School Holidays in Sydney: Spring

Spring school holidays bring warmer weather, longer daylight hours, and plenty of sunshine. After winter’s cooler days, spring is when families can finally get outside without heavy jackets

The spring school holidays run Monday 28 September – Friday 9 October 2026

The parks are green, flowers are blooming, and the weather is usually reliable enough for outdoor activities. This time of year also has a packed calendar of festivals, performances, and shows across Sydney, so activities and accommodation fill up fast during the holidays. If there’s something specific you want to do, book early so you don’t miss out.

This guide covers the best options across the two weeks to help you plan a mix of outdoor time, shows, and indoor backup plans for any unexpected wet days.

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Special Holiday Wildlife Events

For a complete guide to Sydney’s wildlife experiences, check out our detailed article on Sydney’s zoos and wildlife parks.

Adventures at Taronga Zoo

Taronga Zoo‘s program includes visits to Backyard to Bush farm, keeper presentations throughout the zoo, and hands-on learning sessions. Kids must wear the provided Zoo Adventures t-shirt during the visit (this helps staff identify program participants in busy areas).

Hot tip: Consider a Zoo Friends Annual Membership from $99 – it works out to just 65c per day and includes both Taronga zoos plus discounts on experiences and accommodation.

Sydney Zoo

Sydney Zoo has several options for spring school holidays, from interactive trails to close encounters with animals.

The Gruffalo Spotters Trail

The Gruffalo has been spotted at Sydney Zoo. Follow a self-guided augmented reality trail using the free Gruffalo Spotter 2 Aus app to find Mouse, Fox, Owl, Snake and The Gruffalo hiding among the zoo’s real animals. Capture photos and videos as you go. The trail encourages you to explore the whole zoo and visit your favourite animals while you search.

Where: Sydney Zoo, Bungarribee, Western Sydney
Cost: Children under 3 free. See sydneyzoo.com for admission prices and to book.

Buy your pass now and skip the queue

SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium

Meet Archie, the grey nurse shark pup born at the aquarium in November 2024 who recently graduated to the main oceanarium. He glides alongside the aquarium’s adult sharks, rays, and thousands of other marine creatures in the shark tunnels and main tank. It’s a chance to see sharks up close and learn why these misunderstood animals matter for ocean conservation.

When: Daily
Where: SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, Darling Harbour
Cost: Included with general admission. See below for family ticket pricing.

SEA LIFE Sydney Family Tickets

New flexible family tickets are available online through 20 July, with savings of up to 40% when booked in advance.

• 1 adult and 2 children: from $78
• 2 adults and 1 child: from $87
• 2 adults and 2 children: $107
• Extra children: $20 each

Children under 2 are free but must be booked in. You can also add a WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo visit for $10 per person. Book at visitsealife.com/sydney

Museums and Galleries

Bloodsuckers: Nature’s Vampires – Australian Museum

Bloodsuckers: Nature’s Vampires spans nine immersive sections covering the biology of blood, the evolution of blood-feeding across millions of years, and how to live alongside these species. More than 100 objects, specimens, large-scale models, and digital interactives bring the science to life — from vampire bats and medicinal leeches to candiru catfish and oxpeckers.

The exhibition also explores how bloodsuckers have shaped literature, mythology, and popular culture, with a section dedicated to Australia’s own blood-feeding insects.

When: Until 11 October 2026
Where: Australian Museum, College Street, Sydney
Ages: 4+ Cost: From $28 adults, from $15 children (4–15 years) Book now

Staying overnight? Pullman Sydney Hyde Park has a family-of-four package that includes exhibition tickets, buffet breakfast, overnight accommodation, and an activity pack for kids. The hotel is a three-minute walk from the museum.

Paid activities at the Australian Museum

The Australian Museum has a solid lineup of hands-on workshops across the spring holidays, mixing science, history, and creativity.

Scientist for a Day: Wildlife Geneticist

Go behind the scenes at the Australian Centre for Wildlife Genomics, conduct DNA experiments with a scientist, and meet researchers who work with real animals and real data. This full-day workshop gives kids a genuine taste of what wildlife genetics work involves.

