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Written by Ashleigh Whitehill
The school holidays are the perfect time to press pause on the everyday and make special memories as a family, whether that’s building sandcastles on golden beaches, chasing thrills at world-class theme parks or exploring ancient rainforests.
Planning in advance is always a good idea, with popular destinations and resorts in high demand over school holiday periods. Make extra savings by looking out for family friendly all-inclusive packages and stays where kids go free.
Scroll on for our roundup of some of the best places to stay and hot tips for when to travel.
When are the school holidays in 2026?
School holiday dates vary by state, but generally fall around April, July, September and December each year. Below are the 2026 school holiday dates for public schools (private school dates differ), which you can find on the relevant state government website:
- New South Wales
Autumn holidays: Tuesday 7 April to Friday 17 April
Winter holidays: Monday 6 July to Friday 17 July
Spring holidays: Monday 28 September to Friday 9 October 2026
Summer holidays: Friday 18 December to Wednesday 27 January 2027 (for the Eastern division) or Wednesday 3 February 2027 (for the Western division) - Victoria
Autumn holidays: Friday 3 April to Friday 17 April
Winter holidays: Monday 29 June to Friday 10 July
Spring holidays: Monday 21 September to Friday 2 October
Summer holidays: Monday 21 December to Tuesday 26 January 2027 - Queensland
Autumn holidays: Friday 3 April to Friday 17 April
Winter holidays: Monday 29 June to Monday 13 July
Spring holidays: Monday 21 September to Monday 5 October
Summer holidays: Monday 14 December to Tuesday 26 January 2027 - ACT
Autumn holidays: Friday 3 April to Monday 20 April
Winter holidays: Monday 6 July to Monday 20 July
Spring holidays: Monday 28 September to Monday 12 October
Summer holidays: Monday 21 December to Friday 29 January 2027 - Western Australia
Autumn holidays: Friday 3 April to Friday 17 April
Winter holidays: Monday 6 July to Friday 17 July
Spring holidays: Monday 28 September to Friday 9 October
Summer holidays: Friday 18 December to Friday 29 January 2027 - Northern Territory
Autumn holidays: Friday 3 April to Monday 13 April
Winter holidays: Monday 22 June to Monday 13 July
Spring holidays: Monday 21 September to Monday 5 October
Summer holidays: Friday 11 December to Tuesday 26 January 2027 - South Australia
Autumn holidays: Monday 13 April to Friday 24 April
Winter holidays: Monday 6 July to Friday 17 July
Spring holidays: Monday 28 September to Friday 9 October
Summer holidays: Monday 14 December to Tuesday 26 January 2027 - Tasmania
Autumn holidays: Monday 20 April to Friday 1 May
Winter holidays: Monday 13 July to Friday 24 July
Spring holidays: Monday 5 October to Friday 16 October
Summer holidays: Monday 21 December [2027 return to be confirmed]
When to book and what to expect at each school holiday period
When its comes to booking accommodation and flights, the long summer holidays over Christmas are generally the most in-demand. Winter is when those in the southern states typically travel north for warmer weather, so Queensland becomes very popular over these months. The Easter holidays (around March/April) and the spring holidays (around September/October) can offer some of the best value.
For the July and December school holidays, booking around six months in advance is advisable – popular family resorts in Bali, Fiji and Thailand fill quickly, and airfares often climb sharply as departure dates approach. The Easter and September/October holidays typically offer a little more flexibility, with better availability and, in some cases, better value on flights to Southeast Asia outside the peak travel weeks.
Being flexible with your dates and locations means you’ll secure the best prices on flights and accommodation. Consider destination swaps like Vietnam instead of Bali.
Where are the best places to go in the Australian school holidays?
Whether you’re looking for something close to home or an international adventure, these are the best family friendly destinations for the school holidays.
1. Queensland, Australia: beaches, reef and the Gold Coast theme parks
With year-round sunshine, warm, shallow waters lapping golden sandy beaches, the Great Barrier Reef to explore and an abundance of Gold Coast theme parks, Queensland is a perennial favourite for family holidays.
Sea World Resort
Sea World Resort earns its reputation as one of the Gold Coast’s best family stays – not just because the theme park is next door, but because the resort itself gives kids plenty of reasons to never leave. Two pools, a waterpark and an aqua play area keep younger ones busy through the heat of the day, while the school holiday program adds discos, movie nights and character meet and greets in the evenings. When the family does venture out, Sea World delivers a full day of rollercoasters, marine life encounters and live shows just steps from the front door.
