School Holidays 2027 in Australia: Dates for Every State and Territory

You need your state's exact 2027 school holiday dates to book flights, childcare or a camp, and most pages show one state at a time. This guide gives the school holidays 2027 for all eight states and territories in one place, each table tied to the education department page it came from.

When are the school holidays in 2027?

Most states have four breaks in 2027: autumn (Easter) in March or April, winter in June or July, spring in September, and summer from mid-December. No two states match across the whole year.

• Autumn / Easter: Victoria and Queensland start first (Fri 26 March). NSW, WA, SA, Tasmania and the ACT start on Sat 10 April. The Northern Territory starts on Sat 3 April and has the shortest break (10 days).
• Winter: The Northern Territory starts on Sat 19 June and has the longest winter break (24 days). Victoria and Queensland start on Sat 26 June. The other five start on Sat 3 July.
• Spring: Victoria, Queensland and the Northern Territory start on Sat 18 September. The other five start a week later, on Sat 25 September.
• Summer: Queensland, SA and the NT finish Term 4 first (9 or 10 December). NSW finishes last, on Monday 20 December.

How to read the tables below. "Students start" and "Last day" are the official first and last student days of each term. The "holiday starts" and "students return" columns are calculated by us: a break starts the day after the last day of term and runs until students return, so it includes weekends and staff days. Dates are for government (public) schools only.

What to do with the break? See our December school holidays 2026 maths plan and free activities.

The year at a glance

Each bar below shows when students are in term and when they are on holiday, so you can compare two states in one look.

School holidays 2027 by state and territory

Each table shows 2026 and 2027 together, so you can plan the rest of this year and next.

NSW school holidays 2027

New South Wales students are in Term 4 now, and the summer break starts on Friday 18 December 2026. In 2027 the school year opens on Wednesday 3 February for most of the state, and Term 4 runs late, to Monday 20 December.

Eastern division shown. Western division schools start Term 1 on Mon 9 Feb 2026 and Wed 10 Feb 2027.

What to know before you book (NSW)

• NSW runs two divisions. The Eastern division covers most of the state. The Western division starts Term 1 one week later (2026: Mon 9 Feb; 2027: Wed 10 Feb). Every other term date is the same.
• School development days (staff only) sit just before each term. For Term 4 2026 it is Monday 12 October, so students returned on Tuesday 13 October.
• Why other sites show "12 to 23 April" for NSW autumn holidays: the department lists school holidays as weekdays only (Mon 12 to Fri 23 April). Our table counts from the weekend after the last day of Term 1 (Sat 10 April) to the day students return (Thu 29 April), because Tue 27 and Wed 28 April are staff development days. Both are correct; ours shows how long your child is actually out of class.
• A small number of schools near the Victorian and Queensland borders run on different dates, according to the department.

Victoria school holidays 2027

Victorian students finish Term 4 on Friday 18 December 2026 and are back on Thursday 28 January 2027. The autumn, winter and spring breaks in 2027 start on the same dates as Queensland's, so families with children in both states can plan once.

Student start dates shown. Teachers start on Tue 27 Jan 2026 and Wed 27 Jan 2027.

What to know before you book (Victoria)

• Teachers start a day before students in Term 1. The table uses the student start date.
• Victoria's official page lists only the summer break explicitly. The other breaks in the table are the gaps between the end of one term and the start of the next, calculated by us.
• The Minister approved the 2026 to 2030 term dates in one block in June 2021.

Queensland school holidays 2027

Queensland's 2026 school year ends early, on Friday 11 December 2026, and students are back on Wednesday 27 January 2027. The 2027 autumn, winter and spring breaks start on the same dates as Victoria's (students return one day later after the spring break, on Tue 5 October), and Term 4 ends on Friday 10 December 2027.

What to know before you book (Queensland)

• The department publishes 2026 and 2027 on two separate pages, so both are linked under the table.
• Staff professional development days in 2027 include Thu 8 and Fri 9 April (Term 2) and Fri 3 September (Term 3). Confirm these on the department page; they are staff days, not extra student holidays.
• Some Queensland state schools run extended summer holidays. The department keeps a separate list.