When: 29 & 30 September
Cost: $120 member child, $150 non-member child

Scientist for a Day: Palaeontologist

Spend the day exploring palaeontology with hands-on activities and interactive sessions. You’ll explore the Dinosaurs Gallery, visit the collections laboratory, and meet scientists from the Australian Museum Research Institute.

When: 1 & 2 October
Cost: $120 member child, $150 non-member child

DIYnosaur Bag Charms

Make a dinosaur accessory using felt, beads and ribbon to take home. Quick creative session with multiple time slots across two days, split by age group.

When: 6 & 7 October, multiple sessions (10:30am–12pm, 1pm–3pm, 1:30pm–3:30pm)
Cost: $45–$65

STEM Together: Out of this World

Hands-on space-themed challenges mixing science, technology and creativity. You and your child work together on three STEM challenges, and your child takes home one of their creations. Each child must be accompanied by one adult.

When: 8 & 9 October (10:30am–12:30pm, 2pm–4pm)
Cost: $52 member child, $65 non-member child

Early Birds: Autism and Sensory-friendly Mornings

Visit the Museum before it opens to the public in a reduced sensory, relaxed and supportive environment. Limited visitors, adjusted lighting and sound, quiet areas, and staff trained in autism awareness.

When: Saturday 12 September (8am–10am)
Cost: Free (registration required)

BODY WORLDS: The Anatomy of Happiness

An internationally acclaimed exhibition exploring the human body not just as biology, but as the foundation of emotion, health and well-being. Real human specimens (donated for scientific education) are preserved through plastination and shown alongside organs, transparent body slices, and interactive elements. The exhibition covers stress and recovery, movement and balance, brain health, ageing, and how lifestyle choices impact the body.

Highlights include the Anatomical Mirror (visualise your own organs) and side-by-side displays of healthy and diseased organs. Best suited to teens and older.

When: From 17 September 2026 onwards (open during spring school holidays 28 Sept – 9 Oct)
Where: The Rocks, Sydney
Cost: From $35 adults, $20 children. Book at bodyworlds.com.au/sydney

Museums of History NSW

If you’re looking for activities spread across multiple days, Museums of History NSW has programs running at six different heritage properties. Most drop-in activities are free, with some paid workshops requiring booking.

Hyde Park Barracks – Start with the kids trail and audio tour, then dive into craft activities from 10am-3pm, make your own convict love token or construct a paper replica of the Barracks. The museum is open daily 10am-6pm. Last entry 4.30pm.

Museum of Sydney – Kids trail tied to the Unearthed exhibition — children search for objects buried beneath the city and uncover the stories behind them. Story Time sessions at 11am, 12.30pm and 2pm celebrating Country through storytelling. Open daily 10am–5pm.

Justice & Police Museum -Pick up a kids trail and work your way through Sydney’s original Water Police Station and courts. Kids can earn a police badge, dress up in costume, and take part in a mock trial with the family. Open daily 10am–5pm during school holidays.

Vaucluse House– Play quoits in the garden, try craft bunting, and learn about entertaining in the Victorian era through a table-setting activity. Open Wednesday to Sunday 10am–4pm.

Rouse Hill Estate– Drop in on Sundays for basket-weaving workshops, Lego building, and a chance to meet farm animals. Open Sundays 10am–4pm.

Australian National Maritime Museum

The Maritime Museum’s program ties into its Treasures of the Viking Age: The Galloway Hoard exhibition, with a mix of free drop-in activities and ticketed workshops running across the holidays.

Free and included with admission:

• Kids on Deck maker space — write your name in runes, make hammered jewellery, build a model longship, or try on Viking costume in a longhouse-inspired cubby. Daily 10.30am to 4pm, ages 4 to 14.
• Bricktropolis: Viking Village — Lego building inspired by early medieval cultures, plus a collaborative Viking mosaic mural that grows across the holidays. Daily 10am to 4pm, all ages.
• Museum Treasure Trail — self-guided activity trail through the galleries with a treat for finishing. Daily 10am to 4.30pm, ages 4 to 10. Free.
• Cabinet of Curiosities: Fighting Vikings — handle Viking age weapons, rune-carved amulets, and a reindeer pelt. Daily 10.30am to 11.30am and 2pm to 3pm, all ages. Free.
• Deep Sea Screenings — ambient ROV dive footage in the theatre with field sketching guides provided. Daily 10am to 4pm. Free.

