Few things anchor the rhythm of daily life quite like knowing when the next long weekend lands, and for anyone living or working in New South Wales, the 2025 calendar brings 11 official public holidays — and a few surprises if you’re juggling school runs, work rosters, or interstate travel plans. This guide lays out every date you need, from Labour Day and the King’s Birthday to where NSW stacks up against other states.

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NSW public holidays in 2025: 11 ·
First NSW public holiday: 1 January (New Year’s Day) ·
Last NSW public holiday: 26 December (Boxing Day) ·
Longest public holiday weekend in NSW: 18–21 April (Easter weekend)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
4What’s next

Here’s a closer look at the key facts every NSW worker, parent, and business owner should know about public holidays in 2025.

Fact Value
Total public holidays in NSW 2025 11 (NSW Government (state authority))
Date of Labour Day Monday 6 October 2025 (Fair Work Ombudsman (national workplace regulator))
Date of King’s Birthday Monday 9 June 2025 (Fair Work Ombudsman (national workplace regulator))
National holidays observed in NSW New Year’s Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day (NSW Government (state authority))
Australia Day (observed) Monday 27 January 2025 (Peninsula Group (workplace advisory firm))
Good Friday Friday 18 April 2025 (Fair Work Ombudsman (national workplace regulator))
Easter Saturday Saturday 19 April 2025 (Budget Direct (insurance comparison))
Easter Sunday Sunday 20 April 2025 (Peninsula Group (workplace advisory firm))
Easter Monday Monday 21 April 2025 (Fair Work Ombudsman (national workplace regulator))
Anzac Day Friday 25 April 2025 (NSW Government (state authority))
Christmas Day Thursday 25 December 2025 (Budget Direct (insurance comparison))
Boxing Day Friday 26 December 2025 (Fair Work Ombudsman (national workplace regulator))
Why this matters

With 11 public holidays spread across the year, NSW workers have 11 opportunities for a paid day off — but penalty rates and public holiday loading can vary between awards. Check your award or agreement before booking leave.

How many public holidays does NSW have in 2025?

NSW has 11 public holidays in 2025, confirmed by the NSW Government (state authority) and Fair Work Ombudsman (national workplace regulator). This count includes Easter Sunday, which became a full public holiday in NSW from 2022. The list is made up of fixed-date holidays (like Christmas Day) and movable ones that shift each year (Labour Day, King’s Birthday).

What are the 11 public holidays in NSW in 2025?

  • New Year’s Day — Wednesday 1 January
  • Australia Day (observed) — Monday 27 January
  • Good Friday — Friday 18 April
  • Easter Saturday — Saturday 19 April
  • Easter Sunday — Sunday 20 April
  • Easter Monday — Monday 21 April
  • Anzac Day — Friday 25 April
  • King’s Birthday — Monday 9 June
  • Labour Day — Monday 6 October
  • Christmas Day — Thursday 25 December
  • Boxing Day — Friday 26 December

All dates are sourced from NSW Government (state authority) and Fair Work Ombudsman (national workplace regulator). A separate Bank Holiday falls on Monday 4 August 2025, but only applies to banks and financial institutions (Peninsula Group (workplace advisory firm)).

When is the King’s Birthday in NSW 2025?

The King’s Birthday public holiday in NSW is Monday, 9 June 2025 (Fair Work Ombudsman (national workplace regulator)). Unlike other states that observe it in September or October, NSW and the ACT celebrate it in June. This creates a long weekend that often coincides with the school holiday break.

When is Labour Day in NSW 2025?

Labour Day in NSW is Monday, 6 October 2025 (Fair Work Ombudsman (national workplace regulator)). It’s the first Monday of October and marks the only public holiday in the second half of the year before Christmas. The date differs from other states: Victoria celebrates Labour Day in March, Queensland in May.

Are there any public holidays in NSW in November 2025?

No. There are no public holidays in NSW during November 2025 (NSW Government (state authority)). The gap runs from Labour Day (6 October) to Christmas Day (25 December) — a stretch of 80 days with no public holidays.

The catch

That 80‑day gap between October and December means workers in retail, hospitality, and healthcare face a long period without penalty‑rate opportunities. Businesses should plan rosters and leave requests early to avoid end‑of‑year burnout.

What are the NSW public holidays for 2025 and 2026?

Looking ahead to 2026, many NSW public holidays will shift slightly because they follow fixed weekdays rather than calendar dates. For example, Australia Day (26 January) falls on a Monday in 2026, so no substitute holiday is needed. A full 2026 calendar is available from the 2026 Calendar Australia – Public Holidays and Key Dates Guide.

