Family enjoying a visit to the Breenhold Gardens in Mount Tomah, Blue Mountains
School holidays
School holidays
Looking for family-friendly school holiday ideas in NSW? There are a range of destinations and attractions across the state to keep kids entertained, from wildlife-rich zoos to amusement parks to outdoor adventures.
Summer school holidays
Summer is the perfect time for a seaside adventure and NSW has got you covered. From Byron Bay on the North Coast to Merimbula on the South Coast, the NSW coastline is home to beautiful beaches where you can laze and swim or get active and learn to surf and snorkel.
Other water adventures for the whole family include boating along waterways such as the Murray River, kayaking along the Clarence River, or going fishing in the Snowy Mountains.
Forster Ocean Baths, Forster
Of course, Sydney shines its very brightest during the warmer months, with the harbour sparkling, the surf beckoning, fantastic waterside dining options available and outdoors activities galore for families, from lazing on the iconic Bondi Beach to biking around Centennial Parklands to a number of pretty coastal walks.
Top summer destinations
Autumn school holidays
As the temperature cools, autumn is the perfect time to enjoy outdoor adventures. The stunning scenery as the leaves turn from green to red and the landscape changes make bushwalking, cycling and horse riding even more appealing.
Go on a road trip and discover picture-perfect towns in the Southern Highlands and at the foot of the World-Heritage listed Blue Mountains. If you opt for the latter, be sure to jump on a cable car ride at Scenic World and tackle a rainforest walk in the majestic Jamison Valley.
South Lawson Waterfall Circuit, Blue Mountains
Craving a little bit of country charm? Head out to Country NSW to look through a telescope at the CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope, come face-to-face with a full-size T-Rex skeleton at the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum and do a lap of the famous Mount Panorama racing circuit.
Top autumn destinations
Winter school holidays
NSW may be known for its beaches, but it is also a winter wonderland if you know where to go. Head to the Snowy Mountains and make the most of the season. Kids can learn how to ski or snowboard and have the chance to build a snowman.
Winter is the perfect time to go on a whale-watching cruise on the coast, as humpback whales and southern right whales migrate along the coast from May to November. You’ll find cruises up and down the state, including in Port Macquarie, Port Stephens and Jervis Bay.
Thredbo, Snowy Mountains
Enjoy a winter getaway among the lush hills and forests of Kangaroo Valley, snapping a pic of the historic Hampden Bridge, embarking on some kid-friendly walks and stepping back in time at the Pioneer Village Museum. Or head north to the picturesque New England region, exploring the towns of Armidale, Uralla and Inverell. Go fossicking, walk among standing stones and get lost among the largest rainforest wilderness in NSW.
Top winter destinations
Spring school holidays
Spring is a great time to visit animals at NSW's zoos and wildlife parks. Highlights include Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Mogo Zoo, Symbio Wildlife Park and Australian Reptile Park. As the temperature rises, get outdoors and try cycling, kayaking, horse riding and fishing.
Take a family road trip and go camping at many of the national parks in NSW. For short breaks from Sydney, opt for the Central Coast, the Hunter (where the magical Storybook Garden promises to enchant little ones), the Shoalhaven or Newcastle, which are an easy drive away.
Symbio Wildlife Park, Helensburgh - Credit: Kevin Fallon
If you are interested in a longer journey, discover fields of yellow on the Canola Trail in the Riverina (enjoying pit stops at the Junee Licorice and Chocolate Factory and Wagga Beach), head southwest to Mungo National Park to join an Aboriginal Discovery Tour to discover the park’s ancient heritage dating back 45,000 years, or discover rare and luminous opals, underground caves and natural heated springs at Lightning Ridge.
Top spring destinations
Family travel inspiration
School holiday experiences in NSW
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