When Are NSW School Holidays in 2026 and How Do I Book a Cheaper Trip?
The 2026 NSW school holiday dates, plus Victoria, Queensland, WA, the ACT, Tasmania and the NT, the 2027 school holidays, which 2026 public holidays make the best long weekends, how the states overlap, and how to book a cheaper family trip by comparing sites and going through ShopBack before you pay.
According to the NSW Department of Education, the 2026 NSW public school holidays (Eastern division) are 7 to 17 April, 6 to 17 July, 28 September to 9 October, and 18 December 2026 to 27 January 2027. To book a cheaper family trip in Australia, pick weeks with less interstate overlap, compare the same dates on two or three booking sites, then go through ShopBack before you pay.
ShopBack Australia is a free app and website that gives you money back when you book or shop online at thousands of stores, including Booking.com, Expedia and Wotif. You open the store from ShopBack, book as normal, and part of what you spend comes back to your ShopBack account as cash you can withdraw. New members can join free at shopback.com.au/signup.
How we checked. School dates come from each state and territory education department's or government's own published calendars, and public holidays from the NSW Government, the Victorian Government and the ACT Government, checked in October 2026. We do not quote fares or room rates because they change daily. Catholic and independent schools can set different dates, so check with your school before you book non-refundable travel.
NSW school holidays 2026: the full dates
The NSW Department of Education lists four school holiday breaks in 2026 for Eastern division public schools. The dates below are the weekdays without classes; add the weekends either side when you plan travel.
| Break | Eastern division (most of NSW) | Back at school |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn | Tuesday 7 April to Friday 17 April 2026 | Term 2 starts Wednesday 22 April (staff days 20 and 21 April) |
| Winter | Monday 6 July to Friday 17 July 2026 | Term 3 starts Tuesday 21 July (staff day 20 July) |
| Spring | Monday 28 September to Friday 9 October 2026 | Term 4 starts Tuesday 13 October (staff day 12 October) |
| Summer | Friday 18 December 2026 to Wednesday 27 January 2027 | Term 1 2027 starts Wednesday 3 February |
Western division. Schools in the far west of NSW have the same autumn, winter and spring breaks, but summer runs from Friday 18 December 2026 to Wednesday 3 February 2027, according to the department. A small number of schools near the Victorian and Queensland borders use different dates.
School development days stretch the break. The days in brackets above are staff-only days with no classes, so with Good Friday on 3 April, a NSW autumn trip could run from Friday 3 April to Tuesday 21 April 2026 without missing class.
NSW school holidays 2026 best deals: how to book a cheaper family trip
The cheapest NSW school holiday trips usually come from picking a lower-demand week, comparing the total price on more than one site and going through ShopBack before you pay. A routine that works:
- Pick the week first. In 2026, NSW summer starts on Friday 18 December, a week after Queensland (Saturday 12 December), so mid-December Queensland trips compete with Queensland families already on holiday. The overlap table below shows the quieter weeks.
- Fly on quieter days. The first Saturday and last Sunday of a break are usually the busiest days to fly. A school development day at the end of the break can let you come back on a Monday or Tuesday.
- Compare the total price, not the headline rate. Price the same dates, room type and inclusions on Booking.com, Expedia and Wotif, then add anything one option leaves out, such as breakfast for four.
- Use free member pricing where it lowers the price. Booking.com Genius and Expedia's One Key are both free, as explained below.
- Book a refundable rate early, then keep checking. In peak weeks, locking in a free cancellation rate and watching for a lower price usually beats waiting for a last-minute drop.
- Go through ShopBack to the booking site before you pay.
When are the Victorian school holidays in 2026?
Victorian government school holidays in 2026 run from 3 to 19 April, 27 June to 12 July, 19 September to 4 October, and 21 December 2026 to 27 January 2027, based on the Victorian Government's published term dates. Term 4 runs from Monday 5 October to Friday 18 December, and the Victorian Government lists the summer school holidays as Monday 21 December 2026 to Wednesday 27 January 2027, with students starting Thursday 28 January in government schools.
| Term | Starts | Finishes |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Tuesday 27 January (students Wednesday 28 January) | Thursday 2 April |
| Term 2 | Monday 20 April | Friday 26 June |
| Term 3 | Monday 13 July | Friday 18 September |
| Term 4 | Monday 5 October | Friday 18 December |
Cheaper trip tip for Victoria. Victoria's winter break starts a week before NSW's, so 27 June to 5 July 2026 overlapped less with Sydney families. For summer, the Christmas and Boxing Day public holidays fall inside the break, and the days before Christmas usually face less demand than Boxing Day to New Year.
