Daylight Saving Ends April 5 in Some Australian States

Daylight saving time (DST) ends in several Australian states and territories on Sunday, April 5, 2026. Residents in the affected jurisdictions will move their clocks back by one hour, transitioning away from daylight saving in preparation for the winter season.

The time change occurs at 3:00 a.m. Australian Eastern Standard Daylight Time (AEDT), at which point clocks will be set back to 2:00 a.m. This adjustment results in a gain of one hour of sleep for those residing in the participating regions.

Affected States and Territories

The end of daylight saving time does not apply nationwide. The shift on April 5, 2026, specifically affects the following jurisdictions:

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

In these regions, the change replaces the additional afternoon sunlight with earlier darkness in the evenings, while providing more light during early morning hours.

Adjusting Devices and Clocks

Most modern electronic devices, including smartphones and laptops, are programmed to update the time automatically. However, many household items require manual adjustment to reflect the correct time after the shift.

Items that typically need to be changed manually include:

• Analogue wall clocks and wristwatches
• Microwave oven clocks
• Traditional oven timers

Impact on Sleep and Health

The transition between time zones can impact human sleep schedules. According to the Sleep Health Foundation, the process of falling back in the autumn is generally less disruptive to the body than the spring transition when clocks move forward.

Losing an hour of sleep during the spring transition is often more difficult for individuals to adjust to. In contrast, gaining an extra hour in April typically allows residents to sleep longer through darker mornings. The Sleep Health Foundation indicates that it usually takes only one night for most people to feel back to normal after the clocks move backwards.

Annual Daylight Saving Cycle

Australia follows a consistent annual schedule for daylight saving in the states and territories that observe it. The practice concludes on the first Sunday of April each year.

The cycle begins again on the first Sunday of October, when clocks are moved forward by one hour to extend evening daylight during the spring and summer months.