Daylight Saving Time in Australia 2026: When Do the Clocks Change?

Daylight saving time in Australia starts on Sunday, 4 October 2026 in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory.

At 2:00 am local standard time, clocks move forward one hour to 3:00 am. This means people in these states and territories effectively lose an hour overnight but get more daylight later in the day.

Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory do not observe daylight saving, so their clocks will not change.

The 2026–27 daylight saving period ends on Sunday, 4 April 2027, when participating states move their clocks back one hour.

Daylight Saving Australia 2026: Quick Answer

When Does Daylight Saving Start and End in Australia?

According to the NSW Government, daylight saving starts on Sunday, 4 October 2026. At 2:00 am, clocks move forward one hour to 3:00 am.

Daylight saving ends on Sunday, 4 April 2027, when clocks move back one hour from 3:00 am to 2:00 am.

Daylight saving applies in:

• New South Wales
• Victoria
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Australian Capital Territory

If you live in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Hobart or Canberra, your clocks change twice a year.

Do We Lose or Gain an Hour When Daylight Saving Starts?

You lose one hour when daylight saving starts.

At 2:00 am on 4 October 2026, the clock jumps straight to 3:00 am in participating states and territories.

The trade-off is more daylight later in the afternoon and evening.

When daylight saving ends in April, the opposite happens. Clocks move back one hour, effectively giving you an extra hour overnight.

Which Australian States and Territories Observe Daylight Saving?

Daylight saving is not observed across all of Australia.

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The Fair Work Ombudsman confirms that daylight saving is observed in the ACT, NSW, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria, while Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory do not change their clocks.

If you’re in NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania or the ACT, your clocks change twice a year. If you’re in Queensland, Western Australia or the Northern Territory, your clocks stay on standard time throughout the year.

These changing time differences are also worth keeping in mind if you’re moving house interstate, especially when booking movers, utility appointments or other services for moving day.

Does Queensland Have Daylight Saving?

No. Queensland does not observe daylight saving time. Queensland remains on Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) throughout the year.

This creates an important difference during the daylight saving period. Brisbane and Sydney normally share the same time during winter, but once daylight saving begins in NSW, Sydney becomes one hour ahead of Brisbane.

If you’re moving between Queensland and NSW or Victoria, remember to check the local time when arranging movers, electricity connections, internet appointments or other services.

Does Western Australia Have Daylight Saving?

No. Western Australia does not currently observe daylight saving time. Perth remains on Australian Western Standard Time (AWST) throughout the year.

When daylight saving is operating in eastern states, the time difference between Perth and cities such as Sydney and Melbourne increases.

Does the Northern Territory Have Daylight Saving?

No. The Northern Territory does not observe daylight saving. Darwin remains on Australian Central Standard Time (ACST) throughout the year.

South Australia, however, does observe daylight saving. This means Adelaide and Darwin use different local times during the daylight saving period even though both use central standard time outside DST.

Moving home? You can compare and arrange electricity and gas connections for your new property in one place.

Australian Time Differences During Daylight Saving

This is where daylight saving can become confusing, particularly if you’re moving interstate, travelling or arranging appointments across different states.

During the 2026–27 daylight saving period:

For example, when it is 3:00 pm in Sydney or Melbourne, it is:

• 2:30 pm in Adelaide
• 2:00 pm in Brisbane
• 1:30 pm in Darwin
• 12:00 noon in Perth

These differences are particularly useful to remember when arranging interstate calls, flights, removalists or utility appointments.

When Does Daylight Saving End in 2027?

Daylight saving ends on Sunday, 4 April 2027.

At 3:00 am daylight saving time, clocks move back one hour to 2:00 am standard time.

That means you effectively gain an hour overnight.

After the change, NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and the ACT return from Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) to Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST).

South Australia returns from Australian Central Daylight Time (ACDT) to Australian Central Standard Time (ACST).

How to Adjust Phones, Smart Home Devices and Car Clocks for Daylight Saving

Most smartphones, tablets and computers should automatically adjust for daylight saving. ABC News notes that smart devices generally update automatically, while analogue clocks and some appliances, including ovens and microwaves, may need to be changed manually.