Active fun

Got energetic kids? Here are some special holiday activities that will keep them moving and having fun:

Family Fun Challenge by AmazingCo.

Turn Sydney into your playground with AmazingCo’s family mystery picnics. Follow clues, solve puzzles, and discover hidden gems around the city while enjoying quality family time. Perfect for kids who love solving mysteries!

AmazingCo Family Adventure Days

Transform your school holidays with these unique family quests, each combining activities, food, and exploration:

• Marrickville: Build robots from recycled materials and follow a scavenger hunt trail (ages 4-10, 3 hours)
• Arcadia: Meet farm animals, collect eggs, and enjoy lunch at a farmgate cafe (ages 3-10, 3 hours)
• Cockatoo Island: Take a ferry ride for a spooky ghost-themed quest with harbor views (ages 5-10, 4-5 hours)

Tip: All adventures include a rain check guarantee and optional at-home activities to extend the fun.

Cost: Varies by adventure
Bookings: Essential via AmazingCo website

AmazingCo. also offers family mystery picnics and family date nights.

Holiday Pony Camps at Centennial Equestrian

Centennial Equestrian Centre runs two camp formats across the Easter holidays, both with an Easter twist — egg hunts, horse-themed arts and crafts, and pony decorating alongside the riding and horse care.

Junior Jockey Camp (ages 5–7) is a half-day program covering pony care, grooming, feeding, and a 50–70 minute led pony ride. A good introduction for younger kids with no riding experience.

Full-Day Holiday Camp (ages 7+) runs 9am–4pm and includes horse care, horsemanship sessions, a group riding lesson in the arena, and a guided trail ride through Centennial Park. If it rains, the trail ride is swapped for an undercover arena session or mounted games.

When: School holidays — check website for specific dates
Where: Centennial Equestrian Centre, Centennial Park
Cost: Check eastsideriding.com.au for current pricing

Spotlight Prowl for families

Dusk is a wonderful time to spot animals in Centennial Parklands. Join experienced Rangers for a fascinating spotlight walk to see how the Park transforms after dark, spotting brushtail possums, microbats, tawny frogmouths, and one of Sydney’s largest colonies of grey-headed flying-foxes.

Embark on an enlightening spotlight walk guided by expert Rangers. This adventure gives you a rare glimpse into the nighttime world of these fascinating creatures, showing a different, more mysterious side of the park as darkness descends.

Junior Ranger – Royal National Park

Kids aged 6 to 12 can spend a morning learning what it actually takes to work in a national park. This guided 90-minute program covers navigation, survival skills, and specialised ranger roles including fire-fighting, plant and animal research, whale rescue, and helicopter operations.

Kids use real equipment, get hands-on with activities, and learn about the wildlife and ecosystems the park protects. All activities are on flat ground with short walking distances — accompanying adults get in free.

When: TBC
Where: Royal National Park Visitor Centre, Ironbark Flat picnic area Cost: $15 per child (6–12). Accompanying adults free. Park entry fees apply.
Book: 1300 072 757 or book online at nationalparks.nsw.gov.au

Hot tip: Only two dates available across the entire holidays — bookings will go fast. If you miss out consider an easy family walk in the park.

Performance & Theatre for kids

Erth’s Shark Dive: Live on Stage

A 50-minute performance using life-sized puppetry and interactive staging to take families on a journey through ocean history. The story follows Salt, a young girl who befriends an injured baby shark and becomes a shark enthusiast guiding the audience through Australia’s sharks, prehistoric ocean dwellers, and deep-sea creatures.

