16 Sep Spring school holidays in New South Wales 2026: What’s on and things to do with kids
Looking for things to do with the kids these Spring school holidays? NSW has a new international kids festival at the Sydney Opera House, Spring gardens, outdoor adventures, museum programs and plenty of free and low-cost family fun.
NSW public school holidays run from Monday 28 September to Friday 9 October 2026, with the weekends effectively extending the break from Saturday 26 September to Sunday 11 October. Term 4 begins for students on Tuesday 13 October after a school development day on Monday 12 October.
Spring is a particularly good time to get outdoors, but there are also some strong new indoor programs if the weather turns wet.
Spring festivals and special events
Go Wild at the Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House | 26 September–11 October
One of the biggest new events these holidays is Wild Things, the Sydney Opera House’s first international kids festival.
The 16-day program has performances and creative experiences for children from babies through to young teens, with artists from Australia and overseas.
You don’t necessarily need a ticket to enjoy it. The Forecourt becomes a free outdoor playground with giant swings, performances and interactive installations. Free experiences include Erth’s Wild Rumpus, featuring roaming life-like creatures and dinosaurs, and the giant interactive Iwagumi Air Scape.
Wild Things International Kids Festival
FREE AND PAID | AGES 0–14 | BOOK TICKETED SHOWS
___________________________________________________________________________
See Spring come alive at Hunter Valley Gardens
Pokolbin | 26 September–11 October
Hunter Valley Gardens has designed its school holiday program around Spring this year.
Families can explore ten themed gardens while meeting baby lambs, visiting a live butterfly aviary and learning about bees. Activities include daisy-chain making, face painting, lantern making, bonsai displays and workshops.
Rides operate daily from 10am–2pm during the holiday event. Not every activity operates every day, so check the timetable before travelling.
Hunter Valley Gardens Spring school holidays
PAID | REGIONAL | SPRING SPECIAL ___________________________________________________________________________
Outdoor adventures and nature
Discover the wildlife of the Royal Botanic Garden
Sydney | 28 September–8 October
The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney has several family activities across the holidays, including Wildlife Explorers, where children can investigate some of the creatures living in the Garden.
There is also the outdoor family show Tinkerbell and the Dream Fairies, running from 26 September to 11 October.
Of course, families can simply explore the gardens, have a picnic and enjoy the harbour views for free.
Royal Botanic Garden Sydney – What’s On
FREE ENTRY | PAID ACTIVITIES | CITY ___________________________________________________________________________
See the paper daisies at Mount Annan
Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan
For families in Western Sydney and south-west Sydney, Mount Annan makes a particularly good Spring outing.
The Paper Daisy Spring Festival continues through the holidays, while Wildlife Explorers runs from 29 September to 9 October. There are also walking trails, picnic areas and plenty of open space if you simply want a low-cost day outdoors.
Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan
FREE ENTRY | SPRING FLOWERS | PICNIC ___________________________________________________________________________
Become a Junior Ranger
NSW National Parks
NSW National Parks has several school holiday activities that give children something more structured than a family bushwalk.
At Bobbin Head in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, children aged six to 12 can become Junior Rangers on 1 and 8 October.
Further north, the Bouddi Coastal Adventure near Gosford runs on 5 October for ages five and over, while a Glenrock coastal adventure near Newcastle on 28 September explores Dudley Beach and its fossilised forest.
NSW National Parks family activities
BOOK AHEAD | OUTDOORS | REGIONAL OPTIONS ___________________________________________________________________________
Get active
Try something new at Sydney Olympic Park
Sydney Olympic Park | 28 September–9 October
Sydney Olympic Park has an unusually broad holiday program this Spring.
Children can try archery, basketball, gymnastics, soccer, table tennis, judo and diving, or sign up for an all-day multisports program. There are also intensive swimming programs and creative writing workshops.
A number of activities are age-specific and need advance booking.
Sydney Olympic Park school holiday programs
PAID | ACTIVE KIDS | BOOK AHEAD ___________________________________________________________________________
Learn to skate at Sydney Park
Alexandria
Sydney Park remains one of the better free family recreation spaces in inner Sydney, with cycling tracks, wetlands, playground areas and plenty of room to explore.