Paradise Links Port Douglas
Port Douglas is a perennial favourite for families, thanks to plentiful apartment accommodation, the pristine Four Mile Beach, a main strip with cafes, restaurants and gift boutiques, and the wonders of both the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest on the doorstep. Just a five-minute walk from the beach is Paradise Links; here, set across 10 palm-fringed acres, are villas and apartments that are perfect for a family stay.
2. Fiji: kids’ clubs, coral coast and all-inclusive calm
Fiji is one of the most family-friendly destinations in the Pacific, largely because the resorts have built their whole offering around it. Kids’ clubs on the Coral Coast run daily programs for children aged four and up, and all-inclusive packages mean parents aren’t mentally tallying every juice and snack. Little ones are endlessly entertained while adults can indulge, amid postcard-perfect lagoons and palm trees. The flight from Sydney or Brisbane takes around four hours – short enough for young kids to handle without much fuss.
Warwick Fiji
With its calm waters, endless sunshine and famously warm hospitality, Fiji has long been a favourite for family getaways. Set on Vitu Levu’s southern shores, Warwick Fiji captures the very best of Fijian bliss. Little ones can burn off energy at the action-packed kids’ club (ages 4–12), where daily activities range from fish feeding and crab hunting to sandcastle building and face painting. Older kids can keep busy between the swimming pool and tennis courts. All-inclusive dining packages are the cherry on top, making for a stress-free, sun-soaked escape the whole family will love.
The Naviti Resort
Strike the perfect balance between recreation and relaxation at The Naviti Resort, a sprawling all-inclusive escape on Fiji’s glorious Coral Coast. Here, kids can make a splash in the resort pool, paddle through gentle waters on a kayak or search tide pools for sea creatures. Young kids will love finger painting at the complimentary kids’ club (ages 5–12), while babysitting services give parents the freedom to indulge – whether it’s a tranquil afternoon at Joy Spa or a romantic meal at upscale Talei Restaurant. In the evening, themed buffet dinners and thrilling fire dancing shows are bound to be a hit with the whole family.
3. Bali: big resorts, short flights and low-cost family fun
Reachable in as little as six hours from Melbourne and Sydney, and even less for northern states, Bali offers a complete change of pace without extensive travel time. Fantastic and affordable resorts and villas, plenty of pool and beach time and low-cost travel all point to a perfect family holiday.
Bali works year-round for families, but July – which lines up with Australian winter school holidays – falls in the dry season, making it one of the most reliable times to visit. Resorts in Nusa Dua and Seminyak cater well to families, with kids’ clubs, waterslides and family packages that help keep holidays easy and predictable.
Grand Hyatt Bali
Thanks to its generous all-inclusive packages, dreamy pools with waterslides and prime Nusa Dua beachside location, Grand Hyatt Bali continues to be a Luxury Escapes bestseller. While kids make the most of the ocean-themed kids’ club, adults can relax at the beachside cabanas, spa, bars and yoga studio.
Merusaka Nusa Dua
Designed for a refined escape, those with high school–aged children will relish a stay at beachfront Merusaka Nusa Dua. While a fully supervised kids’ club caters for ages 5–12, multi-tiered pools are perfect for all-day lounging and guided bike tours, beachfront yoga and daily activities like water polo and beach soccer are all on offer to keep teens active, engaged and safe. Interconnecting Deluxe Rooms offer the perfect blend of space and connection, giving teenagers room to unwind or stay on top of school holiday assignments, while adults can enjoy a morning coffee or afternoon nap just next door.
4. Thailand: Phuket’s best family resorts and waterparks
Thailand is another location where tropical indulgence comes with an affordable price tag. You’ll get a lot of bang for your buck here at the luxury resorts, many of which keep families top of mind with kids’ clubs, special pools and babysitting services.
