December is the only month in Australia with two consecutive public holidays — Christmas Day and Boxing Day. January has two public holidays as well, New Year's Day and Australia Day, but more than three weeks separate their occurrence. Another month when two public holidays occur would be in the moveable Easter season with Good Friday and Easter Monday with two days of the weekend in between.
With the December-January public holidays, this indicates for sure that the start of summer is holiday time and large numbers of offices and factories close for the festive season for a week or two around Christmas.
And because summer brings warmer weather, it is mostly beachtime in a country enamoured of sun, sand, sea and shore.
Take time out for holiday fun.
- Australia's Public Holidays
- Popular Australian Beaches
- Christmas in Australia
- Christmas in Sydney: Photo Gallery
Photo: Santa and friends at Martin Place, Sydney, courtesy City of Sydney