Fold three paper plane designs, run fair tests and find out which flies furthest — and why.
Winter School Holidays (July)
In Australia, the winter school holidays usually fall in late June to July. Here are the dates for every state and territory, plus free ideas to make the most of the break.
| State / territory | Winter |
|---|---|
| NSWEastern Division | Mon 6 July – Fri 17 July |
| VIC | Mon 29 June – Fri 10 July |
| QLD | Sat 27 June – Sun 12 July |
| WA | Sat 4 July – Sun 19 July |
| SA | Sat 4 July – Sun 19 July |
| TAS | Sat 11 July – Sun 26 July |
| ACT | Mon 6 July – Mon 20 July |
| NT | Mon 22 June – Mon 13 July |
| State / territory | Winter |
|---|---|
| NSWEastern Division | Mon 5 July – Fri 16 July |
| VIC | Mon 28 June – Fri 9 July |
| QLD | Sat 26 June – Sun 11 July |
| WA | Sat 3 July – Sun 18 July |
| SA | Mon 5 July – Fri 16 July |
| TAS | Being verified Official TAS calendar |
| ACT | Mon 5 July – Mon 19 July |
| NT | Mon 21 June – Mon 12 July |
The winter holidays sit between Term 2 and Term 3, usually in late June and July. They are about two weeks long in most states, with dates that vary across the country.
Winter weather means more time indoors in the south, while northern Australia enjoys its dry season. Our activity picks below work either way.
New Zealand families: see the New Zealand school holiday dates, which follow one national calendar.
Want something organised for part of the break?
Explore School Holiday ProgramsTips for the winter holidays
Build a rainy-day box
Fill a box with craft supplies, a deck of cards and printables so there's always something ready when the weather turns.
Mix in movement
Short active breaks — a backyard challenge or a walk between showers — make indoor days easier for everyone.
Make the most of mid-year
Winter is a great time to review the first half of the year and set one small goal for Term 3.
Free activity ideas for these holidays
Plan, draw and write a six-panel comic with a beginning, a problem and a satisfying ending.
A fast two-player game: roll two dice, multiply, and race to fill your board first.
Each family member writes a quiz round about places and people, then everyone competes for the trophy.
Use cardboard tubes, boxes and tape to build a marble run up a wall or down the stairs — then improve it to make the marble's journey as long as possible.
Turn a favourite story into a short script and perform it together — no memorising, no costumes required, just big expressive voices.