Most of Australia gets a long weekend this week courtesy of a centuries-old quirk of British tradition.

Queensland and Western Australia mark the occasion later in the year.

Hobart is expected to experience three days where the highest temperature will reach 14 degrees. The Bureau of Meteorology predicts that temperatures will drop to 7 degrees on Saturday, 5 degrees on Sunday, and 9 degrees on Monday.

Like much of the south-east, Tasmania is bracing for a rainy weekend, with Hobart expecting falls of up to 20mm on Monday.

Australian Capital Territory

Canberra could drop to freezing on Monday, with the Bureau of Meteorology forecast to reach as low as zero degrees.

Tops of 12 for Saturday are as warm as gets, falling to 10 degrees for Sunday and just 9 for Monday.

Light showers are expected throughout the weekend.

Darwin is where you want to be if you’re craving a warmer long weekend.

Temperatures will top out at 31 on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, and only reach a bottom of 20.

The days will also be mostly sunny, with some cloud on Sunday and Monday.

Despite not getting the public holiday on Monday, Brisbane is looking forward to some decent weekend weather.

Conditions will range from sunny to partly cloudy, with temperatures reaching the early to mid 20s.

The other non-holidaying capital, Perth, is also looking at sunny days on both Friday and Saturday.

Temperatures will top out in the early 20s.