The information below is relevant to NSW state schools. Independent and Catholic schools do base their terms on the state school dates but their term dates can vary from school to school. You should check directly with the relevant school to find out the correct term date information. In NSW term dates are broken into Eastern Division and Western Division. The term dates for both divisions are identical with the exception of term 1.
Note that the dates below represent official term dates however many schools elect to start the students back on slightly different dates. For instance, it is common for the first day back at school to be a Tuesday for students rather than the Monday. It is also common for students to finish term 4 in the days prior to the final Friday.
2019 NSW School Holidays and Term Dates
| Period | Start | Finish | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 – Eastern Division | Tuesday, 29 January 2019 | Friday, 12 April 2019 | 11 weeks |
| Term 1 – Western Division | Tuesday, 5 February 2019 | Friday, 12 April 2019 | 10 weeks |
| School Holidays | Saturday, 13 April 2019 | Sunday, 28 April 2019 | |
| Term 2 | Monday, 29 April 2019 | Friday, 05 July 2019 | 10 weeks |
| School Holidays | Saturday, 6 July 2019 | Sunday, 21 July 2019 | |
| Term 3 | Monday, 22 July 2019 | Friday, 27 September 2019 | 10 weeks |
| School Holidays | Saturday, 28 September 2019 | Sunday, 13 October 2019 | |
| Term 4* | Monday, 14 October 2019 | Friday, 20 December 2019 | 10 weeks |
| School Holidays – Western Division | Saturday, 21 December 2019 | Monday, 3 February 2020 | |
| School Holidays – Eastern Division | Saturday, 21 December 2019 | Monday, 27 January 2020 |
*Year 12 has different finishing dates in term 4. Year 12 only goes for 3 terms and graduates late September/early October. There is then a short break before returning for final exams (HSC) which start mid-October and end around the same time in November. Dates will be added once they become available.
Some of the great activities to get up to in the 2019 NSW School holidays.
- Outdoor Adventures: Exploring national parks, beaches, and nature reserves. Activities like bushwalking, camping, and coastal walks are popular.
- Cultural and Historical Sites: Visiting museums, art galleries, and cultural landmarks. These often have special programs for children during school holidays.
- Workshops and Educational Programs: Many museums, science centres, and educational institutions offer workshops and programs for children, covering topics from science and technology to arts and crafts.
- Sports and Physical Activities: Sports camps, swimming, surfing lessons, and other physical activities are commonly organised during school holidays.
- Community and Local Events: Festivals, local fairs, and community events often take place during school holidays, offering family-friendly entertainment.
- Theatre and Performances: Children’s theatre productions and movie screenings are typically scheduled to coincide with school holidays.
- Zoos and Wildlife Parks: Visits to zoos, wildlife parks, and aquariums are a favourite, with many offering special school holiday programs.
- Amusement Parks and Fun Centres: Places like Luna Park, water parks, and indoor play centres are popular destinations.