The show explores evolution, conservation, and our relationship with sharks. A post-show “Swim with the Sharks” add-on ($10 extra per person) offers a close encounter with Erth’s Great White shark puppet.

When: 26 September – 3 October
Where: Bay 20, Carriageworks, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh
Cost: $25 standard plus $5 booking fee. Swim with the Sharks add-on $10 per person

Shipwreck Odyssey

An interactive playground experience using responsive projection technology to immerse families in ocean exploration.

Led by the ghost ship Jenny Lind (one of Australia’s most famous shipwrecks), the experience takes you beneath the turquoise waves and coral cays of Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef to discover ocean mysteries and wonders. 45 minutes per full cycle.

When: Tuesday 15 July 2026, two performances.
Where: Coliseum Theatre, 33 Railway Street, Rooty Hill
Cost: From $29.90 plus booking fees. Book at coliseumtheatre.com.au

Where is the Green Sheep? – The Pavilion Sutherland

Monkey Baa Theatre Company brings its stage adaptation of the Mem Fox and Judy Horacek picture book to Sutherland this spring school holidays. The production blends puppetry and animation, with three farmers searching for the elusive green sheep alongside a cast of colourful characters.

When: Friday 2 October (10am, 1pm)
Where: Sutherland Pavilion, 30 Eton Street, Sutherland
Cost: $35 standard, $130 family of 4

The Listies: This Show is a Joke

A 60-minute comedy show from The Listies featuring sketch comedy, slapstick, songs, and new gags. Silly, chaotic, and designed for kids aged 5 and up (and adults who like that sort of thing).

When: Saturday 3 October (10am, 1pm)
Where: Sutherland Pavilion, 30 Eton Street, Sutherland
Cost: $35 standard, $130 family of 4

Free things to do

School holidays don’t have to break the bank! Along with the featured activities below, check your local library and shopping centre programs—they often host free workshops, storytelling sessions, and craft activities during the school breaks.

Many local councils also run free events that don’t make it into citywide guides, so it’s worth checking their websites or Facebook pages. To get you started here are some of our favorite free activities happening around Sydney these holidays:

Kids Gardening Classes at Chiswick

Get your kids’ hands dirty at these free gardening workshops where they’ll plant, dig, and harvest produce from Chiswick’s working garden. Resident gardener Pete Hatfield shows children how the restaurant grows food for its menu, all while teaching them about caring for the earth.

The hour-long sessions take place in the restaurant’s garden, surrounded by bugs, butterflies, and seasonal blooms. Kids learn practical skills like planting and harvesting while discovering where restaurant food actually comes from.

After the class, families can head into the restaurant for lunch where kids eat free with any adult main purchased (one complimentary kids’ meal per adult main, 12 years and under only).

When: TBC
Where: Chiswick Woollahra, 65 Ocean Street, Woollahra
Cost: Free classes, bookings essential l Ages: 5-12 years, Book direct

Hot tip: Only book spaces for children attending the class, not supervising adults. The kids-eat-free lunch offer is only valid for those who attended the gardening class.

Darling Harbour School Holidays

Darling Harbour has a packed program across the school holidays, with a mix of free drop-in activities, ticketed experiences, and things happening at different times across the two weeks.

Here’s what’s on that won’t dent the budget:

Free Kids Yoga

Free 45-minute yoga sessions for kids, led by instructor Dee Dee and held in the open air. The classes mix playful poses with mindful movement, focusing on body awareness, breathing, and self-expression. Parents and carers are welcome to join in. Register on arrival — mats are provided and it’s first in, best dressed.

When: Fridays 10.30am–11.30am
Where: Darling Harbour Cost: Free

Darling Harbour Playground

Darling Harbour’s playground is worth a visit even if you’ve been before — there’s a massive climbing frame, a 21-metre flying fox, and swings for all ages, plus newer installations that have been added in recent years. It’s a good spot to burn some energy before or after other Darling Harbour activities.

There are cafes and family-friendly food options surrounding the playground, making it easy to spend several hours here.