Katathani Phuket Beach Resort
Poised on the shores of Kata Noi Beach, Katathani Phuket Beach Resort is a playground for families. The resort expertly caters to young and old through separate wings – Vhari, Bhuri and Thani. In the Vhari wing, there’s a fun-filled aqua play area with tipping bucket, mini waterslides and water tunnel, perfect for little ones who love to splash and play. In the beachfront Thani wing, generous family suites and direct beach access are ideally suited to older families with teenagers, while the tranquil setting of the Bhuri wing is best for families seeking a quieter retreat. Themed family rooms, an action-packed kids’ club and weekly summer camp programs make this one of Thailand’s best family resorts.
Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket
Four swimming pools, a waterpark with a lazy river and slides, and a beachside location: need we say more? This Phuket resort offers interconnecting rooms and twin double rooms that are well suited to families, plus a kids’ club, playground and games room to keep all ages entertained.
5. Vietnam: the underrated family destination Australians are discovering
Travellers are quickly catching on to the charms of Vietnam for a family holiday. With coastal resorts, fresh and affordable food and plentiful culture and history, this underrated destination is well worth adding to your family bucket list.
Alma Resort Cam Ranh
Cam Ranh sits just 15 minutes from its international airport and a world away from the crowds of nearby Nha Trang – and Alma Resort Cam Ranh makes a strong case for choosing it over Vietnam’s better-known beach destinations. Spread across 30 hectares of beachfront grounds, with 12 pools cascading down to Bai Dai Beach, a dedicated water park and a kids’ club, the resort has enough on-site to fill a week without needing to leave. Older kids and teens are catered for too, with gaming and entertainment spaces, a private cinema and mini golf giving them somewhere to disappear while parents find a pool that suits their mood. Multi-bedroom ocean-view villas with private pools are ideal for families wanting space to spread out at the end of the day.
Naman Retreat
This beachfront resort just south of Da Nang offers the best of both worlds: coastal serenity with the attractions of historic Hoi An just a short drive away. The villas here are ideal for families; with up to three bedrooms and private pools, they offer plenty of space for everyone. The kids’ club will be of particular interest to parents looking to enjoy the resort’s wellness facilities.
Radisson Blu Resort Phu Quoc
Enjoy the island life in Phu Quoc, surrounded by fabulous beaches, street food and attractions. This beachside resort offers a two-bedroom villa with a private pool and its own kitchen, ideal for travelling with kids. There’s a kids’ club, bike rental and cooking classes onsite, so plenty of options for things to do together.
6. The Maldives: closer, more affordable and more family-friendly than you think
The Maldives has a reputation for being a honeymooner’s destination – but Australian families are quietly discovering that the reality is more accessible than the image suggests. The one-island, one-resort model works particularly well with kids; there’s no traffic, no crossing the road, and the lagoon is on the doorstep. Resorts in North and South Malé Atolls offer speedboat transfers of 30–45 minutes from the airport, keeping travel time manageable for younger children. Add a house reef where kids can snorkel with from the shore, and it makes a compelling case for the December school holidays.
SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton
For families who want the Maldives to feel manageable rather than aspirational, SAii Lagoon delivers – and it’s only 15 minutes by speedboat from the airport, no seaplane required. The resort has a relaxed, boho-chic character that sits comfortably between boutique escape and family-friendly resort, with rooms and villas ranging from beach rooms to two-bedroom pool villas with interconnecting space for larger families. Children are catered for through the Junior Beach Club and Camp, which weaves Maldivian culture into daily activities alongside the expected beach and pool program, while snorkelling gear, kayaks and pedal boats are complimentary. A footbridge connects guests to The Marina at CROSSROADS, adding a wide choice of restaurants plus attractions including the Marine Discovery Centre.
Hard Rock Hotel Maldives
Hard Rock Hotel Maldives is hard to beat on logistics alone – it’s a 20-minute speedboat transfer from the airport, which makes it one of the most straightforward arrivals in the country. The resort earns its family credentials beyond convenience: the Roxity Kids’ Club runs daily programs for children aged three to eleven, Teen Spirit handles the harder-to-please 12–17 bracket, and under-12s stay and eat free. Duplex family suites with bunk beds give teenagers their own floor, which goes a long way on a longer stay. The music-brand DNA adds something genuinely different – Fender guitars and record players in every room, a pool with underwater speakers, live music nightly – and the connection to CROSSROADS Marina means a dozen extra restaurants are a short walk away when everyone needs a change of scene.
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Availability and dates vary per resort, check individual packages for details. Feature image: Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket, Thailand. Source: supplied.
