NSW lags behind the national long weekend tally; it's time for change

It’s time to level the playing field for the long weekend.

Australia is supposedly the land of the fair go, an egalitarian state in which all people are treated equally. We have generous annual leave provisions, leave loading – that wonderful thing where employers pay you extra to go on holiday – and what I thought was a decent number of public holidays. But as a resident of NSW, I was gobsmacked to discover we fall behind other states with only 11 days off.

a crowded beach at Adelaide/Tarntanya — South Australia claims the highest number of public holidays in the country, which means residents get to spend more time relaxing in places like Glenelg, a popular metropolitan beach in Adelaide. (Image: South Australia Tourism Commission/Josie Withers)

South Australia comes out on top with 14, the lucky ducks, thanks to Adelaide Cup Day in March and New Year’s Eve. With extra leave for the AFL grand final and Melbourne Cup, Victorians get 13 public holidays a year. Queenslanders have 12, Western Australians have 11 and poor Tasmanians bring up the rear with only 10 days off. Anyone else think we should even the playing field nationally?

I have a recent, newfound appreciation for long weekends. Working on staff at newspapers, I was in the office while everyone else had a sleep-in – don’t feel too sorry for me, they made it up to us with six weeks’ annual leave. As a freelancer pre-kids, I’d also use it as a chance to catch up on work. But with two tiny dictators who don’t go to daycare on public holidays, I’m forced to take the day off. And, to state the obvious, it’s great.

Aerial view of Yamba Kayaks on the Clarence River. — Another public holiday for NSW would mean more time to spend with family and friends for activities like kayaking in Yamba. (Image: Destination NSW)

Not only do I get to spend time with my little family without the pressures of having to be somewhere at a certain time, but I also get to hang out with friends who also happen to have the day off. I can’t believe I missed out on this joy all these years. It took a while, but I finally understand the excitement in the lead-up to a free day off.

The benefits of a public holiday speak for themselves

Friends enjoying a yoga session at Belongil Beach. — Taking time out benefits our mental health. (Image: Elements of Byron)

A public holiday is an enforced break and one that pays dividends when it comes to connecting with family, friends and community. According to clinical psychologist, Dr Anastasia Hronis, an extra day off can also have profound impacts on mental health.

“There’s the component of looking forward to it. People are talking about it and it’s a bit of a mark in the diary that can help punctuate a year. When we can break the year down into smaller chunks, it feels more manageable," she says. It’s also an incentive to escape the daily grind and go away for a few days. Because we know that an extra day off at home can often be overtaken by the odd jobs you haven’t had time to do during the week.

“Part of the mental health benefits of travel is the novelty. When we do something that’s new and novel, there’s an excitement to it and that activates dopamine in the brain – it feels good," Dr Hronis says.

A couple enjoys feeding lambs and goats at the Giving Farm on the Central Coast. — Reserving time in our calendar for new experiences, like feeding baby animals on the Central Coast, would be easier with another public holiday. (Image: The Giving Farm, Central Coast/Destination NSW)

“Having new experiences that are exciting and enjoyable is a healthy way to get that dopamine activation, which boosts overall mood and wellbeing. It’s much harder to activate dopamine in the daily grind.

“Dopamine is also activated not just when we do the pleasurable thing, but in the lead up, which is why planning the holiday is also enjoyable."

Dr Hronis and I are not the only ones who think an extra day off promotes well-being. The Legislative Assembly even has an ePetition calling for Fairer Public Holidays for NSW More Family & Community Time .

NSW residents can sign the petition, which states: “To the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly. We, the undersigned petitioners, believe we should enjoy the same number of public holidays as other states. Currently, NSW has only 11 public holidays, while most others enjoy 12 or 13. NSW only has one public holiday between June and December. Public holidays are important days for communities to pause, for families to gather and for shared time to connect. Public holidays promote social cohesion. We ask the Legislative Assembly to call on the Government to introduce a new public holiday – ‘Family & Community Day’ to be observed in September each year – to promote the well-being and cohesion of our community."

Support of the regions

View of the outdoor bath at Elouera, a luxury tiny house at Sierra Escape in Mudgee — Another public holiday would mean time to book in a relaxing stay at Sierra Escape in Mudgee. (Image: Sierra Escape Mudgee)

The Mudgee region is on board with this; it has also launched a petition proposing an additional public holiday for NSW. Its research for the Mudgee Monday campaign reveals that 72 per cent of Australians want more public holidays – no surprises there – and 51 per cent support a nationally standardised public holiday count.