When are the Queensland school holidays in 2026?
According to the Queensland Department of Education, 2026 state school holidays are 3 to 19 April (17 days), 27 June to 12 July (16 days), 19 September to 5 October (17 days) and 12 December 2026 to 26 January 2027 (46 days). Term 4 runs from Tuesday 6 October to Friday 11 December 2026.
Cheaper trip tip for Queensland. Queensland's summer break starts on Saturday 12 December, about a week before NSW, Victoria, the ACT and Tasmania. A trip from 12 to 17 December usually means fewer interstate families at the same resorts and on the same flights, before the Christmas rush.
When are the WA school holidays in 2026?
According to the WA Department of Education, the 2026 public school breaks are 3 to 19 April, 4 to 19 July and 26 September to 11 October, with Term 4 ending on Thursday 17 December. Term 1 of 2027 starts on Monday 1 February 2027, so the WA summer break runs from Friday 18 December 2026 to Sunday 31 January 2027.
Cheaper trip tip for WA. WA's July break starts a week after Victoria's and runs to 19 July. The second week, 13 to 19 July, overlaps with fewer eastern states, which can help if you are flying east or to Bali.
When are the ACT school holidays in 2026?
The ACT Government lists these 2026 public school term dates, and the holidays fall in between:
| Term | Students start | Term ends |
|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Friday 30 January (new students), Monday 2 February (continuing students) | Thursday 2 April |
| Term 2 | Tuesday 21 April | Friday 3 July |
| Term 3 | Tuesday 21 July | Friday 25 September |
| Term 4 | Tuesday 13 October | Friday 18 December |
That puts the ACT breaks at Friday 3 April to Monday 20 April, Saturday 4 July to Monday 20 July, and Saturday 26 September to Monday 12 October 2026, with summer from Saturday 19 December. Private schools may have different dates.
Cheaper trip tip for the ACT. ACT breaks closely match NSW, so Canberra families compete with Sydney families for the same weeks. The ACT's Labour Day public holiday on Monday 5 October falls inside the spring break, and Christmas and Boxing Day (Friday 25 December, with a substitute holiday on Monday 28 December) fall inside the summer break.
When are the Tasmanian school holidays in 2026?
According to Tasmania's Department for Education, Children and Young People, the 2026 school holidays are 18 April to 3 May, 11 July to 26 July and 3 October to 18 October, and Term 4 runs from 19 October to 18 December. Colleges have their own finishing dates, which may depend on exam dates. Two student-free days follow in Term 4: Friday 23 October (South only) and Friday 30 October (North only).
Cheaper trip tip for Tasmania. Tasmania's autumn break starts later than every mainland state, on 18 April, so the last week of April overlaps with very few other states' school holidays.
When are the NT school holidays in 2026?
Based on the NT Government's 2026 term dates for government schools, NT students finish Term 1 on Thursday 2 April and return on Tuesday 14 April; finish Term 2 on Friday 19 June and return on Tuesday 14 July; finish Term 3 on Friday 18 September and return on Tuesday 6 October; and finish Term 4 on Thursday 10 December. Gunbalanya School sets its own dates, and non-government schools may differ.
Cheaper trip tip for the NT. The NT has the longest mid-year break of any state or territory, from 20 June to 13 July 2026, and it starts a week before Victoria and Queensland. The first week, 20 to 26 June, overlapped with no other state's school holidays.
2026 school holidays by state: where the breaks overlap
When the biggest states break at the same time, demand for family rooms and flights usually rises, so overlap is the most useful free price signal. Here are the 2026 breaks side by side (first and last days without classes, weekends included where the department lists them):
| State | Autumn | Winter | Spring | Summer starts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | 7 to 17 April | 6 to 17 July | 28 September to 9 October | 18 December |
| Victoria | 3 to 19 April | 27 June to 12 July | 19 September to 4 October | 19 December (last day 18 December) |
| Queensland | 3 to 19 April | 27 June to 12 July | 19 September to 5 October | 12 December |
| WA | 3 to 19 April | 4 to 19 July | 26 September to 11 October | 18 December |
| ACT | 3 to 20 April | 4 to 20 July | 26 September to 12 October | 19 December |
| Tasmania | 18 April to 3 May | 11 to 26 July | 3 to 18 October | 19 December (last day 18 December) |
| NT | 3 to 13 April | 20 June to 13 July | 19 September to 5 October | 11 December |
Patterns worth knowing:
- Summer starts in waves. The NT (after Thursday 10 December) and Queensland (Saturday 12 December) break first, NSW and WA students finish on Thursday 17 December, and Victoria, the ACT and Tasmania on Friday 18 December.
