Autumn school holidays activities in NSW

Camping & outdoors

There's nothing like pitching a tent with the kids. You can find places to camp by the beach, in national parks or choose a family-friendly holiday park and enjoy all the fun activities. Camp among the kangaroos at Pebbly Beach on the South Coast or hear the lions roar from your bed at Billabong Camp inside Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo.

Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo

Beaches & water sports

Autumn is the perfect time to hit the beach, with the water still warm from the summer sun. Go snorkelling at Cook Island Aquatic Reserve near Tweed Heads, or learn to surf at Yamba.  Take the kids on dolphin-watching cruises in Port Stephens or get in the water and swim with wild dolphins in Jervis Bay. 

Shoal Bay, Port Stephens

Have an adventure

For an adventure high in the trees, kids as young as seven can soar on the world's longest roller coaster zip line, just 80-min drive from Sydney on the Central Coast. Or try Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures on the South Coast. Kids of all ages will love the waterslides at Jamberoo Action Park.

Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures in Knights Hill, Illawarra

An unforgettable destination for a family holiday is the Blue Mountains, a World Heritage wilderness near Sydney. In Katoomba, just two hours by train or car from Sydney, your family will enjoy breathtaking views from Echo Point Lookout over the Three Sisters and you can enjoy stunning views by aerial cable car with Scenic World.

Scenic World, Katoomba

Museums & galleries

When planning your holiday, check the events calendar for all the local activities in the area. Many museums put on exhibitions and workshops for kids during school holidays. Sports fans will love the Bradman Museum and International Cricket Hall of Fame in Bowral. See a huge T-Rex skeleton and unique opalised fossils at the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum in Bathurst.

Bradman Museum & International Cricket Hall of Fame, Bowral

There are also plenty of great regional galleries across NSW to explore. Other family favourites around NSW include the Temora Aviation Museum, Science Space in Wollongong and the Killer Whale Museum in Eden.