Your Little Valley Summerhouse guide to maximising public holidays and annual leave
If you’ve already started daydreaming about slower weekends, quiet breakfasts, and a few days where your phone isn’t dinging at you, this is your sign to start planning your 2026 getaways. The good news? Next year is full of generous public holiday runs, and if you play it right, a handful of annual leave days can turn into proper holidays.
And if you’re going to escape, you may as well do it somewhere that actually feels like an escape. The Little Valley Summerhouse sleeps up to four adults and sits right by the pond, looking across the alpaca and donkey paddocks. Euan (my hubbie) built it, and it runs entirely on solar (actually, the whole farm is solar-powered), and it has that rare “arrive, exhale, stay awhile” feel.
To help you time your getaway, here’s your friendly cheat sheet for turning a few annual leave days into long, glorious breaks.
This is Big Teddy Bo Alpaca before shearing!
Your 2026 “Take a Few Days, Get a Lot More” Guide
January Long Break (January 24–February 1)
Take 4 days of annual leave and turn it into 9 days off.
Jan 24–25: Weekend
Jan 26: Public holiday
Jan 27–30: Annual leave
Jan 31–Feb 1: Weekend
Early in the year is perfect for a warm-weather visit and long evenings on the deck, the occasional alpaca side-eye, and easy, relaxing days. The Stoked hot tub can be used as a plunge pool to cool down in and at night, stoke it up!
Little Valley Summerhouse photo credit Euan Wilcox
Easter + Autumn Magic (March 28–April 12)
Take 8 days of annual leave and unlock 16 days away.
Mar 28–29: Weekend
Mar 30–Apr 2: Annual leave
Apr 3: Good Friday
Apr 4–5: Weekend
Apr 6: Easter Monday
Apr 7–10: Annual leave
Apr 11–12: Weekend
Autumn/Winter Summerhouse
Autumn at Little Valley Farm is one of the best times to visit. The light softens, the paddocks glow, and the whole valley feels settled and calm.
King’s Birthday Escape (June 6–14)
Take 4 days of annual leave for 9 wintery days off.
Jun 6–7: Weekend
Jun 8: Public holiday
Jun 9–12: Annual leave
Jun 13–14: Weekend
Cool nights, fires going, and the hot tub steaming away under the stars, it’s one of the coziest times to stay.
The entire farm turns a beautiful red-orange thanks to the autumn leaves. It’s a photographer’s delight to capture the farm in these colours.
Little Valley Farm Autumn/Winter photo credit Euan Wilcox
Labour Day Spring Break (October 3–11)
Take 4 days of annual leave and score 9 days off.
Oct 3–4: Weekend
Oct 5: Public holiday
Oct 6–9: Annual leave
Oct 10–11: Weekend
Spring usually brings cria season, so there’s a decent chance you’ll spot a curious little face peeking around its mum in the paddock.
Christmas–New Year Mega Break (December 19–January 3)
Take 7 days of annual leave and enjoy 16 days off.
Dec 19–20: Weekend
Dec 21–24: Annual leave
Dec 25: Christmas Day
Dec 26–27: Weekend
Dec 28: Boxing Day public holiday
Dec 29–31: Annual leave
Jan 1: New Year’s Day
Jan 2–3: Weekend
This is the big one, a chance to slow right down, reflect on the year, and start 2027 feeling human again.
Why Plan Ahead?
The Summerhouse books out quickly, especially when public holidays line up like this. If you’ve spotted a run that suits your style, a long weekend, a cheeky mid-year break, or the mega Christmas stretch that is worth locking it in early.
Pack a good book, bring your favourite people, and enjoy a slice of the valley at your own pace
Make 2026 the Year You Finally Take That Farmstay Break
Summerhouse with friends
Book early and book direct, pay your deposit now, with a reminder closer to the date.
The Summerhouse sleeps four adults.
We are only 90 minutes from Sydney and 1 hour from Newcastle or the Central Coast.