NSW public-school spring holidays sit inside Saturday 26 September to Sunday 12 October 2026. Weekday holidays are Monday 28 September to Friday 9 October. Term 4 starts Tuesday 13 October. Labour Day is Monday 5 October — in the break.
Official calendar: NSW school calendars 2026. Our dates page: NSW school holiday dates.
⭐ Spring holidays at a glance
- Family window: Sat 26 Sep – Sun 12 Oct 2026
- Weekday holidays (NSW public schools): Mon 28 Sep – Fri 9 Oct
- Term 4: Tuesday 13 October
- Labour Day: Monday 5 October (in the break)
- Catholic and independent calendars may differ
- Powerhouse Ultimo is closed. Powerhouse Parramatta opens 7 November — after this break
Grab a water bottle, pick a big day, and keep a rainy-day indoor in your pocket.
Wild Things International Kids Festival
The Opera House Forecourt is the holiday headline. Free outdoor play from 26 September to 11 October: SWING (giant 9m swing), Iwagumi Air Scape (walk-through inflatable rocks, lights to 10pm), Erth's Wild Rumpus (roving puppet creatures, to 6 October) and Les moutons (sheep and shepherd show, 7–11 October).
Indoor shows are ticketed through the Opera House — book the session that matches your kids' ages. Kids 15 and under need an adult. The Forecourt itself needs no ticket.
Book Wild Things indoor shows today!
Already on the site
⭐ Already listed on what's on in Sydney — don't rebook these as new cards
- Bloodsuckers at the Australian Museum (to 11 Oct)
- Zoo Adventures drop-off at Taronga (weekdays; no Labour Day session)
- Paper Daisy Spring Festival at Mount Annan (to 11 Oct)
- Alchemy of a Rainforest at The Calyx
- Mini Mariners at the Maritime Museum
- Play School Live at Seymour Centre, Saturday 10 October
- Two Pine Street clay days (clay monsters 29 Sep; kids wheel throwing 30 Sep)
- Sculpture by the Sea opens 16 October, after school is back
Wildlife Explorers at Sydney
$22 a child ($20 Foundation & Friends), 10:30am–12pm. Dip-netting, garden wildlife, a native plant to take home. Ages 5–12 with an adult. Meet at Rathborne Lodge (Woolloomooloo Gate). Garden entry is free; this program is ticketed. It does run on Labour Day, 5 October. Other dates: 28–29 Sep, 1, 6 and 8 Oct.
Book Wildlife Explorers today!
Ian Potter Children's WILD PLAY Garden
Free fenced nature play in Centennial Park — not the Melbourne Children's Garden. 10am–5pm daily through this break. Water play, bamboo forest, banksia tunnels, treehouse, giant slide. Ages 2–12 with a supervising adult. Hats, sunscreen, a change of clothes. Bar Coco is 10am–5pm.
Plan your WILD PLAY visit today!
Australian Museum — free galleries and DIYnosaur
General entry is free, 10am–5pm every day of the holidays. Burra play space 10am–4:30pm. Dinosaurs, Wild Planet and Minerals are free indoor backups.
DIYnosaur Bag Charms is on 6–7 October ($45–$65; Creative Kids voucher accepted if you submit it a week prior). Scientist for a Day and STEM Together are sold out — pick DIYnosaur or the free galleries instead.
Bloodsuckers is already on what's on in Sydney (closes 11 October; 2-for-1 from 1 July; low-sensory Tuesday 6 October).
Book DIYnosaur Bag Charms today!
Art Gallery of NSW
Free indoor, 10am–5pm daily, Wednesdays until 10pm. Kids under 12 are free to ticketed exhibitions. Storytime Fridays 11am for under 5s — free, no booking. Roving art-making tour Sundays 11am, 40 minutes, free, no booking.
Plan your Art Gallery of NSW visit today!
SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium
Fully indoor at Darling Harbour. NSW school holidays 9am–5pm, last entry 4pm. Pre-book — busy days fill. Penguin Expedition boat is not for under 90cm or under 2s; 90–120cm need an adult.
Book SEA LIFE Sydney tickets today!
Dog Man the Musical
Saturday 26 to Wednesday 30 September at Seymour Centre, York Theatre. No show Monday 28 September. About 65 minutes, recommended 6+. Haze smoke. All children over two need a ticket; under two on a lap free. Authorised seller: Seymour Centre.
Book Dog Man the Musical today!
The Gruffalo's Child
Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 October at Seymour Centre. Ages 3+, about 55 minutes. Times on the City of Sydney listing: 10am, 12pm and 3pm both days. Authorised seller via that listing.
Book The Gruffalo's Child today!
Taronga Zoo — a family day
A general family visit — not the Zoo Adventures drop-off program already listed on what's on in Sydney. Summer hours September–April 9:30am–5pm. Book the ferry combo and you're there.
Book Taronga Zoo and return ferry today!
Extra Pine Street workshops
On top of the two clay days already on the events board, Pine Street Creative Arts Centre in Chippendale has extra holiday seats. Enclosed shoes; materials provided.
Ceramics wheel throwing basics — Mon 28 Sep, 9am–12pm, ages 12–17, child $93 / concession $75
Silver jewellery making — Mon 28 & Tue 29 Sep, 9am–12pm, ages 12–17, child $180 / concession $144
Handmake your own stickers — Wed 30 Sep, 9:30am–12pm, ages 9–12, child $52.50 / concession $42.50
Colourful mask workshop — Fri 9 Oct, 10am–12pm, ages 9–12, child $10
Book Pine Street holiday workshops today!
Optional extras: Sydney Observatory family tours run Wednesday–Sunday (kids 6+ with an adult); wet weather can cancel. The Calyx is closed from 2pm on Saturday 26 September.
Two weeks goes fast. Do Wild Things on the Forecourt, keep SEA LIFE or the museum for rain, and book the one ticketed show your kids actually want. Happy holidays!
