As the festive season approaches, millions of Australians are preparing to finish work and begin their holiday celebrations. The annual last-minute shopping rush is now imminent, making it crucial to know when stores will be open. To help you plan, here is a comprehensive guide to the trading hours for major retailers across the Christmas and New Year period in 2024.
Supermarket Trading Hours Over Christmas
Most major supermarket chains will maintain a strong presence over the holidays, with a key exception on Christmas Day. Coles stores nationwide will be closed on Christmas Day. However, on Boxing Day, all stores will open except for metropolitan locations in South Australia, where regional stores will operate from 8pm to 8am. For New Year's Day, most Coles stores will be open, though metropolitan stores in South Australia will be closed, with the exception of the Adelaide Rundle Place store.
Woolworths follows a similar pattern, with all stores closed on Christmas Day. On Boxing Day and New Year's Day, stores in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia, and the ACT will be open. However, some stores in South Australia and the Northern Territory may not trade on these days. Aldi stores will be closed on Christmas Day but open on other key dates, albeit with varying hours. On New Year's Eve, all Aldi stores will close at 6pm.
Bottle Shops, Retail Centres and Hardware
For those needing festive drinks, Dan Murphy's will be closed on Christmas Day, except for a select few stores in Victoria and Tasmania. On Christmas Eve, most stores will trade from 9am to 9pm. BWS and Liquorland will also have most stores closed on Christmas Day, with notable exceptions in Victoria and Tasmania. Customers are strongly advised to check local store details.
Major shopping centres like Westfield will close on Christmas Day but will be open on Boxing Day, with some centres trading until 9pm. On New Year's Day, all centres will open with reduced hours, except in South Australia where they will be closed. For DIY needs, Bunnings warehouses will be closed on Christmas Day, with variable trading hours between Boxing Day and January 2nd. Their Trade Centres will be shut from December 25th until January 5th.
Department Stores, Banks and Essential Services
Department stores are largely ready for the holiday rush. Kmart stores will be closed on Christmas Day. On New Year's Day, all stores will be open except in Western Australia's Esperance and, in South Australia, only select regional stores will trade. Big W has confirmed its stores will only be closed on Christmas Day, while Target will also close for the 25th.
In the finance sector, all major bank branches will be closed on both Christmas Day and Boxing Day. For medical needs, after-hours clinics and home-visiting doctor services will operate on Christmas Day for non-emergencies. Some pharmacies will also open for prescriptions, though hours will vary.
With trading hours subject to change, the consistent advice from all retailers is to check their official websites for the most accurate local store information before making a special trip.
