Kids Activities10 min read

25 School Holiday Activities for Kids in Australia (Spring 2026)

Plan spring break with 25 school holiday activities for Australian kids, plus 2026 dates for every state and territory and free rainy-day ideas.

Published September 21, 2026By Kivvie product team · How we research and review

NSW Term 3 ends on Friday 25 September. The official spring school vacation dates are Monday 28 September to Friday 9 October 2026, and students return on Tuesday 13 October after a school development day. During the week beginning 28 September, government-school students are on break in every state and territory except Tasmania. Tasmania finishes Term 3 on Friday 2 October and starts its break the next day. Victorian students return on Monday 5 October; Queensland and Northern Territory students return on Tuesday 6 October.

The week is long. The budget is not. This list mixes free days, rainy-day backups, bookable local programs, and one sensible way to use a screen without losing the afternoon to it.

Spring 2026 school holiday dates around Australia

The table covers government schools. Independent and Catholic school dates can differ, and individual schools may add pupil-free days. Use the source link in your row and check your school's own calendar before booking care or travel.

New South Wales (NSW)

Term 3 ends: Fri 25 Sep
Students return: Tue 13 Oct
Calendar note: Mon 12 Oct is a school development day.
On break week of 28 Sep?: Yes

Victoria (VIC)

Term 3 ends: Fri 18 Sep
Students return: Mon 5 Oct
Calendar note: Victoria's Term 4 begins Mon 5 Oct.
On break week of 28 Sep?: Yes

Queensland (QLD)

Term 3 ends: Fri 18 Sep
Students return: Tue 6 Oct
Calendar note: Queensland's official holiday period includes Mon 5 Oct.
On break week of 28 Sep?: Yes

Western Australia (WA)

Term 3 ends: Fri 25 Sep
Students return: Mon 12 Oct
On break week of 28 Sep?: Yes

South Australia (SA)

Term 3 ends: Fri 25 Sep
Students return: Mon 12 Oct
On break week of 28 Sep?: Yes

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

Term 3 ends: Fri 25 Sep
Students return: Tue 13 Oct
Calendar note: Mon 12 Oct is a student-free day.
On break week of 28 Sep?: Yes

Tasmania (TAS)

Term 3 ends: Fri 2 Oct
Students return: Mon 19 Oct
On break week of 28 Sep?: Starts Sat 3 Oct

Northern Territory (NT)

Term 3 ends: Fri 18 Sep
Students return: Tue 6 Oct
Calendar note: Teachers return Mon 5 Oct; students return Tue 6 Oct.
On break week of 28 Sep?: Yes

Spring 2026 school holiday dates by state and territory
State or territory	Term 3 ends	Students return	On break week of 28 Sep?
New South Wales (NSW)	Fri 25 Sep	Tue 13 OctMon 12 Oct is a school development day.	Yes
Victoria (VIC)	Fri 18 Sep	Mon 5 OctVictoria's Term 4 begins Mon 5 Oct.	Yes
Queensland (QLD)	Fri 18 Sep	Tue 6 OctQueensland's official holiday period includes Mon 5 Oct.	Yes
Western Australia (WA)	Fri 25 Sep	Mon 12 Oct	Yes
South Australia (SA)	Fri 25 Sep	Mon 12 Oct	Yes
Australian Capital Territory (ACT)	Fri 25 Sep	Tue 13 OctMon 12 Oct is a student-free day.	Yes
Tasmania (TAS)	Fri 2 Oct	Mon 19 Oct	Starts Sat 3 Oct
Northern Territory (NT)	Fri 18 Sep	Tue 6 OctTeachers return Mon 5 Oct; students return Tue 6 Oct.	Yes

NSW's education department lists Monday 28 September to Friday 9 October as the official school vacation dates. The break starts for families after Term 3 ends on Friday 25 September, and the Monday 12 October development day explains why students return on Tuesday 13 October.

25 school holiday activities for primary-school kids

Do not try to fill every hour. One planned thing in the morning, lunch, and a quiet afternoon is a perfectly respectable holiday day. Pick a handful of ideas that suit your child, weather, energy, and budget.

Free outdoor activities

Save the paid day out for later in the break. These work in a park, backyard, local reserve, or around your own suburb.

1
Make a playground passport
Pick three playgrounds you have never visited. Give each one a score for climbing, shade, toilets, and the all-important snack spot.
2
Run a nature bingo walk
Draw a 3 by 3 grid with things your child can spot locally: a feather, something yellow, a smooth rock, a bird call, or a seed pod.
3
Plan a bike or scooter route
Let your child choose the destination, pack water, and add one stop for a playground or picnic. A short route is enough for younger riders.
4
Have breakfast in the park
Pack toast, fruit, or cereal and leave home early. It feels like an outing without taking up the whole day or the whole budget.
5
Hold a backyard mini Olympics
Use socks for a throwing contest, chalk for a balance line, and a laundry basket for target practice. Let the kids invent the last event.
6
Try a photo scavenger hunt
Give each child ten prompts such as a tiny door, a funny shadow, or three different leaf shapes. Print a favourite later if you can.
7
Build a chalk obstacle course
Add hop zones, spinning circles, animal walks, and a finish line to a driveway or quiet paved area. Wash it away when you are done.
8
Take a beach, creek, or river picnic
Pack a simple lunch and give the kids a collecting mission that leaves nature where it is: count shells, sketch birds, or photograph interesting rocks.