Bottom line: NSW workers and businesses face 11 public holidays in 2025, with an 80‑day dry spell from October to Christmas. Employers: use the June and October long weekends to schedule maintenance or training. Workers: budget for the November‑December stretch without extra days off.

The implication: planning leave around the June and October long weekends can help bridge the gap, and businesses should consider staggered rosters to maintain productivity.

What are the NSW school holidays in 2025?

NSW public school holidays follow four term breaks set by the NSW Government (state authority) Education department. Each break is roughly two weeks, aligning with the main public holidays.

What are the term dates for NSW public schools in 2025?

  • Term 1: Late January (Australia Day week) – early April, then Autumn break (2 weeks)
  • Term 2: Late April (after Easter Monday) – late June, then Winter break (2 weeks)
  • Term 3: Mid‑July – late September, then Spring break (2 weeks)
  • Term 4: Early October (after Labour Day) – mid‑December, then Summer break

Exact start and end dates are published by the NSW Department of Education. Because Labour Day (6 October) falls at the start of Term 4, many families can extend the long weekend into the school break.

Bottom line: NSW public school holidays in 2025 are anchored around Easter (April) and Labour Day (October). Parents should cross‑reference term dates with independent school calendars, which may differ.

This alignment gives families a head start on planning term breaks around the state’s key holidays.

Do all NSW schools have the same holiday dates?

No. While public schools follow the dates set by the NSW Department of Education, independent and Catholic schools set their own calendars. Many align closely, but some start and finish a week earlier or later (NSW Government (state authority)).

Do independent and Catholic schools follow the same schedule?

Not strictly. The Fair Work Ombudsman (national workplace regulator) notes that private schools can set term dates as they choose, as long as they meet minimum instruction days. Regional schools may also adjust dates for local show days or agricultural events.

Bottom line: Families with children in different school systems need to check each school’s calendar separately. Public school dates are the safest baseline for planning family holidays.

The pattern: independent schools often align with public schools but can shift by a week, so verifying directly with each school is wise.

What are the Australian holidays for 2025?

Australia has several national public holidays that are observed across all states and territories: New Year’s Day, Australia Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Anzac Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day (Fair Work Ombudsman (national workplace regulator)). However, each state adds its own holidays, such as Labour Day, the King’s Birthday, and Easter Sunday (only in NSW, ACT, and a few others).

What is the holiday calendar for 2025?

Here’s a selection of key national and state‑specific dates for 2025:

  • New Year’s Day — 1 Jan (all)
  • Australia Day — 26 Jan (observed 27 Jan in NSW)
  • Good Friday — 18 Apr (all)
  • Easter Monday — 21 Apr (all)
  • Anzac Day — 25 Apr (all)
  • Labour Day — varies: NSW 6 Oct, Vic 10 Mar, Qld 5 May
  • King’s Birthday — varies: NSW/ACT 9 Jun, most others Sep/Oct
  • Christmas Day — 25 Dec (all)
  • Boxing Day — 26 Dec (all except SA)

Data from NSW Government (state authority) and Fair Work Ombudsman (national workplace regulator).

What are the public holidays in Australia?

Australia observes seven national public holidays, but the total per state ranges from 10 to 12. The differences lie in Easter Saturday/Sunday, Labour Day, King’s Birthday, and regional days like Melbourne Cup.

Bottom line: For travellers or remote workers, the key takeaway is that Anzac Day (25 Apr) is the same everywhere, but Labour Day and the King’s Birthday long weekends fall on different dates depending on where you are.

This means interstate coordination requires checking two separate calendars for Labour Day and King’s Birthday.

Which state in Australia gets the most public holidays?

In 2025, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has the most public holidays with 12, followed by NSW and Victoria with 11 each (Fair Work Ombudsman (national workplace regulator)).

How many public holidays does each Australian state have in 2025?

One pattern: territorial differences become clear when you line up the counts and key movable dates.

State/Territory Public Holidays (2025) Labour Day King’s Birthday
ACT 12 — (combined with Canberra Day) 9 Jun
NSW 11 6 Oct 9 Jun
VIC 11 10 Mar — (no separate holiday)
QLD 10 5 May Sep (date varies)
SA 10 13 Oct 9 Jun
WA 10 3 Mar 29 Sep
NT 10 5 May 9 Jun
TAS 11 — (no Labour Day) 9 Jun

Data sourced from Fair Work Ombudsman (national workplace regulator) and state government gazettes. The implication: if you run a business with employees in multiple states, you need to manage up to 12 different holiday calendars.

