Easter long weekend getaways: how to book early

Easter long weekend getaways book out fast, and this year the holiday falls from Friday 18 April to Monday 21 April. If you have not booked yet, do it this week. Use the checklist below to lock in a bed, check the roads and read the cancellation rules before you pay.

Know your dates first

Good Friday is 18 April and Easter Monday is 21 April. Both are public holidays in every state and territory. Easter Sunday is 20 April.

Easter Saturday, 19 April, is different. The Fair Work Ombudsman lists it as a public holiday in Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, the Northern Territory, New South Wales and the ACT. South Australia and Victoria call it the Saturday after Good Friday. Tasmania and Western Australia do not list it.

Tasmania lists an Easter Tuesday, 22 April, but only for certain awards, agreements and the state public service. If you plan to stay a fifth night, check whether your own job gives you that day.

Anzac Day is Friday 25 April, one week later. That makes a second long weekend, so some places will be busy twice in a row.

Sources for this section: Fair Work Ombudsman, List of 2014 public holidays.

Book your stay early

Most people have the same four days off, so rooms, campsites and cabins in popular spots go first. Book as soon as you pick a place. Choose a back-up spot as well, in case your first choice is full.

• Pick your nights. Decide if you need Thursday night to beat the Friday traffic.
• Ask about minimum stays. Some hosts only sell a three or four night block over a holiday.
• Look beyond the famous towns. A smaller town an hour further out often has rooms when the main spot is full.
• Confirm in writing. Keep your booking email and check in time with you.

Sources for this section: Fair Work Ombudsman, List of 2014 public holidays (shared public holiday dates).

Read the cancellation terms

Plans change, and the weather in April can too. Before you pay a deposit, find out how much you can get back and by what date.

• Is there a free cancellation window, and when does it end?
• Can you move the booking to another date instead of losing the money?
• Is the deposit refundable, or is it a fee?
• Does your travel insurance cover cancellation? Read the policy wording before you rely on it.

Write the cut off date in your phone. A refund that ends on Tuesday is no help on Wednesday.

Check the roads before you leave

Busy holiday roads need a plan. Leave early on Thursday or Friday, or travel after the first rush. Check conditions on the day you go, because roadworks and crashes change quickly.

In Queensland, the 131940 Traffic and Travel Information website and phone service gives traffic and road condition information to help drivers plan. Other states run their own road authority sites and phone lines, so look up the one for your route before you go.

Do not use a phone or traffic site while you are driving. Ask a passenger to check, or stop first.

Sources for this section: Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, 131940 Traffic and Travel Information.

Plan rest stops and supplies

Driver Reviver runs free rest stops during holiday periods. The program says up to 220 sites open across Australia each holiday season. Volunteers serve free tea or coffee and a biscuit. Its tips are to plan your rest and overnight stops before you start, stop for at least 15 minutes every 2 hours, and share the driving when you can.

Shops are also an issue. Trading hours on public holidays such as Good Friday are set by each state. Buy food, fuel and any medicine you need before the holiday, especially if you are heading to a small town.

This is general information, not medical advice. For anyone on regular medicine, pack enough for the whole trip, and ask your pharmacist if you are unsure how much that is.

Sources for this section: Driver Reviver, home page; Fair Work Ombudsman, Public holidays (trading hours).

Your final checklist

1. Confirm the holiday dates for the state where you are staying, not just where you live.
2. Book accommodation and keep the confirmation.
3. Note the cancellation cut off date.
4. Pick your travel day and time, with a back-up.
5. Save the traffic site or phone number for your route.
6. Plan a rest stop every two hours.
7. Buy food, fuel and essentials before Good Friday.

For more on breaks on long drives, see our Driver Reviver stops guide, or browse all guides.

Sources for this section: Fair Work Ombudsman, List of 2014 public holidays; Driver Reviver, home page.

Sources

1. Fair Work Ombudsman, List of 2014 public holidays: fairwork.gov.au (archived)
2. Fair Work Ombudsman, Public holidays: fairwork.gov.au (archived)
3. Driver Reviver, Rest Stops: driverreviver.com.au (archived)
4. Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, 131940 Traffic and Travel Information: 131940.qld.gov.au (archived)