Complete school term and holiday information for 2026
Queensland (QLD) is Australia's second-largest state by area (1,852,642 km²) and third-most populous with approximately 5.4 million residents. The state operates over 1,260 government schools administered by the Queensland Department of Education. The 2026 academic year follows a four-term structure. Queensland's subtropical to tropical climate spans from the Gold Coast (latitude 28°S) to the Torres Strait Islands (latitude 10°S), producing year-round warm conditions across most regions.
Queensland does not observe daylight saving time (AEST, UTC+10 year-round). This affects interstate travel scheduling, particularly with NSW and Victoria, which shift to UTC+11 during daylight saving months (October–April). The state's school calendar aligns with the Wet and Dry tropical seasons in Far North Queensland, where the monsoon season (November–April) restricts access to certain locations.
Start: Tuesday 27 January 2026
End: Thursday 2 April 2026
Duration: 66 days
Start: Monday 20 April 2026
End: Friday 26 June 2026
Duration: 68 days
Start: Monday 13 July 2026
End: Friday 18 September 2026
Duration: 68 days
Start: Tuesday 6 October 2026
End: Friday 11 December 2026
Duration: 67 days
| Term | Start Date | End Date | Duration (Days) | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Tue 27 January | Thu 2 April | 66 | ~10 |
| Term 2 | Mon 20 April | Fri 26 June | 68 | ~10 |
| Term 3 | Mon 13 July | Fri 18 September | 68 | ~10 |
| Term 4 | Tue 6 October | Fri 11 December | 67 | ~10 |
Start: Friday 12 December 2025
End: Monday 26 January 2026
Duration: 46 days
Start: Friday 3 April 2026
End: Sunday 19 April 2026
Duration: 17 days
Start: Saturday 27 June 2026
End: Sunday 12 July 2026
Duration: 16 days
Start: Saturday 19 September 2026
End: Monday 5 October 2026
Duration: 17 days
Start: Saturday 12 December 2026
End: Monday 26 January 2027
Duration: 46 days
Queensland spans three climate zones: tropical (Cairns, Townsville), subtropical (Brisbane, Gold Coast), and semi-arid (western Queensland). The Dry season (May–October) in Far North Queensland provides the optimal conditions for reef access and outdoor activity. The Wet season (November–April) brings monsoonal rainfall, stinger season in tropical waters, and road closures in Cape York and Far North regions.
| Break Period | Dates | Brisbane Temp | Cairns Temp | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Holidays | Dec–Jan | 21–30°C | 24–32°C | Hot, humid. Stinger season in tropical waters. Cyclone risk north of Bundaberg. |
| Autumn Break | April | 17–27°C | 21–29°C | Warm, low humidity. Reef access optimal. Dry season transition in tropics. |
| Winter Break | July | 10–21°C | 18–26°C | Dry season. Peak whale-watching season. Interstate visitor peak for Gold Coast. |
| Spring Break | Sep–Oct | 14–26°C | 20–29°C | Warming. Reef visibility high. Pre-stinger season. Outback wildflowers. |
The Gold Coast operates four major theme parks: Dreamworld (the largest theme park in Australia by area), Warner Bros. Movie World, Sea World, and Wet'n'Wild. Multi-park passes cover all four parks. Online pre-booking avoids queuing during school break periods. Theme park hotel packages bundle accommodation with park entry.
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system on Earth, comprising over 2,900 individual reef systems and 900 islands. Family-accessible entry points include Reef HQ Aquarium in Townsville (the world's largest living coral reef aquarium), glass-bottom boat tours from Cairns and Port Douglas, and snorkelling platforms at the Whitsunday Islands. Reef tours operate year-round with stinger suits provided November–May.
South Bank Parklands contain a man-made swimming lagoon (Streets Beach), the Queensland Museum, and the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) — all with free general admission. Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary (established 1927) is the world's first and largest koala sanctuary, housing over 100 koalas. Moreton Island, 40 km offshore from Brisbane, offers sand tobogganing on 280-metre dunes and wild dolphin feeding at Tangalooma.
Cairns serves as the gateway to both the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rainforest (the oldest tropical rainforest on Earth, over 180 million years old). Kuranda Scenic Railway ascends 328 metres through 15 tunnels over a 34 km track. Skyrail Rainforest Cableway spans 7.5 km above the canopy. Crocodile parks and tropical bird sanctuaries operate in the Cairns region.
Winton and Richmond contain significant dinosaur fossil sites. The Australian Age of Dinosaurs museum near Winton houses the largest collection of Australian dinosaur fossils. The Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame in Longreach documents outback pastoral history. Opal fossicking is available at Quilpie. These outback destinations are accessible from April to September during cooler conditions.
Irukandji and box jellyfish (marine stingers) inhabit tropical Queensland waters north of Bundaberg from November to May. Designated stinger nets operate at popular beaches. Full-body stinger suits provide protection for reef and ocean swimming. Saltwater crocodiles inhabit coastal waterways, estuaries, and rivers in Far North Queensland — swimming is restricted to signposted safe areas.
Queensland measures 2,670 km from north to south. Brisbane to Cairns spans approximately 1,700 km (20 hours by road, 2.5 hours by air). The Spirit of Queensland rail service operates between Brisbane and Cairns with a 24-hour journey time. Go Card provides public transport access across South East Queensland (Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast). Car hire is the primary transport mode for regional and outback Queensland.
Brisbane's South Bank Parklands, including Streets Beach, are free to access. National park entry in Queensland is free (camping fees apply). Council-run school holiday programs operate across South East Queensland suburbs. Numerous patrolled beaches between the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast provide free swimming access year-round.