The flip side of the public holiday argument is that it’s too expensive for businesses. Staffing costs are up to two-and-a-half times higher on public holidays and many venues try and recoup that by adding a surcharge that spans 10-20 per cent of the bill.

A report by Money.com revealed that over the back-to-back Easter and Anzac Day long weekends, $24.6 million of the additional $98.4 million spent in cafes, restaurants and takeaway, went towards surcharges. But there’s a balance to be had. More visitors create more revenue – that $98.4 million is money that wouldn’t otherwise have been spent – and if those visitors are happy to pay the extra for another day off, then businesses win out. While the cost of living is high, most people recognise that those working while everyone else is off need to be compensated.

Elouera, a luxury tiny house at Sierra Escape in Mudgee. Meticulously crafted from a shipping container and offering unparalleled views. — Elouera, a luxury tiny house at Sierra Escape in Mudgee, is the perfect place to spend a long weekend away. (Image: Sierra Escape Mudgee)

Mudgee Region Tourism Chief Marketing Officer, Beau Kassas, says the economic impact of another public holiday is extensive.

“A third of every dollar spent in Mudgee is by a visitor and we know that on long weekends that third of every dollar nearly doubles," he says.

“Staying that extra day, being able to enjoy a whole afternoon and evening before driving home on the Monday is injecting more cash into the local economy."

The Mudgee Monday campaign also reveals that 57 per cent of Australians believe an extra long weekend each year would reduce burnout and stress. And the science backs it up. According to peer-reviewed research published in Nature Human Behaviour, employees who had a four-day work week with a full-time salary had better performance, physical and mental health and less burnout.

In July, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation and Australian Manufacturing Workers Union pushed for it, citing that shorter working hours would result in productivity gains. While the NSW public service offers a compressed working week as part of its flexible working arrangements, where employees work the same number of hours a week, compressed into a shorter time period, it is not the norm across industries.

Less time doing admin and chores and more time getting outside. (Image: Girrakool Loop Track, Central Coast/ Destination NSW

I’m lucky that freelancing offers me flexibility and technically every week is a short one for me. But that day is not spent tending to my mental health, rather it allows time for life admin tasks that are just as demanding as paid work but aren’t seen as important enough to dedicate days to them; such as tending to elderly relatives, taking children to appointments and staying on top of the never-ending pile of washing.

Doing all of that outside the traditional 9-5 is stressful, especially for those of us squarely in the sandwich generation looking after small kids as well as ageing parents. A public holiday is a breather. A chance to stop and get off the carousel of the to-do list. And seeing that 47 per cent of Australians have taken sick leave for a personal break or getaway, you might as well make it official and plan for it with another scheduled day off.

What do you think? Is it time to even out the national number of public holidays for NSW?

Aussies might think they know what Port Stephens is all about – but it’s time to take another look.

You might’ve driven through this NSW coast town. Maybe even stopped for fish and chips or a quick dip. But spend a long weekend in the new Port Stephens , and you’ll seriously regret not doing it sooner. We’re talking treks across beaches, reef dives and up-close time with rescued koalas.

All in all? It only takes a day before you see Port Stephens in a whole new light, and not much longer until it’s locked in as your favourite family destination.

1. Stockton Sand Dunes

Port Stephens incredible Stockton Sand Dunes are the largest moving sand mass in the Southern Hemisphere. They shift like an endless magic trick across the Worimi Conservation Lands , a 4200-hectare coastal co-managed by the Traditional Owners.

Tear over them in a 4WD. Rev through valleys soft as melting ice cream on a quad. Carve down 30-metre slopes on a sandboard. However you choose to cross them, you’re guaranteed a seriously wild ride.

Four rugged 4WDs kick up trails of golden dust as they charge across the sweeping desert landscape. — Chase thrills across shifting sands. (Image: Destination NSW)

2. Scale Tomaree Head Summit Walk

A short climb through bushland opens up to the coastal drama of Tomaree Head . Spot Zenith, Wreck and Box Beaches. See the Fingal Island lighthouse and offshore rookeries where Australia’s rarest seabird, the Gould’s petrel, nests.