WA school holidays 2027 (Perth)

Perth and the rest of Western Australia finish Term 4 on Thursday 17 December 2026. In 2027, WA, South Australia and Tasmania share the same Term 2 and Term 3 dates, so their July and September breaks line up.

What to know before you book (Western Australia)

• WA publishes breaks alongside terms, and the calculated start dates in the table match the gazetted "Break" lines.
• The department expects a public holiday on Monday 26 April 2027 in place of ANZAC Day (Sunday 25 April), the day Term 2 begins. Confirm the return date with your school.
• The department asks you to check your own school for planned development days.

South Australia school holidays 2027

South Australian state schools finish on Friday 11 December 2026, and Term 1 2027 starts early, on Wednesday 27 January. SA's 2027 Terms 2 and 3 match WA and Tasmania.

What to know before you book (South Australia)

• SA lists its 2026 holiday dates directly (Autumn 11 to 26 April, Winter 4 to 19 July, Spring 26 September to 11 October, Summer 12 December to 27 January), and they match the calculated breaks in the table.
• The department publishes 2027 in its future term dates list, up to 2030.

Tasmania school holidays 2027

Tasmania starts the 2027 school year on Thursday 4 February, a day after NSW, and finishes Term 4 2026 on Friday 18 December. Its 2026 pattern differs from the mainland, with Term 1 running to 17 April, and the 2027 dates line up with most other states.

What to know before you book (Tasmania)

• Tasmania publishes terms and breaks for school students. Colleges (Years 11 and 12) set their own finishing dates, which can depend on exam dates.
• Student-free professional learning days in 2027: Fri 11 June (statewide), Mon 19 July (statewide), Fri 22 October (South) and Fri 29 October (North). In 2026: Fri 23 October (South) and Fri 30 October (North).

ACT school holidays 2027

Canberra's public schools finish on Friday 18 December 2026. The 2027 year starts on Monday 1 February for new students, and Term 2 starts later than in every other state except NSW, on Wednesday 28 April.

Term 1 start shown is for new students. Continuing students start the next school day (Mon 2 Feb 2026 and Tue 2 Feb 2027).

What to know before you book (ACT)

• ACT Term 1 has two start dates. New students (Kindergarten, Year 7, Year 11 and anyone new to a school) start first, and continuing students start the next school day.
• The first day of every ACT term is a student-free day for staff development, so the dates shown are student start dates.
• Individual schools manage college exam periods.

NT school holidays 2027

Northern Territory students finish Term 4 on Thursday 10 December 2026 and are back on Wednesday 27 January 2027. NT's holidays fall in different weeks from the southern states, so it's better to cross-verify.

Student start dates shown. Teachers start one day earlier each term.

What to know before you book (Northern Territory)

• NT teachers start a day before students each term, and the table shows student start dates. Term 4 ends a day earlier for students than for teachers.
• Most NT government schools follow these dates. Gunbalanya School runs a flexible school year set through separate consultation.
• NT's mid-year break is earlier than the southern states': Term 2 finishes on 19 June 2026 and 18 June 2027.

School holidays 2027 by break: compare every state

These four tables line up all eight jurisdictions for each break.

School holidays April 2027 (Easter and the autumn break)

Easter 2027 falls inside the Term 1 break in every state: Good Friday is 26 March and Easter Monday is 29 March. Victoria and Queensland finish on 25 March, so their break starts on Good Friday itself. NSW, WA, SA, Tasmania and the ACT run to 9 April, and the Northern Territory finishes on 2 April, which gives it the shortest autumn break in the country.

Source: calculated from each department's published term dates (all eight links are in the Sources section). Holidays start the day after the last day of term; students return on the first student day of the next term.

School holidays July 2027 (the winter break)

Winter is the one break that splits the country into three groups. The Northern Territory is out of school from 19 June and has the longest winter break (24 days), Victoria and Queensland start on 26 June, and the other five states follow on 3 July.

Source: calculated from each department's published term dates (all eight links are in the Sources section). Holidays start the day after the last day of term; students return on the first student day of the next term.

School holidays September 2027 (the spring break)

Queensland, Victoria and the Northern Territory break first, from 18 September, and are back in the first week of October. NSW, WA, SA, Tasmania and the ACT break a week later, from 25 September, and return on 11 or 12 October.

