Looking for a summary of the 2021 school holidays in Australia? You’re in the right place. No matter if you’re in NSW, VIC, QLD or any other Aussie state or territory, we’ve mapped out the holiday dates so you can get planning adventures for 2021.
There’s no doubting that 2020 threw us all some curveballs. So we’re putting the year behind us and looking to 2021. Researching and planning awesome family getaways to make up for lost time. There’s no better way to launch a fresh start than getting away from it all and planning a vacation for the new year.
So spread out your calendars, travel guides, Instagram inspo and mood boards – we’ve got some dreaming to do for the 2021 school holidays!
Mark the following dates in your diaries. Then check out these month-by-month suggestions for your 2021 school holidays:
- Where to go in Europe each month
- Where to go in Asia each month
- What to do and where to go in Australia each school holiday break
Summer school holidays 2020-21
It is hard to predict where travel is going in the next few months. So, perhaps play it safe and keep things local this summer, exploring the best your state has to offer.
| NSW | Saturday 19 December to Tuesday 26 January 2021 |
| Victoria | Saturday 19 December to Wednesday 27 January 2021 |
| ACT | Friday 18 December to Sunday 31 January 2021 |
| Tasmania | Friday 18 December to Tuesday 2 February 2021 |
| South Australia | Saturday 12 December to Sunday 31 January 2021 |
| Western Australia | Friday 18 December to Sunday 31 January 2021 |
| Northern Territory | Friday 18 December to Sunday 31 January 2021 |
| Queensland | Saturday 12 December to Tuesday 26 January 2021 |
With a whopping 6 weeks to play with, and the fun and frivolity of the festive season to fuel you, aim for longer trips along the coast.
In NSW the 2021 school holidays are a great time to hit the surf in Byron Bay. If you’re thinking about Queensland fun, think Noosa or Fraser Island over the summer break. The Tassie temperatures are certainly alluring at this time of year. Go for a dip in Cataract Gorge or delve into the MONA air con to make the most of your school holidays in 2021.
Read more: the top 10 sizzling summer destinations in Australia
Autumn school holidays 2021
| NSW | Saturday 3 April to Sunday 18 April |
| Victoria | Friday 2 April to Sunday 18 April |
| ACT | Friday 2 April to Sunday 18 April |
| Tasmania | Saturday 10 April to Monday 26 April |
| South Australia | Saturday 10 April to Monday 26 April |
| Western Australia | Friday 2 April to Sunday 18 April |
| Northern Territory | Monday 12 April to Friday 16 April |
| Queensland | Friday 2 April to Sunday 18 April |
If you’re sticking down under during Autumn, consider regional NSW for your 2021 school holidays. Or venture to regional Victoria and Queensland for an outback adventure or farm stay. If you’re travelling with teens, this is a great time to tackle a multi-day hike or test drive a new city.
Read more: top school holiday regions in NSW
April is also ideal in the Kimberley, where you can explore the Bungle Bungles and Lake Kunanurra. Or head to Broome, where, if you time it right, you might just get to see the staircase to the moon.
If you’re keen to head overseas around Easter, Japan beckons with the pink of cherry blossoms. And South-east Asia enjoys the last of its dry season, with mild temperatures in Cambodia and Laos.
Further afield, the Irish celebrate St Patrick’s Day. And the European spring heralds tulip fever and King’s Day national holiday in the Netherlands.
Winter school holidays 2021
| NSW | Saturday 26 June to Sunday 11 July |
| Victoria | Saturday 26 June to Sunday 11 July |
| ACT | Saturday 26 June to Sunday 11 July |
| Tasmania | Saturday 3 July to Sunday 18 July |
| South Australia | Saturday 3 July to Sunday 18 July |
| Western Australia | Saturday 3 July to Sunday 18 July |
| Northern Territory | Monday 28 June to Friday 16 July |
| Queensland | Saturday 26 June to Sunday 11 July |
Anyone who resides in the southern half of the Aussie map will be despairing as they don beanies and rug up for winter. For some schools, the winter 2021 school holidays are a luxurious three weeks long. Chase the sun to the Great Barrier Reef and Whitsundays. The dry season also brings many a visitor to the Top End’s national parks.
If you’re in NSW or Victoria you’ll know that these are the 2021 school holidays to head to the snow. But if international travel is back on the agenda, consider crossing the ditch to ski New Zealand.
Read more: Top tips for skiing with kids and teens or Where to ski in Australia and New Zealand
Fiji and the pacific islands are perfect places to escape to the sun over winter. This is peak season for Aussie families, so book early to get the best airfares and hotel deals.
Read more: Why Fiji is the best place for families
If you’re planning a staycation over the winter holidays here are some ideas to help you keep the kids entertained at home
- 21 rainy day activities for kids
- Nine steps to a sensational Staycation
- The inside scoop on rainy day activities
- 21 awesome rainy day activities for teens
Spring school holidays 2021
| NSW | Saturday 18 September to Sunday 3 October |
| Victoria | Saturday 18 September to Sunday 3 October |
| ACT | Saturday 18 September to Monday 4 October |
| Tasmania | Saturday 25 September to Sunday 10 October |
| South Australia | Saturday 25 September to Sunday 10 October |
| Western Australia | Saturday 25 September to Sunday 10 October |
| Northern Territory | Monday 27 September to Friday 8 October |
| Queensland | Saturday 18 September to Monday 4 October |
Enjoy fewer crowds and cooler weather in China and Taiwan. Then tap into the festival season in Nepal, which celebrates Dashain, Diwali and Tihar in October. Alternatively, make the most of Europe’s shoulder season in the quaint English Cotswolds, and enjoy Oktoberfest in Germany. Australia blushes with the springtime colour as Canberra hosts the Floriade Festival and Western Australia’s wildflower fields bloom. Keep your eyes peeled for whales on the south coast of NSW.
Summer school holidays 2021-22
| NSW | Saturday 18 December to Thursday 27 January 2022 |
| Victoria | Saturday 18 December to Monday 31 January 2022 |
| ACT | Saturday 18 December to Sunday 30 January 2022 |
| Tasmania | Friday 17 December |
| South Australia | Saturday 11 December to Sunday 30 January 2022 |
| Western Australia | Friday 17 December to Sunday 30 January 2022 |
| Northern Territory | Monday 20 December to Friday 28 January 2022 |
| Queensland | Saturday 11 December to Sunday 23 January 2022 |
We’re crossing our fingers that by the summer 2021 school holidays, air travel and borders will have opened up completely and we can come and go as we please. So we’re thinking bucket list trips.
It is prime Northern Lights viewing season in Scandinavia, Christmas mayhem in Austria and ski madness in Switzerland. Skip Sri Lankan monsoon season by surfing and snorkelling in January instead, or luxe it up in the Maldives. Or how about a trip to Canada? It’s a great place to teach the kids to ski, spot killer whales off Vancouver Island or check out Niagara Falls.
If you’re looking for inspiration, have a read of these:
Why you should avoid ‘vanilla holidays’
24 famous landmarks to tick off your bucket list
11 travelling families on Instagram
READ MORE
School holidays on a shoe-string
Top Aussie destinations for large group holidays
How to find a good coffee while travelling
Janeece Keller is the founder and editor of Family Travel. She mostly travels with her husband and two young kids. She has a large blended family that lives in Australia and Europe. She has visited 52 countries and lived on 3 continents. From camping to luxury resorts Janeece tries to make sure her family has diverse holiday experiences each year. She is an avid hiker and ocean swimmer who loves good food, margaritas and heading off the beaten path.