Daylight saving
Discover when daylight saving starts and ends in NSW for 2025 and 2026, including important changes to clocks and tips for adjusting to the time shift.
What is daylight saving?
Daylight saving time is the practice of moving the clocks forward during the warmer months so that evenings have more daylight and mornings have less. This allows for better use of natural daylight and can help reduce energy usage.
When does daylight saving start and end in NSW?
Daylight saving 2025 start date:
- Date: Sunday 5 October 2025
- Time: 2am Eastern Standard Time (AEST)
- Clocks are moved forward by 1 hour to 3am, giving you more daylight in the evening.
Daylight saving 2026 end date:
- Date: Sunday 5 April 2026
- Time: 3am Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT)
- Clocks are moved back 1 hour to 2am, giving you more daylight in the morning.
How to adjust to the daylight saving time change
Changing your clocks can affect your sleep and daily routine. Here are a few tips to adjust easily:
- Gradual bedtime changes: adjust your bedtime by 15 minutes each night before the change to help your body transition smoothly.
- Adjust your clocks before bed: to kickstart your day and avoid any timing issues, set your watch and household clocks that don't automatically update overnight to the new time before you go to bed.
- Maximise morning light: get outside in the morning to help reset your body clock.
- Stay consistent: keep your sleep schedule consistent to avoid disruption.
Why do we have daylight saving in NSW?
Daylight saving has been implemented in NSW to:
- Make better use of daylight during the warmer months.
- Provide more daylight for outdoor activities after work or school.
- Reduce energy consumption by cutting the need for artificial lighting in the evening.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
No, not all states participate in daylight saving. New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory observe daylight saving. Queensland, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory do not.
Most modern devices, such as smartphones, automatically adjust for daylight saving. However, for analog clocks, you'll need to manually adjust the time.
Daylight saving may impact train, bus, and flight schedules, so be sure to check with your provider for any changes during the transition.