Australian School Holidays

Did you know school holidays in Australia vary from state to state?

Coolangatta's Greenmount beach during September school holidays! Seriously LOVE the Gold Coast beaches.

School Holiday Information at a Glance

Why School Term Dates Differ Across Australia

Australia has 6 States (QLD, NSW, VIC, SA, WA and TAS) plus 2 Territories (NT and ACT). Each has a state government responsible for education. This means that school term dates in each state can be quite different.

Gold Coast peak season for flights and accommodation is usually when both NSW and Qld state schools are on vacation. Double check when you book because even a few days can make a big difference to the cost of your trip.

Most schools around Australia work around a 4 term school year except Tasmania which has 3 terms (but term 1 has a holiday in the middle so it is almost 4 terms!) and that looks like it is changing in 2013 to 4 terms.

Main Holiday Dates for Australian State Schools

Busiest times are when all schools are on vacation at the same time!

Interstate visitors with children can sometimes sneak in to the Gold Coast at the begining or end of their holidays and pay off peak rates.

Generally the price of accommodation is based upon the Qld and NSW state school dates.

Visitors without children and the flexibility to choose can save money by avoiding these peak times.

The exception to this is when there is a big event on such as Gold Coast 600 V8 Super Cars event in October (formerly Gold Coast Indy).

Major Holiday Dates for Schools for 2011

• 11 December 2010 to 24 January 2011
• 9 April 2011 to 25 April 2011
• 25 June 2011 to 17 July 2011
• 17 September 2011 to 9 October 2011
• 10 December 2011 to 26 January 2012

Please note, the dates above encompass when either Qld or NSW or both are on school holiday because these two states have the biggest impact on the Gold Coast peak tourist season and prices. For actual term dates for each state click here for my quick holiday dates or click here for the Australian Government website with the latest information.

Major Holiday Dates for Schools for 2012

• 10 December 2011 to 26 January 2012
• 31 March 2012 to 22 April 2012
• 23 June 2012 to 15 July 2012
• 22 September 2012 to 7 October 2012
• 15 December 2012 to late January 2013

Public holidays this year include: Australia Day Thursday 26 January 2012. Easter is from Friday 6 April to Monday 9 April 2012. ANZAC Day is Wednesday 25 April 2012, Labour Day Monday 7 May 2012, Queens Diamond Jubiliee Holiday Monday 11 June 2012 and Queens Birthday moved to Monday 1 October 2012.

Please note, the dates above encompass when either Qld or NSW or both are on school holiday because these two states have the biggest impact on the Gold Coast peak tourist season and prices. For actual term dates for each state click here for my quick holiday dates or click here for the Australian Government website with the latest information.

Major School Holiday Dates for 2013

• Saturday 15 December 2012 to Monday 28 January 2013
• Friday 29 March 2013 to Sunday 28 April 2013
• Saturday 22 June 2013 to Sunday 14 July 2013
• Saturday 21 September 2013 to Monday 7 October 2013
• Saturday 14 December 2013 to late January 2014

Public holidays this year include: Australia Day Monday 28 January 2013 (proposed in lieu of Saturday 26 January 2013). Easter is from Friday 29 March to Monday 1 April 2013. ANZAC Day is Thursday 25 April 2013, Labour Day Monday 6 May 2013 and Queens Birthday moved to 7 October 2013.

Please note, the dates above encompass when either Qld or NSW or both are on school holiday because these two states have the biggest impact on the Gold Coast peak tourist season and prices. For actual term dates for each state click here for my quick holiday dates or click here for the Australian Government website with the latest information.

More Planning Resources For Your Gold Coast Holiday

Here's some more resources to help you plan your holiday in the Gold Coast.

• Gold Coast Travel Planning Guide for a birds eye view of what to consider for your Gold Coast holiday including information on Gold Coast major events.
  
• Map of the Gold Coast showing where things are in relation to each other! Sometimes it is hard to get a feel for the Gold Coast as there is so much information. This map can be a good place to start.
• Gold Coast Suburb Guide gives you some perspective of where you can stay. You will be able to weigh up the pros and cons of the different Gold Coast accommodation options so you can choose the best place for you to stay.
  
• Gold Coast family holidays has hints and tips for families travelling to the Gold Coast with children. Some ideas on family friendly resorts, accommodation types and holiday packages.
• Discover Gold Coast attractions to suit everyone! From man-made attractions to the totally natural attractions that this part of Queensland has to offer.
  
• Planning To fly to the Gold Coast? Check out the options for flying and flights to Brisbane or Gold Coast airports. Plus other useful information about flights to the Gold Coast.
  
• Gold Coast car rentals and transport options for getting around south east Queensland.
  

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