Source: calculated from each department's published term dates (all eight links are in the Sources section). Holidays start the day after the last day of term; students return on the first student day of the next term.

Summer school holidays 2026 to 2027 (Term 4 2026 to Term 1 2027)

This is the break you can book now. The Northern Territory, Queensland and South Australia finish first (11 or 12 December), while NSW, WA, Victoria, Tasmania and the ACT run to 18 or 19 December. States return on different dates, so compare the "students return" column, not only the start date.

Source: calculated from each department's published term dates (all eight links are in the Sources section). Holidays start the day after the last day of term; students return on the first student day of the next term.

Do private and Catholic schools have the same school holidays?

Not always. The dates on this page are for government (public) schools. Several departments say plainly that non-government schools may differ, and some Catholic and independent schools publish their own term dates a few days either side. Schools also set staff development days one by one, so a Friday off is possible inside the official term.

How to Use the 2027 School Holidays to Get Ahead in Maths?

Pick one maths goal for the break, then spend short, focused sessions on it. The goal is usually one of three: catch up on a topic that went wobbly, prepare for a test, or start next term’s work early. A break gives your child what term time doesn’t: no homework deadlines and room to go slowly.

Summer is the long one, six to seven weeks depending on your state. The autumn and winter breaks run about two to three weeks, which is enough to fix one topic or preview the next term.

Which maths goal fits your child?

How does a good online maths tutor help over the break?

Cuemath Australia gives your child one private maths tutor for live, one-on-one online classes of 40 -60 minutes, 2 to 3 times a week, on a schedule you set. Your tutor finds where your child is stuck, then builds a personalised plan around your goal: catching up, preparing for a test, or getting ahead. Every class follows that plan, so no time goes on revision your child doesn’t need.

• The same tutor every class. Your child builds a working relationship with one tutor, not a new face each session.
• No commute. Classes are online, so there is no travel and no after-school rush. Your child joins from home, and flexible leaves and scheduling let you plan around family trips.
• Fun stays in the holidays. At 40 -60 minutes a class, most of the day stays free for the beach, sport and friends. Your child enjoys the break and works toward the goal at the same time.
• You can see the progress. Parents follow how their child is going in the parent app.
• Test preparation is in the same program. NAPLAN, OC and selective-test preparation sit alongside school maths, and tutors can also prepare students for competitions such as the AMC and ICAS.
• Built for a short commitment. Cuemath’s Australian site lists no lock-in and a 100% refund of unused classes, which suits a holiday-only start. Read the refund policy before you pay.

School holidays 2027: frequently asked questions

When are the school holidays in 2027 in Australia?

School holidays in 2027 start on 26 March, 3 April or 10 April (autumn), 19 June to 3 July (winter), 18 or 25 September (spring) and from 9 to 20 December (summer), depending on the state. Victoria and Queensland break earliest in autumn (26 March) and the Northern Territory breaks earliest in winter (19 June). Use the state tables above for exact dates.

What are the NSW school holidays in 2027?

NSW school holidays in 2027 run Sat 10 April to Wed 28 April (autumn, back Thu 29 April), Sat 3 July to Mon 19 July (winter, back Tue 20 July) and Sat 25 September to Mon 11 October (spring, back Tue 12 October). Term 4 ends on Monday 20 December. The Western division starts Term 1 a week later, on Wednesday 10 February.

What are the Victorian school holidays in 2027?

Victorian school holidays in 2027 start on Fri 26 March (back Mon 12 April), Sat 26 June (back Mon 12 July) and Sat 18 September (back Mon 4 October). Term 4 ends on Friday 17 December, and students return on Friday 28 January 2028.

What are the Queensland school holidays in 2027?

Queensland school holidays in 2027 start on Fri 26 March (back Mon 12 April), Sat 26 June (back Mon 12 July) and Sat 18 September (back Tue 5 October). Term 4 ends on Friday 10 December 2027.

Are the Easter school holidays in 2027 the same in every state?

No. Easter falls inside the Term 1 break in every state (Good Friday is 26 March, Easter Monday is 29 March), but the breaks start on different days. Victoria and Queensland start on 26 March, the Northern Territory on 3 April, and the other five on 10 April.

Are school holidays the same in every state?