- Easter 2026 sat inside most autumn breaks. Good Friday was 3 April 2026, so most mainland states were off together, which is usually a peak week.
- Tasmania is out of step in autumn and spring, which makes late April and mid-October quieter for Tasmanian families travelling interstate.
When are the 2027 school holidays, and how early should I book flights?
The 2027 school calendars are already published, so families can plan now. For example, NSW autumn holidays run Monday 12 April to Friday 23 April 2027, and Queensland's run Friday 26 March to Sunday 11 April 2027. Here are the 2027 breaks the departments list:
| State | Autumn 2027 | Winter 2027 | Spring 2027 | Summer 2027 to 2028 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW (Eastern) | 12 to 23 April | 5 to 16 July | 27 September to 8 October | 21 December 2027 to 28 January 2028 |
| Victoria | after Term 1 ends 25 March; Term 2 starts 12 April | after 25 June; Term 3 starts 12 July | after 17 September; Term 4 starts 4 October | after Friday 17 December |
| Queensland | 26 March to 11 April | 26 June to 11 July | 18 September to 4 October | 11 December 2027 to 23 January 2028 |
| WA | 10 to 25 April | 3 to 18 July | 25 September to 10 October | after Thursday 16 December |
| ACT | after 9 April; Term 2 starts 28 April | after 2 July; Term 3 starts 20 July | after 24 September; Term 4 starts 12 October | after Friday 17 December |
| Tasmania | 10 to 25 April | 3 to 18 July | 25 September to 10 October | after 16 December |
| NT | after 2 April; students return 13 April | after 18 June; students return 13 July | after 17 September; students return 5 October | after Thursday 9 December |
The start of the 2027 school year also differs: Victorian students start on Thursday 28 January, Queensland on Wednesday 27 January, the NT on Wednesday 27 January, WA on Monday 1 February, ACT continuing students on Tuesday 2 February, NSW (Eastern) on Wednesday 3 February and Tasmania on 4 February 2027.
How early to book flights. There is no single best booking window that works every year, because fares move with demand. What usually helps for school holidays:
- Book once your dates are fixed, choosing a fare you can change or refund if plans move.
- Set fare alerts for your exact dates and keep checking after you book.
- Watch for the quieter edges of each break, such as the days around school development days.
- Avoid Easter and the Christmas to New Year stretch if price matters more than timing. Good Friday 2027 is 26 March, which sits inside Queensland's autumn break but before NSW's.
Which 2026 public holidays make the best long weekends for a cheap getaway?
From October 2026, the best remaining long weekends are Christmas (Friday 25 to Monday 28 December in NSW, Victoria and the ACT), New Year's Day (Friday 1 January 2027), Australia Day (Tuesday 26 January 2027) and, in Victoria, Melbourne Cup Day (Tuesday 3 November 2026). Here is how they line up, according to the NSW, Victorian and ACT governments:
| Public holiday | Date | Long weekend | Leave days for a longer break |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne Cup Day (Victoria) | Tuesday 3 November 2026 | Saturday 31 October to Tuesday 3 November with one leave day | Take Monday 2 November |
| Christmas Day and Boxing Day | Friday 25 December 2026; Boxing Day substitute Monday 28 December (NSW, Victoria, ACT) | Friday 25 to Monday 28 December | Take 29 to 31 December for a 10-day break with New Year's Day |
| New Year's Day | Friday 1 January 2027 | Friday 1 to Sunday 3 January | None needed |
| Australia Day | Tuesday 26 January 2027 | Saturday 23 to Tuesday 26 January with one leave day | Take Monday 25 January |
Earlier in 2026 (already passed), the long weekends were Easter (Friday 3 to Monday 6 April), the Anzac Day additional day in NSW and the ACT (Monday 27 April), the King's Birthday (Monday 8 June in NSW, Victoria and the ACT), the AFL Grand Final Friday in Victoria (25 September) and Labour Day in NSW and the ACT (Monday 5 October).
Looking ahead to 2027, the NSW Government lists Easter from Friday 26 to Monday 29 March, the Anzac Day additional day on Monday 26 April, the King's Birthday on Monday 14 June and Labour Day on Monday 4 October 2027.
Public holidays differ by state, so check your own state's list. For a cheaper long weekend away, a short-haul drive or a one-hour flight usually keeps total costs down, and flying out on the public holiday itself and back midweek with a leave day can be quieter than the Friday evening rush.