Many internet-connected smart home devices also update automatically. However, some car dashboards, ovens, microwaves, analogue clocks and older appliances need to be changed manually.

Before daylight saving starts, check:

• Your phone’s automatic date and time settings
• Smart home hubs and connected devices
• Your car dashboard clock
• Ovens and microwaves
• Alarm clocks and watches

You usually don’t need a separate app just to track daylight saving. Your phone’s clock and calendar should account for the change when the correct Australian time zone and automatic settings are enabled.

Moving Interstate During Daylight Saving? Check the Time Difference

Daylight saving matters more when you’re crossing state borders.

Imagine you’re moving from Brisbane to Sydney in October. Queensland does not change its clocks, but NSW does. Once daylight saving starts, Sydney is one hour ahead of Brisbane.

Or perhaps you’re moving from Perth to Melbourne. During daylight saving, Melbourne is three hours ahead of Perth.

That can affect the local time of:

• Removalist bookings
• Property handovers
• Electricity connection appointments
• Gas appointments
• Internet or NBN appointments
• Calls with property managers
• Flights and airport transfers

Always confirm whether a booking is stated in the local time of your old address or your new address.

Moving Home? Sort Your Utilities Before Moving Day

Changing the clocks is easy. Arriving at your new home without electricity or internet is a much bigger headache.

Move-in Connect can help you organise electricity, gas and internet connections for your new address in one place.

Whether you’re moving across the suburb or interstate, arranging your utilities before moving day can help make the transition easier.

Can Daylight Saving Affect Utility Connections?

Daylight saving itself does not change how your electricity, gas or internet connection technically works.

Where it can matter is timing.

If you’re moving interstate between a state that observes daylight saving and one that doesn’t, appointment times and business hours can fall into different time zones.

For example, a 10:00 am appointment at your new Sydney address means 10:00 am Sydney local time, even if you’re coordinating the move from Brisbane, Perth or Darwin.

Before moving day:

1. Confirm the date and local time of your connection.
2. Check whether your destination observes daylight saving.
3. Confirm access requirements for your property.
4. Keep your phone available if a provider or technician needs to contact you.
5. Arrange electricity, gas and internet ahead of your move where possible.

If you’re preparing for a move, planning ahead can make connecting utilities for your new property easier, particularly when appointments fall across different time zones.

Does Daylight Saving Save Electricity?

Daylight saving was historically associated with making greater use of natural daylight during the warmer months.

But daylight saving does not create extra daylight. It simply shifts how daylight hours line up with the clock.

It also does not make solar panels produce more electricity. Solar generation depends on factors such as available sunlight, weather, panel orientation and system performance, rather than what time your clock displays.

For households, the effect of daylight saving on energy use can vary because modern electricity consumption includes air conditioning, appliances, electronics and other loads throughout the day. If reducing household energy costs is your goal, reviewing your usage and available energy plans is generally more useful than relying on the clock change.

Why Doesn’t All of Australia Use Daylight Saving?

Daylight saving rules are determined by individual Australian states and territories rather than being applied uniformly across the country.

Today, NSW, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT observe daylight saving.

Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory remain on standard time throughout the year.

The result is that Australia’s time differences change depending on the season. That may not matter much when you’re staying in one city, but it becomes important when travelling, moving interstate or working with people in different parts of Australia.

What Should You Do Before the Clocks Change?

Most people won’t need to do much, but a quick check can prevent confusion on Sunday morning.

Before going to bed on Saturday, 3 October 2026:

• Check that your phone is set to update its time automatically
• Move manual clocks forward one hour
• Check alarms for Sunday morning
• Confirm flight and transport times
• Check interstate meeting times
• Confirm moving or utility appointments in local time

If you’re also moving into a new rental property, check how electricity and gas will be connected before your move-in date.

Why Doesn’t Western Australia Observe Daylight Saving?

Western Australia does not currently observe daylight saving and remains on Australian Western Standard Time throughout the year.

This means the time difference between Perth and daylight-saving cities such as Sydney and Melbourne increases during the daylight saving period.

Moving home involves more than changing the clocks. A utility connection service can help organise essential services for your new address before moving day.