FACTS
Location: Oceania, group of islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to Australia
Area (only Total) total: 12,200 sq km
Climate: tropical; moderated by southeast trade winds from May to October; moderate rainfall from November to April; may be affected by cyclones from December to April
Terrain: mostly mountainous islands of volcanic origin; narrow coastal plains
Population: 215,446 (July 2008 est.)
Main Language (only first): local languages (more than 100) 72.6%, pidgin (known as Bislama or Bichelama) 23.1%, English 1.9%, French 1.4%, other 0.3%, unspecified 0.7% (1999 Census)
Government type: parliamentary republic
Capital (Name): Port-Vila (on Efate)
Capital (Time Difference): UTC+11
Independence: 30 July 1980 (from France and UK)
National holiday: Independence Day, 30 July (1980)
HOLIDAYS
January 1 New Year's Day*
January 26 Australia Day*
March 3 Labor Day
March 21 Good Friday
March 22 Easter Saturday
March 24 Easter Monday
April 25 ANZAC Day
June 9 Queen's Birthday (Except Western Australia)**
September 29 Queen's Birthday (Western Australia)
December 25 Christmas Day*
December 26 Boxing Day (except Southern Australia)
*If these holidays fall on a Saturday or Sunday, they are observed on the Monday following.
**Except Western Australia and Victoria
State Holidays
Australian Capital Territory (Canberra)
Date Occasion
17 March Monday Canberra Day
9 June Monday Queens Birthday
August 1st Monday Bank Holiday
6 October Monday Labour Day
New South Wales
Date Occasion
4 August Monday Bank Holiday
6 October Monday Labour Dayk
Northern Territory
Date Occasion
5 May Monday May Day
4 July Friday Alice Springs Show (Alice Springs only)
July 2nd Friday Tennant Creek Show (Tennant Creek only)
July 3rd Friday Katherine Show (Katherine only)
25 July Friday Darwin Show (Darwin only)
4 August Monday Picnic Day
Queensland
Date Occasion
5 May Labour Day
The Royal National (RNA) Show takes place in Brisbane around the middle of the 2nd week of August and is a holiday in Brisbane only.
South Australia
Date Occasion
19 May Adelaide Cup Day (Adelaide only)
8 June Queens Birthday
6 October Labour Day
26 December Proclamation Day
Tasmania
Date Occasion
February 2nd Tuesday Regatta Day (South only) 27 February Launceston Cup Day (North only) 10 March Eight Hours Day 23 October Hobart Show Day (South only) November 1 Recreation Day (North only) The Launceston show takes place in early October and is a holiday in Launceston only.Victoria
Date Occasion
10 March Labour Day
4 November Melbourne Cup Day (Melbourne metro area only)
Where New Year's Day and Boxing Day fall on Sunday the following Monday is observed as the holiday. Other days are not moved.
Western Australia
Date Occasion
3 March Labour Day
2 June Foundation Day
29 September Queen's Birthday
Some non-metropolitan government areas choose to clelebrate the Queen's Birthday on a day of local significance in lieu of the official date. Common dates appear to be the 1st Monday in August or the 1st Monday in October.
Non-Holiday observances
May 2nd Sunday Mother's Day
September 1st Sunday Father's Day
There is a Gay/Lesbian Mardi Gras in Sydney annually in February/March