History buffs can’t miss the WWII gun emplacements. And if you’re hiking between May and November, bring binoculars. Travelling whales might just be breaching below.

Friends enjoying a scenic walk along the Tomaree Head Summit Walk in Tomaree National Park, Port Stephens. — Climb Tomaree Head for jaw-dropping coastal views. (Image: Destination NSW)

3. Watch out for whales

You’ve seen the spouts of migrating humpbacks and southern right whales from shore. Set sail from Nelson Bay to see them up close. Cruise straight into the action, with tail-slaps, barrel rolls and all.

And they’ve got competition from the local show-offs. Port Stephens bottlenose dolphins leap and play. Some tours even spot pudgy fur seals, spending lazy days soaking up the sun on Cabbage Tree Island.

A whale’s tail on the sea’s surface. — Watch for ocean tails. (Image: Destination NSW)

4. Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary

Pop into the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary to learn about the rescued koalas who climb, nap, snack and heal in this natural patch of bushland. Wander the immersive Sanctuary Story Walk to discover more about their habits, then head to the SKYwalk – a treetop platform constructed for spotting these eucalyptus-loving locals. Peek into the hospital’s viewing window, where sick or injured koalas may be resting in their recovery enclosures.

Not enough time around these adorable marsupials? Stay overnight in silk-lined glamping tents.

Koala sleeping in a tree at Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary, One Mile — See koalas in their natural habitat. (Image: Destination NSW)

5. Diving Port Stephens

Port Stephens has some of NSW’s best dive spots. At Fly Point, float through sponge gardens and coral castles thick with nudibranchs (AKA sea slugs). Halifax Park has blue gropers and crimson-banded wrasse, while Shoal Bay’s seagrass meadows hide pipefish, cuttlefish and octopus.

Accessible only by boat, Broughton Island is home to a vast array of marine (and bird) life. Snorkel with blue devilfish and stingrays at sites like The Looking Glass and North Rock. More experienced divers can head out with one of the many PADI-certified operators.

At nearby Cabbage Tree Island, expect to see shaggy-faced wobbegongs cruising along.

A couple suited up and ready to dive into adventure. — Suit up and dive into Port Stephens’ vibrant marine life. (Image: Destination NSW)

6. Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters

Not quite ready to dive in? Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters is the perfect way to spot local marine life without getting too deep. But there’s no obnoxious glass tank tapping here. Instead, this interactive aquarium allows guests to wade into natural-style lagoons that mimic the real thing.

Gently pat Port Jackson and bamboo sharks, hand-feed rays, and feel their sandpapery skin with your fingertips. It is all under expert guidance. If you want to go deeper, pop on a wetsuit and swim alongside tawny nurse sharks, white-tipped reef sharks and zebra sharks in the lagoon.

Family enjoying an animal feeding experience at Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters, Anna Bay. — Meet the ocean’s friendliest faces at Irukandji. (Image: Destination NSW)

7. Fish the estuaries

Fishing fanatics will fall for Port Stephens hook, line and sinker. Here, one of the largest estuary systems in the whole state sees tidal rivers and mangrove ecosystems. Waterfronts are thick with oysters, and residential fish that might include anything from bream, whiting and flathead, to blue swimmer crabs, kingfish and longtail tuna.

If you prefer to choose your own adventure and fish offshore, you can hire a boat from one of the marinas and set your own course.

three men fishing on a boat in port stephens — Join a tour or chart your own fishing trip. (Image: Destination NSW)

8. Taste new Port Stephens flavours

With plenty of activity to fill your days, refuelling on delectable cuisine becomes equally important. And Port Stephens answers the call.

Pop into Holbert’s Oyster Farm for fresh-farmed Port Stephens rock oysters and Pacific oysters, Australian king and tiger prawns, as well as a variety of tasty sauces to try them with.

Take a group to Atmos for an authentic Greek experience over large shared dishes and Greek-inspired cocktails. Or feast on sea-to-plate, modern Australian dishes at the pet-friendly Restaurant 2317.

A plate of fresh oysters. — Slurp your way through the region’s best oysters. (Image: Destination NSW)

Start planning your Port Stephens getaway at portstephens.org.au .

NSW lags behind the national long weekend tally; we need to even it up