How to hack your annual leave for more days off this Easter

Lock in the dates, pack a bag and spend 10 days of leave when using just three. 

Sometimes, the stars just align. In 2025, Good Friday lands on 18 April, and Easter Monday follows on 21 April. By taking just three days of annual leave – Tuesday 22 April to Thursday 24 April – you can combine them with the Anzac Day public holiday on Friday 25 April, creating a 10-day break while only using three leave days.

It’s the perfect Easter leave hack, and there’s no better place to make the most of your time off than exploring South Australia. This region has it all, from island escapes and city breaks in sleek hotels to wine country and hillside towns.

Wander stunning vistas on your time off. (Image: South Australia Tourism Commission)

Enjoy the best of the Barossa Valley

Wake up to the sun creeping over the vines at Novotel Barossa Valley Resort in the heart of wine country. Grab breakfast then head out to explore the Barossa Valley on a bicycle, taking advantage of the 40-kilometre-long sealed, mixed bike trail near the hotel. Glide through the vines from town to town, stopping off at a few of the region’s 80 cellar doors along the way. Don’t miss Seppeltsfield, home to the craft and design hub JamFactory and the newly opened Prohibition gin distillery. Then head to Gibson Wines, a favourite with visitors thanks to its 170-year-old settler’s cottage and incredible shiraz (the winery also won the People’s Choice Award at the 2025 Halliday Wine Companion Awards). If you’re travelling with kids, they’re also well catered for – Z wine offers a kid’s tasting plank with fairy bread, juice, milk and pretzels to complement the adult’s wine tasting plate.

A spate of new restaurant openings, including Staguni, Lou’s by Horizon and Knead, have cemented the Barossa’s culinary credentials. If you can’t grab a table, finish your day with a meal at The Cellar Kitchen, which works with local producers and farmers to create their menu.

Cycle through the vineyards. (Image: Tourism Australia/South Australia Tourism Commission)

Take a city break in Adelaide

The perfect city break, Adelaide has an incredible cultural pedigree and is full of culinary adventures. Start your day with breakfast at Adelaide Central Market before heading over to the Art Gallery of South Australia. After exploring the galleries, be sure to stop in to see the ‘Treasures of the Viking Age: The Galloway Hoard’ exhibition at the South Australian Museum, which is also home to the best collection of Indigenous artefacts in Australia. If the weather is good, head to the Adelaide Botanic Garden, which is currently running an exclusive contemporary glass art exhibition in the gardens.

Adelaide is a compact city, with dozens of excellent restaurants all within walking distance of the CBD, including Africola, The Kitchen and Sora. However, if you can get a booking, don’t miss a seat at Restaurant Botanic, crowned joint-14th best restaurant globally for 2025 by La Liste.

Visitors are spoiled for choice when it comes to Adelaide accommodation options. Three Accor properties – Peppers Waymouth, Pullman Adelaide and the ultra-luxury five-star Sofitel Adelaide – are all located in the city centre.

Stay in the middle of Adelaide’s action. (Image: Sofitel Adelaide)

Explore Kangaroo Island nature

Now is the time to visit Kangaroo Island. The pristine natural environment has recovered significantly since the devastating fires of 2019 and 2020, and South Australia’s mild weather makes it the perfect place to sneak a few beach days before winter hits. Start your morning early with a drive to Stokes Bay, slipping through the rocks during low tide to reach the sheltered cove, named the best beach in Australia in 2023. Head down the road to Emu Bay Lavender before continuing on to the brand new Flinders Chase National Park Visitor Centre. Along with visiting Remarkable Rocks and Admirals Arch, you can spot kangaroos and echidnas.

Round off your day with a meal at Kangaroo Island’s newest fine dining restaurant, Samphire, just a short walk away from Mercure Kangaroo Island Lodge.

Take advantage of pristine beaches before winter arrives. (Image: South Australia Tourism Commission)

Roam through Adelaide Hills wineries

Head to the Adelaide Hills for a round of leaf-peeping and incredible indulgence this autumn. Half an hour away from Adelaide is Mt Lofty, which offers views across Adelaide to the ocean; it’s also a well-known spot for seeing koalas in the wild. Just minutes away is Mount Lofty House, a historic property renowned for its stunning views of Piccadilly Valley, expansive gardens and luxurious accommodations. From there, try your hand at apple picking in the orchards around Lenswood or catch the end of the strawberry season at Beerenberg, picking up jars of relish and jam from their farm door. Also make sure to check out the German village of Hahndorf, grabbing lunch at one of the many cafes – Comida is a local favourite.

This region is known for its cool-climate sparkling wines, with many wineries – such as Bird in Hand, Artwine and Vinteloper – crafting a slick visitor experience. For something different, visit Ambleside Distillers, who offer a gin cocktail-making class.

For dinner, don’t miss a sitting at Hardy’s Verandah Restaurant, which took out the top Hotel Restaurant spot in the 2024 HM Awards. Restaurant Aptos is new on the scene, run by renowned local chef Justin James, while the Bridgewater Inn is a great place for traditional pub fare.

Stay at the historic Mount Lofty House.

Start planning your Easter adventure at all.com.