During the Spring holidays, the Sydney Park Cycling Centre is also running school holiday skateboarding clinics.
Sydney school holiday activities
FREE PARK | PAID HOLIDAY CLINICS ___________________________________________________________________________
Rainy-day ideas
Go Viking at the Maritime Museum
Darling Harbour | 27 September–11 October
The Australian National Maritime Museum has put together one of the more substantial museum holiday programs this Spring.
Activities connect with Treasures of the Viking Age: The Galloway Hoard and include the Kids on Deck maker space, where children can build model longships, make jewellery and try archaeology-inspired activities.
There are also science-circus performances about octopuses and other cephalopods, family trails, creative workshops and bookable underwater-drone sessions for ages eight and over.
Maritime Museum Spring holidays
PAID ENTRY | GOOD FOR RAIN | ALL-DAY OPTION ___________________________________________________________________________
Head to the Australian Museum
Sydney
The Australian Museum remains a useful wet-weather choice for families, and its Spring program includes Fang-tastic School Holiday Fun, alongside the Bloodsuckers: Nature’s Vampires exhibition.
Holiday activities include workshops, family films, hands-on science and special programs. General museum entry remains free, although some exhibitions and activities are ticketed.
FREE GENERAL ENTRY | GOOD FOR RAIN ___________________________________________________________________________
Make art at the Art Gallery of NSW
Sydney
The Art Gallery of NSW is another reliable free option when the weather changes.
Families can explore both the original South Building and Sydney Modern, and the Gallery regularly runs hands-on art-making and family activities during school holidays.
General admission is free, although some exhibitions require tickets.
Art Gallery of NSW – Kids and families
FREE GENERAL ENTRY | ART | GOOD FOR RAIN ___________________________________________________________________________
Explore Powerhouse Castle Hill
Castle Hill
One change from the older NSW guide is that I would no longer describe “Powerhouse Museum” as a single Sydney CBD destination.
The Powerhouse renewal is spread across several sites, while Powerhouse Castle Hill is currently open and runs school-holiday programs alongside its huge collection stores and displays.
FREE | WESTERN SYDNEY | GOOD FOR RAIN ___________________________________________________________________________
Something a little different
Take a Spring road trip
Spring is a good excuse to turn a holiday activity into a day trip.
The Blue Mountains offer short family walks and lookouts, the Hunter Valley has its dedicated Spring garden program, and the South Coast offers national parks, beaches and coastal walks without summer’s peak crowds.
For families heading towards Jervis Bay, Booderee National Park combines beaches, bushwalks and the Booderee Botanic Gardens. Booderee is Aboriginal-owned land, jointly managed by the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council and Parks Australia.
REGIONAL | NATURE | DAY TRIP OR SHORT BREAK ___________________________________________________________________________
A note about bird flu in NSW
H5 bird flu has now also been detected in wild birds in NSW, including seabirds found near Port Stephens, Narooma and western NSW.
The risk to people remains low, and families do not need to avoid beaches, parks or nature areas. However, do not touch sick or dead birds or other wildlife, and keep children and pets away.
Record the location and report sick or dead wildlife to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.
Quick picks for busy parents
- Best new holiday event: Wild Things at Sydney Opera House
- Best Spring day trip: Hunter Valley Gardens
- Best free outdoor outing: Royal Botanic Garden Sydney or Mount Annan
- Best for active kids: Sydney Olympic Park
- Best nature experience: NSW National Parks Junior Ranger programs
- Best rainy-day outing: Australian National Maritime Museum
- Best free indoor option: Australian Museum or Art Gallery of NSW
- Best Western Sydney choice: Powerhouse Castle Hill or Mount Annan
- Best regional adventure: Booderee National Park
Parent tip: Spring weather can change quickly, particularly in coastal and mountain areas. Check attraction websites, National Parks alerts and booking requirements before heading out.
___________________________________________________________________________
Main Image: Sydney Park Alexandria bike track.