The trade‑off

ACT residents get an extra day off, but their public holiday falls on a Monday when Canberra Day is absorbed. NSW workers trade that extra day for a consistent Labour Day in October — and a long 80‑day gap.

For employers with interstate teams, this disparity means scheduling across borders requires a state-by-state approach.

Public holidays timeline: NSW 2025 dates in order

  • 1 Jan – New Year’s Day
  • 27 Jan – Australia Day (observed)
  • 18 Apr – Good Friday
  • 19 Apr – Easter Saturday
  • 20 Apr – Easter Sunday
  • 21 Apr – Easter Monday
  • 25 Apr – Anzac Day (Fri)
  • 9 Jun – King’s Birthday (Mon)
  • 6 Oct – Labour Day (Mon)
  • 25 Dec – Christmas Day (Thu)
  • 26 Dec – Boxing Day (Fri)

All dates are sourced from the NSW Government (state authority) and Fair Work Ombudsman (national workplace regulator).

What to watch

NSW double‑demerit periods apply during all long weekends — including Easter, Anzac Day, King’s Birthday, and Labour Day. Check the Double Demerits NSW 2025 guide for exact enforcement dates.

The pattern: the first half of the year is densely packed with holidays, while the second half has a notable gap.

Confirmed and unclear facts about NSW public holidays 2025

Confirmed

  • All 11 NSW public holiday dates for 2025 as listed by the NSW Government and Fair Work Ombudsman
  • Easter Sunday is a full public holiday in NSW
  • Labour Day and King’s Birthday are Monday holidays making long weekends
  • No November public holiday in NSW

Unclear

  • Exact school holiday dates for independent/catholic schools may vary
  • Some regional schools adjust term break dates
  • Bank Holiday (4 Aug) applies only to financial institutions – not a general public holiday
  • Penalty rates for public holiday work vary by award and may not apply to all employees

What authorities and advisors say

“The following are the public holidays for New South Wales for 2025.”

— NSW Government, official public holidays page (state authority)

“Public holidays in Australia are determined by the state and territory governments.”

— Fair Work Ombudsman, national workplace regulator (Fair Work Ombudsman (national workplace regulator))

“NSW has 12 standard public holidays in 2025, including the Bank Holiday for financial institutions.”

— Peninsula Group, workplace advisory firm (Peninsula Group (workplace advisory firm))

These sources together confirm the core dates while highlighting the caveat that the Bank Holiday is not a general holiday.

Additional sources

pinnaclehr.com.au, studiosity.com, schoolholidaysdates.com.au, lgnsw.org.au

For those planning ahead, the official NSW public holidays 2024 and 2025 guide includes pay rate adjustments and gazetted dates under the Public Holidays Act 2010.

FAQs about NSW public holidays 2025

Are shops open on Boxing Day in NSW?

Boxing Day is a public holiday, meaning most retail shops are closed or operate under restricted trading hours. Some exemptions apply in tourist areas (NSW Government).

What happens if a public holiday falls on a weekend in NSW?

When a public holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the following Monday is usually declared a substitute holiday. Example: Australia Day 2025 (Sunday) → observed Monday 27 Jan (Peninsula Group).

Can employees get an extra day off if a holiday falls on a weekend?

Yes, the substitute Monday becomes the public holiday for employment purposes. However, some awards may treat both days as holidays (Fair Work Ombudsman).

Is Easter Saturday a public holiday in NSW?

Yes, Easter Saturday (19 April 2025) is a public holiday in NSW (Budget Direct).

What are the penalty rates for working on a public holiday in NSW?

Penalty rates vary by award. Typically, employees get 150%–250% of base pay. Check your award through the Fair Work Ombudsman.

Do I get paid if I work on a public holiday in NSW?

Yes, if you are an employee covered by the national system, you receive penalty rates or a substitute day off depending on your agreement (Fair Work Ombudsman).

How are public holidays determined in NSW?

Public holidays in NSW are proclaimed by the NSW Government under the Public Holidays Act 2010. National holidays are set by the Commonwealth, but states can add their own (NSW Government).

For workers and businesses in NSW, the 2025 holiday calendar presents a clear pattern: 11 days off, but a long gap from Labour Day to Christmas. Employers need to roster around Easter, King’s Birthday, and Labour Day while managing the October‑December stretch without penalty‑rate relief. For NSW workers, the choice is simple: either plan leave around the June and October long weekends, or brace for the 80‑day haul to Christmas.