Ask any NSW parent what the hardest part of running a household is, and school holidays will come up somewhere near the top of the list. Between rostering annual leave, booking flights before prices spike and figuring out whether your child’s school falls in the Eastern or Western division, the calendar can feel like a puzzle with missing pieces. This guide pulls together the official NSW Department of Education term dates, the full list of NSW public holidays, and a few practical tips so you can plan the year without second-guessing yourself.
Every date below is sourced from the NSW Government’s own school holiday calendar, so you can copy it straight into your family planner, work leave request or travel booking with confidence.
NSW School Term Dates at a Glance
NSW public schools run on a four-term calendar, and most of the state follows the same start and finish dates. The exception is Term 1, where schools in the Western division (broadly, districts west of the Blue Mountains) start a week later than the Eastern division to account for the harvest season in rural communities.
Term
First Day for Students
Last Day for Students
Term 1 (Eastern division)
Monday, 2 February
Thursday, 2 April
Term 1 (Western division)
Monday, 9 February
Thursday, 2 April
Term 2 (both divisions)
Wednesday, 22 April
Friday, 3 July
Term 3 (both divisions)
Tuesday, 21 July
Friday, 25 September
Term 4 (both divisions)
Tuesday, 13 October
Thursday, 17 December
Keep in mind that many schools schedule pupil-free “school development days” immediately before the first day listed above, so it pays to check your own school’s newsletter for the exact date students physically return.
NSW School Holiday Dates
If you’re the one booking flights or a caravan site, what actually matters is the holiday window itself rather than the term boundaries. Here’s how the break periods line up across the year.
Break
Eastern Division
Western Division
Summer holidays (start)
Mon 22 Dec – Mon 26 Jan
Mon 22 Dec – Mon 2 Feb
Autumn holidays
Tue 7 Apr – Fri 17 Apr
Tue 7 Apr – Fri 17 Apr
Winter holidays
Mon 6 Jul – Fri 17 Jul
Mon 6 Jul – Fri 17 Jul
Spring holidays
Mon 28 Sep – Fri 9 Oct
Mon 28 Sep – Fri 9 Oct
Summer holidays (end of year)
Fri 18 Dec – Wed 27 Jan
Fri 18 Dec – Wed 3 Feb
Note that the Autumn holidays sit right alongside the Easter public holidays, so families in NSW effectively get an extended break once Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday are added on top.
Not all school holiday periods are created equal. The summer break dwarfs the others, while Autumn, Winter and Spring sit in a fairly similar range. This makes Winter and Spring the sweet spot for a shorter getaway without needing to burn through weeks of annual leave.
Figure: Approximate length of each NSW school holiday break (Eastern division dates)
NSW Public Holidays
On top of the four school breaks, NSW observes a set of statewide public holidays. Several of these fall inside a school term, which is exactly what creates those valuable long weekends parents circle on the calendar early.
Public Holiday
Date
Day
New Year’s Day
1 January
Thursday
Australia Day
26 January
Monday
Good Friday
3 April
Friday
Easter Saturday
4 April
Saturday
Easter Sunday
5 April
Sunday
Easter Monday
6 April
Monday
Anzac Day
25 April
Saturday
Additional public holiday (Anzac Day)
27 April
Monday
King’s Birthday
8 June
Monday
Labour Day
5 October
Monday
Christmas Day
25 December
Friday
Boxing Day
26 December
Saturday
Additional public holiday (Boxing Day)
28 December
Monday
Because Anzac Day falls on a Saturday, the NSW Government has scheduled an additional public holiday on the following Monday, and the same substitution rule applies to Boxing Day. There’s also a Bank Holiday on the first Monday of August, but this only applies to banks and certain financial institutions rather than the general workforce, so most families can treat it as a normal school day.
Long Weekends Worth Planning Around
A handful of these public holidays line up neatly with a Friday or Monday, giving you a proper long weekend without touching your leave balance:
Australia Day weekend – Monday 26 January
Easter long weekend – Good Friday through Easter Monday, 3–6 April
Anzac Day additional holiday – Monday 27 April
King’s Birthday weekend – Monday 8 June
Labour Day weekend – Monday 5 October
Boxing Day additional holiday – Monday 28 December
Making the Most of Each School Break
Once you’ve locked in the dates, the next question is always the same: where do we actually take the kids? A short break doesn’t need a flight booking to feel like a proper holiday. Sydney and its surrounds have plenty of low-effort, high-reward options that suit a single day out or a long weekend.
A Blue Mountains day trip is a reliable pick for the Autumn or Spring break, especially when the weather cools down and the lookouts are less crowded. We’ve put together a full route and stop-by-stop guide in our Blue Mountains day trip from Sydney guide.
If you’re after a harbourside swim without the Bondi crowds, our Shark Beach and Nielsen Park guide covers the picnic lawns, shade and calm water that make it an easy win during the Summer holidays.
For families closer to the south, Oatley Park on the Georges River has walking tracks, swimming spots and picnic areas that work well for a Winter holiday outing when you want fresh air without a long drive.
And if you’d rather stroll than swim, the Cremorne Point walk guide is one of the easiest harbourside walks in Sydney, with ferry access at both ends, making it genuinely manageable with younger children in tow.
Booking accommodation or activities around any of the long weekends listed above tends to cost more, so where your dates are flexible, shifting a trip by even a few days either side of a public holiday can make a noticeable difference to price.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do NSW school holidays start?
The exact start date depends on which break you mean. Autumn holidays begin in early April, Winter holidays begin in early July, Spring holidays begin in late September, and the Summer break begins in mid to late December. See the holiday table above for the specific dates.
What is the difference between the Eastern and Western division?
The Western division covers schools broadly west of the Blue Mountains, in areas where the school year traditionally starts a little later to work around the local harvest season. This only affects the start of Term 1 and the length of the final Summer break; the other three terms run on the same dates statewide.
How many public holidays does NSW have?
NSW recognises 13 statewide public holiday dates, including the additional days added when Anzac Day or Boxing Day falls on a weekend. A separate Bank Holiday in August applies only to banks and some financial institutions.
Do private and Catholic schools follow the same term dates?
Independent and Catholic schools generally follow a similar pattern to the NSW Department of Education calendar, but individual schools can set their own start and finish dates. Always check directly with your child’s school rather than assuming the public school dates apply.
Is Anzac Day a public holiday in NSW?
Yes. Anzac Day itself falls on 25 April, and because that date lands on a Saturday, the NSW Government has declared an additional public holiday on the following Monday.
Which school holiday is the best time to travel?
Winter and Spring holidays are shorter and generally less crowded than the Summer break, which makes them a good balance between availability and cost for families who don’t need a long trip.
Disclaimer: This article is intended as a general planning guide only and does not replace official information from the NSW Department of Education or the NSW Government. School development days, pupil-free days and individual school calendars can vary, and public holiday arrangements are occasionally updated. Always confirm current dates directly with your child’s school or the official NSW Government website before making firm travel or leave plans.
