Summer school holidays in NSW

Beaches & water activities

You can’t go past the classic Aussie summer holiday at the beach and with hundreds of beaches spread along more than 2,000km of coastline, there’s somewhere to explore for every family. Learn to surf on the South Coast in Shellharbour or enjoy the beautiful coastline of Narooma, go swimming at Seal Rocks, boogie board at Toowoon Bay on the Central Coast, or travel up north to Coffs Harbour and see kangaroos hopping across Moonee Beach. If you’re looking for one of NSW's most iconic holiday destinations, Byron Bay offers plenty for adults and children and there are smaller towns to explore up to the Tweed Coast of NSW. 

Glasshouse Rocks, Narooma

There’s also lots of fun to be had on rivers and lakes too. On the Murray River, you can ride a paddle steamer, cruise in a kayak or sleep in a houseboat. Or head to the Clarence Valley and follow the longest whitewater rafting trail in Australia. In Lake Macquarie, there’s stand-up paddleboarding, scuba diving, snorkelling, boating, fishing and more.

Read more: A kids' guide to the best family holidays in NSW

Canoeing, Moama

Animal encounters

The summer school holidays are the perfect time to introduce children to all the different animals at zoos and wildlife parks, or just simply spot them in the natural surrounds. Taronga Western Plains Zoo Dubbo is an open-range zoo that’s home to over 4,000 animals and leads the way in conservation efforts and breeding programs. You can even spend the night in a safari tent and immerse yourself at the zoo.

Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo

Feed giraffes and zebras at Altina Wildlife Park at Darlington Park, just south of Griffith, or let a meerkat sit in your lap at Mogo Wildlife Park on the South Coast. Symbio Wildlife Park is just a short drive outside of Sydney and lets you get closer than ever before to some of the most amazing animals from Australia and around the world.

Off the coast of Narooma, you can snorkel with playful seals in the clear waters off Montague Island. In Port Stephens, you can swim in the ocean with wild dolphins and pat manta rays at Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters.

Read more: How to get close to Australia's cuddliest animals in NSW

Dolphin Swim Australia, Port Stephens

Outdoor adventures

Take the family to the very top of Australia with a hike to the summit of Mount Kosciuszko. You’ll find other great family hikes in the Blue Mountains, Dorrigo National Park, Barrington Tops and the Warrumbungle National Park, which is also famous for stargazing. For something different, zip through the trees at Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures, near Jamberoo.

Discover mountain bike trails around Tathra, the Snowy Mountains, the surrounds of Coffs Harbour and around the Hunter Valley. Spend a day horse riding through bushland in the Glenworth Valley or along the beach in Port Stephens with Sahara Trails. Go underground in the ancient Jenolan Caves or try canyoning in the Blue Mountains.

Read more: 12 ways to get outdoors & try something new in NSW

Mountain Biking, Blue Mountains

Camping & road trips

The warmer months are the perfect opportunity to get back to nature on a camping adventure. Pitch a tent at a beachside camping spot, find a secret campsite to get away from the crowds, head out bush to find a remote campsite to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, book into a family-friendly holiday park so you have all the amenities to keep the kids entertained on your doorstep or bring pooch along too at a pet-friendly holiday park. 

If you want to take scenic drive, follow our family-friendly guides to the Blue Mountains, Lake Macquarie, Bathurst, the Kempsey region, Ballina, Goulburn and Kiama.

Read more: The Blond Nomads' guide to camping & road trips in NSW

NRMA Ocean Beach Holiday Resort, Umina Beach