A new year often means a fresh calendar, and if you’re in New South Wales, those red-letter days for 2024 are worth knowing early. With 11 official statewide public holidays confirmed by the NSW Government, planning everything from Easter getaways to the October long weekend is a lot easier when you have the exact dates in hand.

4 related posts

Total statewide public holidays in NSW in 2024: 11 ·
Public holidays that always fall on a Monday in NSW: 3 (New Year’s Day, King’s Birthday, Labour Day) ·
Longest weekend period in NSW 2024: Easter (Good Friday to Easter Monday, 4 days off for many) ·
NSW government source for official holiday dates: nsw.gov.au

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Local public holidays (e.g., city-specific shows) are not included in this statewide list — check local council websites (NSW Government)
  • Whether some holidays will be observed on substituted dates in certain regions — refer to NSW Government for final proclamations
3Timeline signal
  • First holiday: New Year’s Day on 1 January 2024 (NSW Government)
  • Last holiday: Boxing Day on 26 December 2024 (NSW Government)
4What’s next

Six key facts at a glance — the count, the Monday holidays, and the bookends of the year’s calendar.

Fact Value
Total number of NSW public holidays 11
Public holidays that always fall on a Monday 3 (New Year’s Day, King’s Birthday, Labour Day)
First public holiday of 2024 New Year’s Day – Mon 1 Jan
Last public holiday of 2024 Boxing Day – Thu 26 Dec
Closest public holiday to Easter Good Friday 29 Mar – Easter Monday 1 Apr (4-day span)
Number of public holidays in March 2024 3 (Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday)

The pattern: three March holidays cluster around Easter, while Monday holidays give workers three guaranteed long weekends across the year.

What Are the 11 Public Holidays in New South Wales in 2024?

Full list of NSW statewide public holidays for 2024

Dates for each holiday

Twelve months, 11 holidays. The spread is uneven — March alone holds three (Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday), while other months like February and November have none. For anyone planning a year ahead, the cluster around Easter and the two December holidays create the most scheduling density.

The upshot

Workers eyeing maximum time off: the Easter four-day window and the Christmas–Boxing Day double-header are your best bets for extended breaks without dipping into annual leave.

The implication: with three public holidays in March alone, anyone planning travel or childcare in autumn should book early — accommodation near coastal NSW tends to fill fast around Easter.

How Many Public Holidays Were There in NSW in 2024?

Count of statewide public holidays in New South Wales

New South Wales officially recognizes 11 statewide public holidays in 2024, as confirmed by the NSW Government. This count excludes substitution days for weekends and regional variations.

Additional local public holidays in some regions

Some local government areas declare additional public holidays — the Bankstown Cup or Tattersall’s Club Gold Cup, for instance — but these are not statewide. The Public Holiday NSW guide notes that regional holidays are added as announced by local authorities.

The trade-off: NSW’s 11 statewide holidays put it among the highest in Australia, but residents in some areas may get an extra day or two depending on local racing or show schedules.

What Is the October Long Weekend in NSW?

Labour Day – Monday 7 October 2024

Labour Day in NSW falls on the first Monday in October — 7 October 2024 per Local Government NSW. It creates the October long weekend, one of three Monday-based breaks in the state.

What is Labour Day celebrating in NSW?

The holiday commemorates the eight-hour day movement, which campaigned for a limit on working hours. Unlike Labour Day in some other states, which falls in May, NSW’s October date ties to the historical adoption of the eight-hour day by the state’s stonemasons in 1856. The NSW Government lists it as a standing public holiday under the Public Holidays Act 2010.

Why this matters: the October long weekend is the last Monday public holiday of the year before Christmas, making it a popular window for spring getaways and long-weekend road trips across the state.

What to watch

If you rely on public transport in regional areas, check for reduced services on Labour Day — many council-run bus routes operate on a Sunday timetable that day.

How to View Public Holidays on Your Calendar for 2024

Add NSW public holidays to Google Calendar

In Google Calendar, open Settings > Add calendar > Browse calendars of interest > Public holidays > Australia > New South Wales. The holidays will appear automatically.

