School Holiday Programs & Vacation Care Guide 2026
Complete guide to OSHC, vacation care, sports camps, creative workshops, and STEM programs for kids.
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Holiday Care
Term dates, break periods, and public holidays for all eight states and territories
The Australian school year operates on a four-term calendar running from late January to mid-December. Each of the six states (New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania) and two territories (Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory) administers its own education system through independent state and territory education departments. This decentralised governance produces term date variations of one to two weeks between jurisdictions.
The 2026 academic year contains approximately 200 instructional days across four terms, separated by five break periods: a summer holiday (December to late January), an autumn break (April), a winter break (late June to mid-July), a spring break (late September to early October), and a year-end summer holiday (mid-December onward). Public holidays such as Australia Day (26 January), Good Friday, Easter Monday, ANZAC Day (25 April), and the King's Birthday vary in observance dates by state. State-specific holidays, including Melbourne Cup Day in Victoria, Adelaide Cup Day in South Australia, and Canberra Day in the ACT, create additional scheduling differences.
| State / Territory | Term 1 | Term 2 | Term 3 | Term 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | 28 Jan – 3 Apr | 21 Apr – 26 Jun | 13 Jul – 18 Sep | 5 Oct – 18 Dec |
| VIC | 28 Jan – 3 Apr | 21 Apr – 26 Jun | 13 Jul – 18 Sep | 5 Oct – 18 Dec |
| QLD | 28 Jan – 3 Apr | 21 Apr – 26 Jun | 13 Jul – 18 Sep | 5 Oct – 18 Dec |
| SA | 28 Jan – 3 Apr | 21 Apr – 26 Jun | 13 Jul – 18 Sep | 5 Oct – 18 Dec |
| WA | 28 Jan – 3 Apr | 21 Apr – 26 Jun | 13 Jul – 18 Sep | 5 Oct – 18 Dec |
| TAS | 28 Jan – 3 Apr | 21 Apr – 26 Jun | 13 Jul – 18 Sep | 5 Oct – 18 Dec |
| NT | 28 Jan – 3 Apr | 21 Apr – 26 Jun | 13 Jul – 18 Sep | 5 Oct – 18 Dec |
| ACT | 28 Jan – 3 Apr | 21 Apr – 26 Jun | 13 Jul – 18 Sep | 5 Oct – 18 Dec |
| Break Period | Dates | Duration | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Holidays (Start of Year) | 20 Dec 2025 – 27 Jan 2026 | 39 days | Summer |
| Autumn Break | 4 Apr – 20 Apr 2026 | 17 days | Autumn |
| Winter Break | 27 Jun – 12 Jul 2026 | 16 days | Winter |
| Spring Break | 19 Sep – 4 Oct 2026 | 16 days | Spring |
| Summer Holidays (End of Year) | 19 Dec 2026 – 26 Jan 2027 | 39 days | Summer |
Australia's school calendar system derives from the constitutional division of powers established in 1901, which assigned education to state and territory governments. The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) sets the national curriculum framework, but each state education department retains authority over term scheduling, holiday dates, and instructional day requirements. Government (public) schools follow the official state-set dates. Catholic and independent (private) schools operate under broadly similar four-term structures with variations of up to one week in start and end dates. Families enrolled in non-government schools should verify dates with their specific institution.
Australia contains over 500 national parks across 6 states and 2 territories. These protected areas encompass coastal, alpine, rainforest, and arid landscapes.
State capitals host major public institutions with free general admission. Collections span natural history, Indigenous culture, fine art, and applied sciences.
Australia operates major theme park complexes on the Gold Coast (QLD) and zoological parks in every state capital. Wildlife sanctuaries provide encounters with endemic species including koalas, kangaroos, wombats, and Tasmanian devils.
Australian capital cities and regional centres operate weekly fresh produce markets, artisan food halls, and farm-gate trails. Markets run on fixed weekly schedules year-round.
Get ready for the school holidays with these popular family-friendly products. Perfect for road trips, beach days, camping adventures, and keeping kids entertained.
| Product | Category | Perfect For | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Kids Travel Luggage
Fun wheeled suitcases for little travellers
|
Travel | Road trips, Flights | View on Amazon |
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Pop-Up Beach Tent
UV protection shelter for beach days
|
Beach | Beach holidays, Parks | View on Amazon |
|
Kids Camping Set
Child-sized camping gear and accessories
|
Camping | Camping trips, Backyard | View on Amazon |
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Travel Games Bundle
Compact games for long car journeys
|
Games | Car trips, Rainy days | View on Amazon |
|
Activity Books Pack
Educational puzzles and colouring books
|
Educational | Quiet time, Learning | View on Amazon |
|
Kids Binoculars
Perfect for nature walks and wildlife spotting
|
Outdoor | Nature walks, Zoos | View on Amazon |
|
Pool Toys & Floats
Inflatable fun for pool and beach
|
Water Fun | Pool, Beach, Summer | View on Amazon |
|
Kids Headphones
Volume-limited headphones for safe listening
|
Travel | Flights, Car trips | View on Amazon |
Expert tips and ideas to help you make the most of your school holidays
Complete guide to OSHC, vacation care, sports camps, creative workshops, and STEM programs for kids.
Read MoreNavigate state holiday date variations, find the best deals, and plan seamless cross-border adventures.
Read MoreTransform home into a holiday destination with backyard camping, themed days, and budget-friendly fun.
Read MoreThe interactive calendar displays term dates and holiday periods for all eight Australian states and territories. The state filter dropdown restricts the display to a single jurisdiction. Calendar View renders a monthly grid with colour-coded dates: green indicates school terms, gold indicates term breaks, and red indicates public holidays. List View renders a chronological table of all holiday periods with start dates, end dates, and durations.
Selecting "All States" in the filter displays overlapping holiday periods across jurisdictions. This cross-state view identifies shared break windows, which is relevant for families coordinating travel between states or planning gatherings with relatives in different jurisdictions.
Each Australian state and territory operates an independent education department that determines school term dates. Differences of one to two weeks exist between jurisdictions for mid-year, spring, and autumn breaks. Factors such as regional public holidays, climate zones, and historical scheduling patterns produce these variations. Queensland schedules earlier mid-year breaks aligned with subtropical winter months. Southern states adjust dates for temperate seasonal factors.
State education departments publish school term dates 12 to 18 months before the calendar year begins. For 2026, most states released their calendars between mid-2024 and early 2025. Dates occasionally change due to unforeseen circumstances. Verifying dates closer to the planned holiday period with the relevant state education department is advisable.
Private and independent schools in Australia follow similar four-term structures to government schools. Exact start and end dates vary by institution. Some private schools schedule longer mid-year breaks or different term lengths. Families enrolled in independent schools should consult their school's published calendar. The state-set dates serve as a baseline reference for public school schedules and public holiday observance.
Australia's school year runs from late January to mid-December, aligning with the Southern Hemisphere calendar. This contrasts with Northern Hemisphere countries (United States, United Kingdom, Canada, most of Europe), where the academic year runs from September to June. Australia's longest break (approximately 6 weeks) occurs over the Christmas and New Year period during the Southern Hemisphere summer. The four-term structure with shorter mid-year breaks differs from the three-term system used in New Zealand and the semester system common in North American K-12 education.
The 2026 Australian school year contains approximately 200 instructional days across four terms. Term 1 spans 66 days, Term 2 spans 67 days, Term 3 spans 68 days, and Term 4 spans 75 days. The total instructional day count varies slightly between states due to student-free days (professional development days for staff) and state-specific public holidays falling on school days. Student-free days typically number between 4 and 7 per year depending on the jurisdiction.