Annual leave hack: turn 23 days into 50 days off in 2026

Remember that promise you made to yourself last year about more adventures, more freedom, and less work in 2026? Well 2026 is handing you the perfect opportunity on a silver platter—but only if you act fast. The calendar has aligned beautifully this year, with public holidays falling in all the right places to turn a modest 23 days of annual leave into a staggering 50 days off for van life freedom. Camplify makes it possible with thousands of vans to hire from local owners - but the best vans won't last forever. Those who secure their vans today will be the ones living their best lives throughout 2026. Don't let this year become another year of "I should have" and "maybe next time."

Here’s how to maximise your leave in 2026

Easter (3rd April - 6th April)

• When to take leave: From 30th March to 2nd April (Monday-Thursday) and 7th to 10th April (Tuesday-Friday) for 16 days of freedom using just 8 leave days.

• Where to go: April's mild autumn weather is perfect for the Great Ocean Road's dramatic coastline without summer crowds, Tasmania's spectacular fagus turning golden orange in the wilderness, or Queensland's coast from Brisbane to Byron Bay where water temps still hit 23-25°C for snorkelling.

Pack your motorhome, and hit Victoria's iconic Great Ocean Road.

See all the top spots Aussies are travelling to this Easter ->

The King's Birthday (8th June)

• When to take leave: From 9th to 12th June (Tuesday-Friday) for 9 days off using only 4 leave days.

• Where to go: June might be winter, but that's exactly when you should be chasing the sun in Tropical North Queensland, exploring Uluru's ancient landscapes under crystal-clear night skies perfect for stargazing, or whale watching along the NSW coast where dolphins play year-round at Port Stephens.

Palm trees, perfect temperatures and the open road in QLD's Tropical North.

Find vans in Tropical North Queensland ->

Labour Day (5th October)

• When to take leave: From October 6-9 (Tuesday-Friday) for another 9-day getaway with 4 leave days.

• Where to go: October brings Western Australia's legendary wildflower explosion painting entire valleys in technicolour, Victoria's High Country as snow melts and hiking trails reopen, and the Ikara-Flinders Ranges' otherworldly rock formations.

The Wheatbelt Way: Find some of the most incredible salt-lake landscapes on Earth within just a few hours of Perth.

Find vans in Western Australia ->

Christmas holidays (25th December, 28th December and 1st Jan 2027)

• When to take leave: From 21st to 24th December (Monday-Wednesday) and 29th to 31st December (Tuesday-Thursday) to stretch the festive period into 16 sun-soaked days for just 7 leave days.

• Where to go: For summer's grand finale in December, there's nothing quite like South Coast NSW's pristine beaches, Tasmania's perfect weather and dramatic landscapes, or Kangaroo Island's windswept Southern Ocean views and those iconic granite boulders that make you feel like you're on the edge of the world.

A Retro RV and a beachside campground? Chrissy holidays sorted.

Find vans on the South Coast of New South Wales ->

Now’s the time to lock in your 2026 adventures

That's 50 total days of adventure for 23 days of annual leave. These dates aren't a secret—they're public knowledge, which means every day you wait is another day someone else is booking the van you wanted for the dates you needed. The family-friendly layouts with bunks for the kids, the 4WD campervans that can take you off-grid to secret beaches, or the vans that offer delivery straight to your campground—they're all disappearing from availability calendars right now. Find your perfect van on camplify, submit your annual leave request and lock in your 2026 adventures before they become someone else's memories. Your future self will either thank you for booking now or regret that you waited.

Public holidays vary by state—check your local calendar when planning.