How to hack your public holidays in 2022 and get 34 days off
Exclude
By Jarrod Meakins
Public holidays. Those little north stars we look forward to as we plough through another year – but have you ever considered how to hack your public holidays for 2022?
The maths is simple. You take only 14 days of annual leave (we’re leaving a few spare this year), carry the good times, add the life-changing experiences and turn them in to 34 glorious days off. That’s more than a month off for half the price.
Better yet, they’re spread throughout the year so you can visit a bunch of Queensland destinations, with a new mini-break rolling around almost every three months. Let’s go hack those calendars!
January – new year, new experiences
Lady Musgrave HQ. Photo by @travellerkate
Public Holidays: Australia Day, 26 January.
Days to take annual leave: 24, 25, 27, and 28 January to score nine days for the price of four.
Where to go: Somewhere new.
It’s a new year, so why go on a holiday you’ve already experienced? With so many tours, attractions, and accommodation options opening across Queensland in 2021, it’s time to check out something new.
In the Southern Great Barrier Reef, you can spend the night bunked aboard Lady Musgrave HQ in the sheltered lagoon of Lady Musgrave Island. While in Bundaberg, shift from the reef to the bush, and spend your last few nights exploring Splitters Farm, a 160-acre property 10 minutes north of Bundaberg.
Perfect for families, this working farm has deluxe glamping tents, a glampervan for hire, as well as powered and unpowered sites. Along with rescued animals, the farm is home to wallabies, platypus, barramundi and more than 150 bird species.
For a stay amongst the tropics, head to Cairns, in particular the dreamy Silky Oaks Lodge, located in the Daintree Rainforest. This luxury Bailie Lodges property encourages visitors to immerse themselves in the rainforest, with signature experiences including guided indigenous walks to learn about the flora and fauna, food presentations showcasing native ingredients, and kayaking, swimming and snorkelling experiences in the Mossman River.
Fancy time in the city? In Brisbane, you can check in to Hotel X, a five star hotel in Fortitude Valley that focuses on the unexpected, or on the Gold Coast you could stay at the Coast’s first sustainable boutique luxury motel, the Mysa Motel. If you want something with a slower pace, unwind with a stay at Belles on Ballow on Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island).
Looking for more of a thrill? How about a swim with a crocodile or throwing yourself out of a helicopter above the Gold Coast? No matter what style of holiday you crave in January, there’s a new Queensland experience ready to be explored.
April - an extended Easter break
Public Holidays: Easter and Anzac Day, April 15-18 and April 25.
Days to take annual leave: 19-22 April, turning four days into 11.
Where to go: Island hopping from the Whitsundays.
11 days is a serious stretch of holiday, and across three neighbouring regions you can explore seven very different Queensland islands in under two weeks.
Start by flying to the Whitsundays for three nights and staying at your island of choice – Hamilton, Hayman, Daydream, or Long Island (with Elysian Retreat or Palm Bay Resort). Then add on a trip to Whitsunday Island and Hook Island with Ocean Rafting. Three down.
Next, hop back on the mainland (not counting this as an island), and head slightly south to Mackay for two nights and join the brand new Red Cat Adventures Wildcat Mackay tour that explores a number of islands (and some other secret spots) off the coast including Keswick, Brampton, St Bees and Scawfell islands.
Continuing south, stop in at the quaint, laidback seaside town of Yeppoon. To find the perfect place to stay, check out our complete Yeppoon accommodation guide.
From here, set your sights on Pumpkin Island, a 100% solar powered beauty of an island that takes a maximum of 32 guests. Swim, snorkel, or simply rest up in a hammock - Pumpkin Island is the perfect place to disconnect.
For the final island adventure, join the team at Keppel Explorer for a small boat tour around the Keppel Islands, where you might get the chance to swim with turtles, manta rays, and enjoy secluded beaches all to yourself.
Seven islands. 11 days. Not bad!
The mid-year long weekends
Public Holidays: Any of Labour Day, Queens Birthday, and other mid-year public holidays.
Days to take annual leave: We're leaving HR out of this one, no leave required.
Where to go: Brisbane and the Scenic Rim.
For the mid-year public holidays, we’re going to leave your leave balance alone with two locations that are perfect for three-day itineraries. Of course, you can add a few days to any of these, or even combine them if you like.
The first location, perfect for winter, is the Scenic Rim. As part of Lonely Planet’s Best of Travel 2022, the Scenic Rim was named as one of the Top 10 Regions of the World to visit next year, and it’s only 90 minutes from Brisbane.
Home to six national parks, multiple glamping accommodation options and ecolodges, 25 wineries, many unique gourmet encounters, the World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforest and the perfect amount of country character, there’s no wonder the region piqued the interest of Lonely Planet.
Picking the perfect three days is different for every traveller, so start by checking out this three-day food-lovers itinerary, and these 11 unforgettable experiences.
Queensland's capital city, Brisbane, continues to evolve, with a raft of new products, incredible boutique hotels, and a growing cultural scene setting the pace.
To create your perfect Brisbane long-weekend itinerary simply: Choose where to stay, add on one or two of the best guided tours, find your must-visit location for a day trip and then sift through a range of incredible new restaurants to round-off an amazing few days.
Christmas - the big end of year break
Public Holidays: Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day.
Days to take annual leave: 17 December to 3 January, turning eight days into 18.
Where to go: Cairns & Great Barrier Reef.
In 2022, take Christmas to the tropics. Traditionalists might just melt at the idea, but it's the perfect location for an end of year holiday like no other.
Picture a pavlova topped with fresh tropical fruit picked from Rusty’s Markets. Fresh seafood off the Prawn Star trawler in Marlin Marina (or dine in at any of these restaurants), and your Boxing Day cricket match is played on Four Mile beach in Port Douglas where the square leg fielder can take shade under a palm tree.
The beauty of this region is its diversity. You can explore at leisure the townships of Cairns, Port Douglas, and Palm Cove. Snorkel, fly over, or pull up on a sand cay in the Great Barrier Reef. Escape the summer heat at incredible waterfalls and swimming holes. Ramp things up a notch with a plethora of epic adventure experiences and spend days and nights immersing yourself in the Wet Tropics rainforest.
Need a little more help planning summer in the tropics? Be sure to check out our accommodation guide, these 13 beautiful locations fit for every itinerary, and our complete Cairns & Great Barrier Reef holiday guide.
