Mums and dads spend the better part of 13 years manoeuvring around these hallowed events. Family, work, and even pets must be wrangled to conquer this mighty challenge—known colloquially as ‘the school holidays’.
Kids will say ‘the holidays’ are the best part of their school year, but their parents may (quietly!) rue the prospect of taking a vacation at the same time as everyone else.
It’s true that term breaks give families a much-needed break from routine, and the opportunity to travel together (whether domestic or abroad). However, high demand over peak periods also means it’s essential to get in early.
The sooner you lock in flights, transport and accommodation preferences, the more affordable they’ll be—if you play your cards right, that is. We’ve whipped up this guide to help Aussies plan ahead for the 2025 school holidays.
If you have the option (and the opportunity) to holiday outside designated school holiday periods, there are fantastic savings to be had.
Of course, we don’t advocate taking your kids out of school to venture off on vacation—but the fact is that many parents, particularly those with primary school children, see travel as an essential element of little ones’ ongoing education, and choose to holiday during school term.
If your kids haven’t yet started school, lucky you—you’re free to escape any time of year! Make the most of the pre-school years and travel off-peak when destinations, accommodation and attractions are all wonderfully affordable.
Flying outside of peak travel periods gives families a greater choice of flights—days, times, airlines—and, generally, more competitive fares.
For destinations in the northern hemisphere (including the US, UK and Europe) high season is during their spring and summer. Snagging a seat or discounted airfare through June, July and August might be trickier, but you’ll find great deals from March–May and September–November.
When a resort, hotel or holiday park is no longer bursting at the seams, room rates are more affordable. You’ll also find plenty of all-inclusive packages on offer, either directly from resorts and hotels or via travel agents. These include airfares, accommodation, transfers and bonus activities—with ‘kids stay and/or eat free’ deals thrown in for good measure!
Fewer guests may mean that some activities and amenities aren’t available in the off-season, though, so it’s prudent to check at the time of booking.
Looking for the best time to book your annual leave? Here are the best hacks for 2025:
Planning this year’s travel escapades? Don’t forget to double-check your dates. Unless your booking platform has a no-strings-attached cancellation policy, in which case, it’s up to you. We’ve rounded up EVERY state’s school holiday schedule just to be safe.
| Holiday | Dates |
|---|---|
| Autumn holidays | Sat 12 April – Sun 27 Apri |
| Winter holidays | Sat 5 July – Sun 20 July |
| Spring holidays | Sat 27 September – Sun 12 October |
| Summer holidays | Eastern Division: Sat 20 December – Mon 26 January 2026 | Western Division: Sat 20 December – Mon 2 February 2026 |
Image: Playing mini golf at a Reflections Holiday Parks North Haven
| Holiday | Dates |
|---|---|
| Autumn holidays | Sat 5 April – Mon 21 April |
| Winter holidays | Sat 5 July – Sun 20 July |
| Spring holidays | Sat 20 September – Sun 5 October |
| Summer holidays | Sat 20 December – Tues 27 January 2025 (students start 28 January in government schools) |
Image: A family walking on Fairhaven Beach along the Great Ocean Rd © Visit Victoria
| Holiday | Dates |
|---|---|
| Autumn holidays | Sat 5 April – Mon 21 April |
| Winter holidays | Sat 28 June – Sun 13 July |
| Spring holidays | Sat 20 September – Mon 6 October |
| Summer holidays | Sat 13 December – TBA |
Image: A humpback whale breaching beside a tourist boat in Hervey Bay © Tourism and Events Queensland, Vince Valitutti
| Holiday | Dates |
|---|---|
| Autumn holidays | Sat 12 April – Sun 27 April |
| Winter holidays | Sat 5 July – Sun 20 July |
| Spring holidays | Sat 27 September – Sun 12 October |
| Summer holidays | Fri 19 December – Sun 1 February 2026 |
Image: Hillarys Island Aqua Park
| Holiday | Dates |
|---|---|
| Autumn holidays | Sat 12 April – Sun 27 April |
| Winter holidays | Sat 5 July – Sun 20 July |
| Spring holidays | Sat 27 September – Sun 12 October |
| Summer holidays | Sat 13 December – TBA |
Image: Strawberry picking at Beerenberg Farm in the Adelaide Hills © South Australian Tourism Commission
| Holiday | Dates |
|---|---|
| Autumn holidays | Sat 12 April – Mon 28 April |
| Winter holidays | Sat 5 July – Mon 21 July |
| Spring holidays | Sat 27 September – Mon 13 October |
| Summer holidays | Fri 17 December – TBA |
Image: National Arboretum Pod Playground
| Holiday | Dates |
|---|---|
| Autumn holidays | Sat 12 Aprill – Sun 27 April |
| Winter holidays | Sat 5 July – Sun 20 July |
| Spring holidays | Sat 27 September – Sun 12 October |
| Summer holidays | Friday 19 December – TBA |
Image: Go kayaking in Hobart with Roaring 40s
| Holiday | Dates |
|---|---|
| Autumn holidays | Sat 5 April – Sun 13 April |
| Winter holidays | Sat 19 June – Mon 16 July |
| Spring holidays | Sat 20 September – Sun 7 October |
| Summer holidays | Sat 13 December – Tues 27 January 2026 |
Image: Mindil Beach Sunset Markets © Charlie Bliss
| Holiday | Dates |
|---|---|
| Good Friday | Fri 18 April 2025 |
| Easter Saturday | Sat 19 April 2025 |
| Easter Sunday | Sun 20 April 2025 |
| Easter Monday | Mon 21 April 2025 |
| Anzac Day | Fri 25 April 2025 |
| King's Birthday (excludes WA & QLD) | Mon 9 June 2025 |
| Labour Day | Mon 3 March (WA) Mon 10 March (VIC) Mon 5 May (QLD) Mon 6 October (ACT, NSW & SA) |
| Christmas Day | Thurs 25 December 2025 |
| Boxing Day | Fri 26 December 2025 |
Image: Woodchopping at the Sydney Royal Easter Show © Destination NSW
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