Add holidays to Apple Calendar

On iOS and macOS, go to Calendar > Preferences > Holidays > enable “New South Wales”. The system syncs directly with Apple’s holiday database.

Download NSW public holiday PDF for 2024

The NSW Government website offers an official PDF download of the public holiday list — handy for printing or pinning to the office noticeboard.

The catch: neither calendar service auto-updates if a regional substitution day is declared mid-year. For the single source of truth, always check nsw.gov.au.

Which Australian State Has the Most Public Holidays?

Public holiday count by Australian state in 2024

NSW’s 11 statewide public holidays put it at the top tier alongside Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory. The difference often hinges on local holidays — some states declare extra days for events like the Melbourne Cup.

NSW compared to other states

According to Budget Direct, NSW has among the highest number of public holidays of any Australian state in 2024. The ACT matches with 11, while other states like Queensland and Western Australia sit slightly lower depending on Easter Tuesday or local show holidays.

The pattern: the eastern seaboard states tend to cluster around similar counts, but the real variation comes from regional and show holidays rather than statewide proclamations. For NSW residents, the 11 statewide days represent a solid baseline — anything extra depends on your local council.

Timeline: NSW Public Holidays 2024

Bottom line: NSW’s 11 public holidays in 2024 are confirmed by the NSW Government. Workers and families planning ahead should target the Easter four-day stretch and the Christmas–Boxing Day double as the year’s longest breaks. For anyone managing schedules, sync via Google or Apple Calendar, but always verify against nsw.gov.au for substitute days.

“The NSW Government proclaims public holidays annually under the Public Holidays Act 2010.”

NSW Government (state authority)

“Sydney’s public holidays are a key consideration for travel planning, especially around Easter and Christmas.”

Sydney.com (tourism guide for the city)

For NSW residents, the 11 statewide public holidays in 2024 are a known quantity — but the real value lies in planning around the clusters. The March Easter block and the December double-header offer the most time off with minimal leave. Anyone trying to stretch their annual leave: combine the Easter four days with a couple of personal days, and you could turn it into a full week away.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Are NSW public holidays the same every year?

Most are — New Year’s Day, Australia Day, Anzac Day, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day fall on fixed dates. Easter moves each year, while King’s Birthday and Labour Day are fixed to specific Mondays. The NSW Government publishes an annual proclamation.

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

Under the Public Holidays Act 2010, when Christmas Day or Boxing Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, an additional public holiday is declared on the following Monday or Tuesday. For other holidays, the NSW Government may declare a substitute day.

Do all businesses have to close on NSW public holidays?

No. Many retail, hospitality, and service businesses remain open, but penalty rates apply for employees who work. The NSW Government notes that holiday pay and closures are governed by industrial awards and agreements.

What is the difference between a public holiday and a bank holiday?

In NSW, a bank holiday is separate — 5 August 2024 applies only to financial institutions per Public Holiday NSW. Public holidays affect all workers.

How are public holidays determined in New South Wales?

Under the Public Holidays Act 2010, the Governor of NSW proclaims public holidays annually, typically based on standing dates plus any variations.

Do school holidays always align with public holidays in NSW?

Not always. School term dates are set by the NSW Department of Education and may overlap with public holidays, but they are not identical. For example, Easter often falls within school holidays, but Labour Day in October usually does not.

For NSW residents planning their 2024 calendar, the choice is clear: sync the 11 statewide holidays into your digital calendar now, check local council listings for any regional extras, and book accommodation early for the Easter and Christmas windows — or risk paying peak-season prices.

Bottom line: NSW’s 11 public holidays in 2024 are confirmed by the NSW Government. Workers and families planning ahead should target the Easter four-day stretch and the Christmas–Boxing Day double as the year’s longest breaks. For anyone managing schedules, sync via Google or Apple Calendar, but always verify against nsw.gov.au for substitute days.