Jetstar Holidays vs Wotif vs Expedia for school holidays: how to compare
Jetstar Holidays, Wotif and Expedia all sell flight and hotel holidays, and none is always cheaper; compare the same trip on each. For a fair comparison:
Match the flights, dates and times, the room type for your family, the inclusions (breakfast, transfers, checked bags) and the cancellation rules before you compare prices.
What each site offers, at the time of writing:
- Expedia runs One Key, a free travel rewards program. According to Expedia, members can save 10% or more on thousands of hotels with Member Prices and earn and use OneKeyCash on eligible hotels, flights, holiday rentals, hire cars and activities.
- Booking.com runs Genius, which is free once you create an account, with discounts on select properties, according to Booking.com. It is best for stays only.
- Wotif is an Australian travel booking site for hotels, flights and holiday packages, and it is on ShopBack Australia.
- Jetstar Holidays packages Jetstar flights with accommodation. It was not on ShopBack Australia at the time of writing, so compare its price only.
Other travel sites popular with Australian families, including Agoda, Trip.com and Hotels.com, are also on ShopBack Australia.
Plan the trip, then book through ShopBack
Booking a trip online: pick your dates, compare flights and hotels, go through ShopBack to the booking site, then pay with a travel card.
- Pick your dates from your state's table above, ideally a week with less interstate overlap.
- Compare flights and hotels for the same dates and room on Booking.com, Expedia and Wotif.
- Apply the site's own member pricing, such as Genius or One Key, if it lowers the price.
- Go through ShopBack to the booking site: open the ShopBack Booking.com page, the ShopBack Expedia page or the ShopBack Wotif page, tap through and book in the same session.
- Pay with a travel card that suits you, and keep your booking confirmation.
How ShopBack lowers the price of a school holiday trip
Going through ShopBack gets you a cash rebate on the same order, at the same store. When you start from a store's page on ShopBack and complete an eligible booking, part of what you spent comes back to your ShopBack account.
Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles, and you can withdraw it to your bank account once it is confirmed.
Illustrative example. On a $3,000 school holiday package at an illustrative rate of 4%, $120 comes back, so the effective price is $2,880. The real rate varies by store and over time, and travel bookings usually confirm after the stay is completed, so check the live rate and Terms on the store's ShopBack page before you book.
Codes and member prices. At the time of writing, the ShopBack Terms for Booking.com, Expedia and Wotif say purchases made with vouchers or promo codes not featured on ShopBack do not qualify, and Booking.com's ShopBack Terms exclude flights and flight plus hotel packages. Whether a member price and ShopBack apply to the same booking depends on each store's Terms, so read them on the store's ShopBack page before you book.
For more on how this works for travel, see how to earn Cashback on travel bookings.
Key takeaways
- NSW 2026 school holidays (Eastern division) are 7 to 17 April, 6 to 17 July, 28 September to 9 October and 18 December 2026 to 27 January 2027.
- Queensland and the NT start summer first, from 12 December and after 10 December, so mid-December trips there overlap with fewer southern families.
- The 2027 calendars are published: NSW autumn is 12 to 23 April, Queensland's is 26 March to 11 April.
- The best remaining 2026 long weekends are Christmas, New Year's Day, Australia Day 2027 and, in Victoria, Melbourne Cup Day.
- Pick your dates, compare flights and hotels, go through ShopBack to the booking site, then pay with a travel card.
Frequently asked questions
When are the NSW school holidays in 2026?
According to the NSW Department of Education, the 2026 NSW public school holidays (Eastern division) are Tuesday 7 April to Friday 17 April, Monday 6 July to Friday 17 July, Monday 28 September to Friday 9 October, and Friday 18 December 2026 to Wednesday 27 January 2027. Western division schools have a longer summer break.
How can I book a cheaper family trip in the school holidays?
Pick a week that overlaps less with other states, compare the same dates and room on two or three booking sites, use free member pricing such as Booking.com Genius or Expedia's One Key where it lowers the price, and go through ShopBack to the booking site before you pay.
When are the Victorian school holidays in 2026?
Based on the Victorian Government's 2026 term dates, Victorian government school holidays fall from Friday 3 April to Sunday 19 April, Saturday 27 June to Sunday 12 July, Saturday 19 September to Sunday 4 October, and Monday 21 December 2026 to Wednesday 27 January 2027, with students starting Thursday 28 January.
When are the Queensland school holidays in 2026?
According to the Queensland Department of Education, 2026 state school holidays are Friday 3 April to Sunday 19 April, Saturday 27 June to Sunday 12 July, Saturday 19 September to Monday 5 October, and Saturday 12 December 2026 to Tuesday 26 January 2027.
