As April approaches, it signals the conclusion of daylight saving time (DST) in Australia. Most states and territories will adjust their clocks back by one hour, a shift designed to maximise daylight during the cooler months of autumn and winter.
For those in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory, DST will end on 6 April 2025. At 3am Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT), clocks will revert to 2am Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST).
One common question during this transition is whether we gain or lose an hour of sleep. As the days shorten and mornings grow darker, April marks the time to turn clocks back, allowing Australians to enjoy extended sleep during the darker mornings and maximise daylight in the remaining evening hours.
It’s worth noting the time differences across various states and territories. While most states—excluding Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia—observe daylight saving, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and the ACT will align with Queensland on AEST once DST concludes. These states have been operating one hour ahead of Queensland since the start of DST in October 2024.
South Australia, although it observes daylight saving, will remain 30 minutes behind AEST after the clocks change, shifting from Australian Central Daylight Time (ACDT) to Australian Central Standard Time (ACST). Meanwhile, Western Australia will continue to function under its distinct time zones—Australian Western Standard Time (AWST) and Australian Central Western Time (ACWT), which is 45 minutes ahead of AWST. The Northern Territory also adheres to ACWT and will maintain this standard regardless of the clock changes in other states.
In summary, as daylight saving time ends, Australians should prepare for the clock shift to enjoy longer sleeps and the remaining daylight in the evenings, while also staying mindful of the time discrepancies between states and territories.