Rainy-day activities at home

You do not need twelve ingredients or a spotless craft room. Start with whatever is already in the cupboard or recycling bin.

9
Build a cardboard city
Use cereal boxes, delivery cartons, tape, and markers. Roads, parks, a vet, and a ridiculous tower can keep the project going for days.
10
Set a kitchen science challenge
Ask a question first, then test it: which paper bridge holds the most coins, or which homemade boat carries the most Lego pieces?
11
Put the kids in charge of lunch
Give them two or three realistic options, then let them write the list, help shop, prepare the food, and serve it.
12
Make a stop-motion film
Use toys or paper characters and a phone or tablet. Keep the first story to 20 seconds so the project reaches the credits before everyone loses patience.
13
Open a reading den
Build a blanket fort, make library cards, and let the kids choose the snacks. An audiobook counts, especially if younger siblings are sharing the space.
14
Run a board-game bracket
Choose four quick games and draw a knockout chart. If competition gets spicy, switch to a family-versus-the-clock challenge.
15
Create a one-box building challenge
Tip one tub of Lego, blocks, or magnetic tiles onto the table. Build a bridge, animal shelter, dream bedroom, or machine with one moving part.
16
Draw a family comic
Fold paper into panels and turn a boring real event into a dramatic story. The missing shoe can become the villain.

Local activities worth checking

Search early and book only the days you really need. Council and library programs often mix free drop-ins with paid workshops.

17
A library workshop
Look for craft, coding, Lego, movie, and story sessions through your local council library. Search the library name plus 'school holidays'.
18
A museum or gallery family day
Check the family or learning page before you go. Holiday programs may include trails, making tables, short workshops, or booked sessions.
19
A council sport clinic
Skate, bike, basketball, tennis, swimming, and multi-sport sessions are common council listings. Confirm ages, equipment, and supervision rules before booking.
20
A garden or wildlife program
Botanic gardens, zoos, wildlife parks, and national parks often run guided holiday activities. A self-guided walk is a good fallback if sessions sell out.
21
A community art class
Try clay, painting, sewing, dance, circus, or drama. Half-day sessions can suit families who want one booked activity without committing to a full camp.
22
A child-planned public transport day
Choose one destination, let your child help read the route, and set a snack budget. Check service changes and fares before leaving.

Screen activities that end with making

If a screen is part of the day, give it a finish line. Pick one approved how-to video, then put the device away and make the thing.

23
Watch one tutorial, then do the project
Choose a drawing, recipe, dance, paper plane, or beginner craft video in advance. Gather the materials before pressing play so the screen leads somewhere useful.
24
Let your child teach it back
After the project, ask your child to show someone else the steps or record their own short explanation. Teaching it back makes a natural stopping point.
25
Start a holiday show-and-tell folder
Photograph finished projects, ticket stubs, funny failures, and day trips. At the end of the break, let your child choose five favourites to share.

Where to find current school holiday programs

School holiday searches are local. Start with your council library, aquatic centre, museum, botanic garden, and state parks service. These official 2026 listings are useful starting points in each capital or jurisdiction:

Search beyond the capital by replacing the city name with your council or nearest regional centre. Before booking, check the age range, cost, accessibility, cancellation policy, adult supervision rules, and whether materials are included.

A low-effort plan for the break

Put one bigger outing and one booked activity on the calendar first. Leave the rest loose. A useful rhythm for primary-school kids is:

Two local outdoor mornings each week.
One library, museum, sport, or art booking.
One friend or cousin day, if that works for your family.
One home project that can stay out and grow over several days.
Blank days for rest, errands, and the plans that fall apart.

Before an outdoor day: check the Bureau of Meteorology UV forecast and current weather warnings. For beach, pool, creek, or river plans, read Royal Life Saving's child supervision advice and stay within the rules for that location.

If screens are part of the holiday plan

Screens are useful for the rainy days and the hour when everyone needs some space. Decide what the session is for before it starts. A drawing tutorial, recipe, dance, or science demonstration has a natural next step away from the screen.

Choose the video first, turn off autoplay, and stop when the project starts. If open recommendations keep taking over, Kivvie lets parents choose the YouTube channels a child can see. You can also read our guides to reasonable YouTube screen time for kids and setting a YouTube time limit.

FAQ

When are the NSW spring school holidays in 2026?

NSW Term 3 ends on Friday 25 September 2026. The official spring school vacation dates are Monday 28 September to Friday 9 October. Monday 12 October is a school development day, so students return for Term 4 on Tuesday 13 October. A small number of border schools use different dates, so check your school's calendar.

Which Australian states are on school holidays during the week of 28 September 2026?

Government-school students are on break during the week beginning 28 September in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, the ACT, and the Northern Territory. Tasmania's Term 3 continues until Friday 2 October, with its holiday break beginning on Saturday 3 October.

What are some free school holiday activities for primary-school kids?

Try a playground passport, nature bingo walk, bike or scooter route, backyard mini Olympics, photo scavenger hunt, cardboard city, reading den, or board-game bracket. Local council libraries also often list free workshops and drop-in activities, but places may need to be booked.

What can kids do at home on a rainy school-holiday day?

A cardboard city, kitchen science test, stop-motion film, one-box Lego challenge, family comic, cooking project, reading den, or board-game bracket all work indoors with ordinary household supplies.

How do I find school holiday activities near me?

Search your council name, local library, nearest museum, aquatic centre, botanic garden, and state parks service with the words 'school holidays'. Check the date, age range, price, accessibility, supervision rules, and whether bookings are required before you leave.

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