by using four days of annual leave for a total of nine days off, such as Adelaide Cup Day in March, King’s Birthday in June and Labour Day in October.
JANUARY 2026
Book four annual leave days from 27-30 January for nine days off using the Australia Day public holiday Monday 26 January.
- Days off: Saturday 24 January to Sunday 1 February 2026
- Holiday length: 9 days
- Annual leave taken: 4 days
Book annual leave on these dates:
- Tuesday 27 January 2026
- Wednesday 28 January 2026
- Thursday 29 January 2026
- Friday 30 January 2026
MARCH 2026
For nine days off using the Adelaide Cup public holiday Monday 9 March, book four annual leave days from 10-13 March 2026.
- Days off: Saturday 7 to Sunday 15 March 2026
- Holiday length: 9 days
- Annual leave taken: 4 days
Book annual leave on these dates:
- Tuesday 10 March 2026
- Wednesday 11 March 2026
- Thursday 12 March 2026
- Friday 13 March 2026
APRIL 2026
Book four annual leave days from 7-10 April for a 10-day break over Easter.
- Days off: Good Friday 3 April to Sunday 12 April 2026
- Holiday length: 10 days
- Annual leave taken: 4 days
Book annual leave on these dates:
- Tuesday 7 April 2026
- Wednesday 8 April 2026
- Thursday 9 April 2025
- Friday 10 April 2025
JUNE 2026
For nine days off using the King’s Birthday public holiday Monday 8 June, book four annual leave days from 9 -12 June 2026.
- Days off: Saturday 6 June to Sunday 14 June 2026
- Holiday length: 9 days
- Annual leave taken: 4 days
Book annual leave on these dates:
- Tuesday 9 June 2026
- Wednesday 10 June 2026
- Thursday 11 June 2026
- Friday 12 June 2026
OCTOBER 2026
Book four annual leave days from 6-9 October 2026 for nine days off using the Labour Day public holiday Monday 5 October.
- Days off: Saturday 3 to Sunday 11 October 2026
- Holiday length: 9 days
- Annual leave taken: 4 days
Book annual leave on these dates:
- Tuesday 6 October 2026
- Wednesday 7 October 2026
- Thursday 8 October 2026
- Friday 9 October 2026
DECEMBER 2026
Book seven annual leave days 21-24 December and 29-31 December for a 16-day break over Christmas and New Year.
- Days off: Saturday 18 December 2026 to Sunday 2 January 2027
- Holiday length: 16 days
- Annual leave taken: 7 days
Book annual leave on these dates:
- Monday 21 December 2026
- Tuesday 22 December 2026
- Wednesday 23 December 2026
- Thursday 24 December 2026
- Tuesday 29 December 2026
- Wednesday 30 December 2026
- Friday 31 December 2026
At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.
Image Source: photos by Play & Go
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