Sydney summer school-holiday programs
NSW goes on summer break first this year: six weeks of holidays, from Friday 18 December to Wednesday 27 January, and students go back on Wednesday 3 February. The simplest way to plan it is in parts. There is a run of days before Christmas, a quiet week between Christmas and New Year, then a full January when most camps and courses run. Here is what is on, what to book first, and two voucher dates that can lower the cost.
See Sydney summer programs- Summer holidays 2026–27: Friday 18 December – Wednesday 27 January (NSW government schools, Eastern division). Students go back Wednesday 3 February 2027. Thursday 28 January to Tuesday 2 February are school development days, so most kids are still at home that week.
Plan the break in parts
- Before Christmas, Friday 18 to Thursday 24 December: a long weekend plus a four-day week. Day camps, art classes and the first sailing and tennis camps run now.
- Christmas to New Year: most programs pause. The public holidays are Friday 25 December, Monday 28 December (for Boxing Day) and Friday 1 January. A few residential camps run this week; otherwise plan it as family time.
- January, Monday 4 to Wednesday 27 January: the main run, when most camps, courses and multi-day programs happen. The popular ones book out from late November. Tuesday 26 January is Australia Day, so that week is shorter for many programs.
- The extra week, Thursday 28 January to Tuesday 2 February: school development days, so classes have not started yet. A few studios and holiday-care services run into this week; check end dates when you book, as many programs stop on 27 January.
On the harbour and the beaches
Summer is when Sydney's water programs come into their own. Sailing clubs and harbour adventure camps run day programs and week-long courses from Manly to Darling Point and Balmain, for beginners up to teens. Learn-to-swim intensives run daily across January, which is a quick way to build confidence before a summer at the beach.
Book first: camps
Day camps and residential camps in the bush and by the water, from the northern beaches and Hornsby hills to Lake Macquarie and the south-west, are the programs that fill earliest. Most are grouped by age or school year, and the residential ones are a big step up for a first-timer, so check how the provider settles in younger kids.
Arts, music and performance
Sydney has a deep summer arts line-up: performing arts camps that end with a show, rock-band and jazz camps, orchestra summer schools, pottery-wheel and art studio classes. They suit kids who want a project to finish by the end of the week, and many run school hours close to home.
For curious kids
A smaller set of programs leans into learning: university-run enrichment courses for primary students, and career-taster camps like junior vet programs. These are often only a few days long and book out early.
Two voucher dates worth knowing
Eligible NSW families get two $50 Active and Creative Kids vouchers a year per school-aged child (families receiving Family Tax Benefit). This summer, two dates matter. The first 2026 voucher must be used by 31 December 2026, so an unused one is worth spending on a December program. The second 2026 voucher is valid until 14 July 2027, and the first 2027 voucher opens on 15 January. You apply and redeem through the Service NSW app, and only registered providers can take it, so check with the provider before you count on it.
Summer practicalities
- Sun and heat: UV is high all summer, so a hat, sunscreen and a full water bottle go in every bag. Ask what a program does on very hot days.
- Beach safety: for beach programs, check the supervision ratio and whether kids swim between the flags with lifeguards on duty.
- Fire danger: bush camps may cancel on days rated Catastrophic. Check the provider's policy before you book.
The summer plan in one line: book the January camps and courses first, use any voucher that expires on 31 December, and fill the gaps with day programs close to home.