Build Your Own Chinese Garden

Create your own miniature Chinese Garden inspired by the Chinese Garden of Friendship. Kids decorate and assemble a take-home 3D cardboard model featuring pavilions, willow trees, koi carp, water dragons, bamboo, rock formations, and flowing waterways.

An engaging activity that introduces families to the design elements and symbolism of the Garden.

When: Monday 28 September – Friday 9 October, 11am–1pm weekdays (Monday 5 October excluded)
Where: Chinese Garden of Friendship, Pier Street, Cnr Harbour Street, Darling Harbour

Kids’ Meals at Darling Harbour

If you’re spending the day at the aquarium, playground, or just exploring the harbour, Darling Harbour has a solid run of restaurants offering kids’ meals under $16 for children 12 and under, available every day.

• Auvers Cafe — $15 Happy Meal: choose from nuggets and chips, fish and chips, or creamy chicken egg noodles. Before midday, scrambled eggs or smashed avo on brioche toast are also on offer. Includes apple juice, orange juice, or a babychino for the pre-midday crowd.
• Pancakes on the Rocks — Kids meals under $15: Mad Hatter cheeseburger with chips, Ned Kelly buttermilk pancake with scrambled eggs and bacon, Crazy potato pancake, or dinosaur chicken nuggets.
• Wingboy — $12 chicken and chips: two chicken tenders or five wings with shoestring fries and tomato sauce. Mac and cheese also available for $9. School holidays offer: kids eat free on weekdays 6 to 17 July from 12pm to 4pm when you spend $18 or more. Dine-in only, not available with other promotions.
• Dopa Donburi — $14.50 Japanese-style kids meal: Chicken Teriyaki Don, Chicken Karaage Don, or Kakiage Don, with a drink and a small toy included.
• Ume Burger — $15.90 Tasty Kids Box: fish fingers, chicken nuggets, or a burger with plain chips and tomato sauce. Add apple or orange juice for $3.
• Uliveto — $15 kids meal: fish and chips, chicken nuggets with chips, Napolitana pasta, or cheeseburger.

Have questions about things to see and do in Sydney?
Head over and join our Facebook Group and we will be happy to help.

Day Trips for the School Holidays

Sometimes you need to get out of the city, and these day trips are worth the drive or train ride. We have a bunch of fun day trips you can do on the train, but here are a couple of our favourite ideas.

Spring in the Blue Mountains

The mountains are a great day out for active kids. You can take the train or drive. Either way, there is plenty to do when you get there from easy bushwalks to family-friendly picnic spots.

The Blue Mountains Explorer Bus is a great way to explore the mountains without worrying about parking! We have written a detailed guide to the bus here.

If you decide to spend the night, take the Katoomba Falls Night-Lit Walk. Another unique experience is a nighttime visit to Scenic World.

You can even see how many of these lookouts you can squeeze into one day.

Take the train to Cronulla, and then jump on the ferry across Port Hacking. A short walk will get you to the Jibbon Aboriginal Carvings. Easy bushwalking, manageable for school-age kids. Our Royal National Park walks guide has everything you need.

This is a fun day out for school age kids with some easy bushwalking. If you fancy a longer bushwalk, check out our guide to the walks in the Royal National Park.

Australian Reptile Park

About an hour’s drive from the CBD on the Central Coast, the Australian Reptile Park is a reliable school holidays option for kids who can’t get enough of wildlife. Koalas, crocodiles, giant tortoises, and plenty of snakes and lizards. We’ve got a full guide to Sydney’s zoos and wildlife parks if you want to compare options before you go.

Where: Somersby, Central Coast (60 minutes’ drive from the CBD)
Cost: $48 adults, $30 kids, $135 families (2 adults, 2 kids)

For a broader look at family-friendly Sydney, check out our Sydney with Kids guide or our Rainy Days in Sydney guide.

2026-27 School Holiday Dates in New South Wales

Below is a list of the holiday dates for this year and next so you can start planning. Please note many schools have school development days on the first day of each term. Private schools may have a week longer than these public school dates.

Have questions about things to see and do in Sydney?
Head over and join our Facebook Group and we will be happy to help.