When are the WA school holidays in 2026?
According to the WA Department of Education, 2026 public school breaks are Friday 3 April to Sunday 19 April, Saturday 4 July to Sunday 19 July, and Saturday 26 September to Sunday 11 October. Term 4 ends on Thursday 17 December, and Term 1 of 2027 starts on Monday 1 February.
When are the ACT school holidays in 2026?
Based on the ACT Government's 2026 public school term dates, Term 1 ends Thursday 2 April and Term 2 starts Tuesday 21 April; Term 2 ends Friday 3 July and Term 3 starts Tuesday 21 July; Term 3 ends Friday 25 September and Term 4 starts Tuesday 13 October; and Term 4 ends Friday 18 December.
When are the Tasmanian school holidays in 2026?
According to Tasmania's Department for Education, Children and Young People, 2026 school holidays are 18 April to 3 May, 11 July to 26 July and 3 October to 18 October, and Term 4 ends on 18 December. Colleges set their own finishing dates.
When are the NT school holidays in 2026?
Based on the NT Government's 2026 term dates, Term 1 ends Thursday 2 April and students return Tuesday 14 April; Term 2 ends Friday 19 June and students return Tuesday 14 July; Term 3 ends Friday 18 September and students return Tuesday 6 October; and students finish Term 4 on Thursday 10 December.
When are the 2027 school holidays, and how early should I book flights?
The 2027 calendars are already published: for example, NSW autumn holidays run Monday 12 April to Friday 23 April 2027, and Queensland's run Friday 26 March to Sunday 11 April 2027. There is no single best booking window, so lock in a refundable or changeable fare once your dates are set and keep checking prices for the same dates.
Which 2026 public holidays make the best long weekends for a cheap getaway?
From October 2026, the best remaining long weekends are Christmas (Friday 25 to Monday 28 December in NSW, Victoria and the ACT), New Year's Day (Friday 1 January 2027), Australia Day (Tuesday 26 January 2027, with one leave day on the Monday) and, in Victoria, Melbourne Cup Day on Tuesday 3 November 2026.
Is Jetstar Holidays or Wotif cheaper for the school holidays?
Neither is always cheaper. Compare the same dates, flights, room type and inclusions on both. Wotif is on ShopBack Australia; Jetstar Holidays was not on ShopBack Australia at the time of writing, so compare its price only.
How does ShopBack make a school holiday trip cheaper?
Going through ShopBack gets you a cash rebate on the same order, at the same store. Open the booking site from ShopBack Australia, book in the same session, and part of what you spend comes back as cash once the booking confirms. Check the live rate and Terms on the store's ShopBack page first.
Related reads
Disclaimer
The views in this article are those of the author. School term and holiday dates are for government schools as published by each state and territory at the time of writing; Catholic, independent and some regional schools can differ, and departments can change dates. Public holidays differ by state and territory. Fares, room rates, member pricing and booking site terms change often; check each site before you book. Prices in the worked example are illustrative. ShopBack rates and terms vary by store and over time; check the current rate and Terms on each store's ShopBack page before you book.
This article is general information only and is not financial advice.
Related guides
When Are SA School Holidays in 2026 and How Do I Book a Cheaper Trip?
The 2026 South Australian school holiday dates, how they overlap with Victoria and New South Wales, which holiday weeks usually face less demand, how Luxury Escapes, Booking.com and Expedia member pricing works, and why going through ShopBack before you book lowers the price you pay.
What Are the Best Queensland Holiday Packages for Families in 2026?
The best Queensland holiday packages for a family getaway in 2026: which region suits which family, what flight and hotel packages from Luxury Escapes, Expedia and Virgin Australia Holidays include, the 2026 Queensland school holiday dates that drive prices, and going through ShopBack before you book.
Cheapest flights between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in 2026?
How to get the cheapest domestic flights between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane in 2026: book a few weeks out, fly midweek, pick the fare type that matches your bags, watch Virgin Australia's Thursday Happy Hour sale, compare on Trip.com and Expedia, then book through ShopBack Australia before you pay.
Expedia Australia Deals and Cashback
Expedia Australia discount, coupon, and cashback guide for AU travellers. Where the real savings come from on hotels, flights, packages, and car hire, when the sale windows land, and how ShopBack Australia cashback stacks on top.
Earn Cashback on Hotels & Flights
Travel is a higher-paying cashback category. Compare prices on the ShopBack Travel Planner, click through to Booking.com, Agoda, Expedia, Virgin Australia, or Wotif, and complete the booking in the same session.