No. Each state and territory sets its own term dates, and NSW even splits into Eastern and Western divisions for the start of Term 1. Victoria and Queensland start their 2027 autumn, winter and spring breaks on the same dates, and WA, South Australia and Tasmania share the same Term 2 and Term 3 dates, but no two states match across the whole year.

When do school holidays start in December 2026?

The Northern Territory finishes on Thursday 10 December 2026, Queensland and South Australia on Friday 11 December, WA and NSW on Thursday 17 December, and Victoria, Tasmania and the ACT on Friday 18 December.

When do school holidays start in July 2027?

The Northern Territory is first, with winter holidays starting on Saturday 19 June 2027. Victoria and Queensland start on Saturday 26 June. NSW, WA, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT start on Saturday 3 July.

Do private, Catholic and independent schools follow the same school holidays?

Often, but not always. State education departments publish dates for public (government) schools, and several of them say that private schools may have different dates. Check the school's own calendar before booking travel.

Where can I download a 2027 school holidays calendar as a PDF?

Download it from your state's education department. South Australia, Tasmania, the ACT and the Northern Territory publish official PDF calendars on their term-dates pages, and SA, Tasmania and the ACT also offer a calendar file for your phone. NSW publishes a 2026 calendar PDF and lists 2027 planners as coming soon.

How long are the 2027 school holidays?

Most Term 1, 2 and 3 breaks run 16 to 17 days, counting weekends. The exceptions are NSW (19 days in April, because staff days sit before Term 2), the ACT (18 days in April) and the Northern Territory (10 days in April but 24 in winter). Summer runs about six to seven weeks, depending on when your state returns.

Can my child keep up their maths over the school holidays without it feeling like homework?

Yes. Ten to fifteen minutes a day of mental maths, a game with dice or cards, or maths in a real task such as cooking or shopping keeps skills fresh without taking over the break. Short, regular practice works better than one big push, and one-on-one classes are an option if your child needs a more structured restart for Term 1.

When should I start NAPLAN practice?

Start in the summer holidays if your child is in Year 3, 5, 7 or 9. NAPLAN is held in March, so practice papers from December or January give two to three months of short sessions before the test.

Sources and how we checked these dates

Every date on this page was read from the official education-department page below on October 2026. The "holiday starts / students return" columns are calculated from those term dates, not quoted. Departments can change dates, so confirm on the page if you are booking something non-refundable.

Term dates (primary, government sources)

• NSW: NSW Department of Education, 2026 term dates; 2027 term dates (re-read live 13 Oct 2026; page last updated 13 Aug 2026)
• Victoria: Victorian Government, School term dates and holidays in Victoria (updated 2 October 2026)
• Queensland: Term dates (2026); Future dates (2027)
• Western Australia: WA Department of Education, Term dates (gazetted)
• South Australia: SA Department for Education, Term dates for South Australian state schools
• Tasmania: Department for Education, Children and Young People, School term dates (published 5 October 2026)
• ACT: ACT Government, Public holidays, school terms and daylight saving
• Northern Territory: NT Government, School term and holiday dates in NT

Test timing (backs the NAPLAN and OC/Selective claims)

• NSW Department of Education, Selective high school (Year 7) application process and key dates and Opportunity Class (Year 5) placement (2026 tests were held in early May; 2027 dates are not yet announced)
• National Assessment Program, NAPLAN (March testing; Years 3, 5, 7 and 9)

Spotted a date that has changed? Tell us and we'll update this page. This page is general guidance. Always confirm dates with your school.

Nupur Jain in ✉

Senior Writer

I write because I like understanding things properly, and I've never been able to do that quietly.

Six years in, what still interests me most isn't the writing itself. It's the person on the other side. Who are they, what were they actually worried about when they opened this page, and did they leave with what they came for? Most content fails that last test. It answers the easy question instead of the one that was asked.

At Cuemath, I write for parents and students in India and around the world. That range is the part I enjoy. A parent in Bangalore and a parent in Canada are asking about the same child, but not always in the same words, and that difference matters.

So I research before I write. Not just search results. Forums, reviews, the long comment threads where somebody finally admits what they're really confused about. That's usually where the useful thing is hiding.

I also spend time on how people find this writing at all, since a growing number of them now ask an AI instead of typing into Google. But that only works if the writing is clear to begin with. There's no shortcut around that part.