Complete school term and holiday information for 2026
Western Australia (WA) occupies 2,645,615 km² — one-third of the Australian landmass — and has approximately 2.8 million residents. The state operates over 800 government schools administered by the WA Department of Education. Perth, the state capital, is the most geographically isolated capital city of any Australian state, situated 2,136 km from Adelaide (the nearest state capital) and 3,291 km from Sydney.
WA operates on Australian Western Standard Time (AWST, UTC+8) year-round without daylight saving. This creates a 2–3 hour time difference with eastern states depending on season. The state observes Western Australia Day (1 June) and schedules the King's Birthday holiday in September rather than June, distinguishing its school calendar from eastern states. WA's climate ranges from Mediterranean in the southwest to tropical monsoonal in the Kimberley and arid desert across the interior.
Start: Monday 2 February 2026
End: Thursday 2 April 2026
Duration: 60 days
Start: Monday 20 April 2026
End: Friday 3 July 2026
Duration: 75 days
Start: Monday 20 July 2026
End: Friday 25 September 2026
Duration: 68 days
Start: Monday 12 October 2026
End: Thursday 17 December 2026
Duration: 67 days
| Term | Start Date | End Date | Duration (Days) | Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | Mon 2 February | Thu 2 April | 60 | ~9 |
| Term 2 | Mon 20 April | Fri 3 July | 75 | ~11 |
| Term 3 | Mon 20 July | Fri 25 September | 68 | ~10 |
| Term 4 | Mon 12 October | Thu 17 December | 67 | ~10 |
Start: Thursday 18 December 2025
End: Sunday 1 February 2026
Duration: 46 days
Start: Friday 3 April 2026
End: Sunday 19 April 2026
Duration: 17 days
Start: Saturday 4 July 2026
End: Sunday 19 July 2026
Duration: 16 days
Start: Saturday 26 September 2026
End: Sunday 11 October 2026
Duration: 16 days
Start: Friday 18 December 2026
End: Sunday 1 February 2027
Duration: 46 days
Perth to Broome spans 2,200 km (equivalent to London to Istanbul). Perth to Exmouth (Ningaloo Reef) covers 1,260 km. These distances require multi-day road trips or domestic flights between regional centres. Families typically focus on one WA region per school break period.
| Break Period | Dates | Perth Temp | Broome Temp | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer Holidays | Dec–Jan | 25–35°C | 28–35°C | Hot. Peak season for Margaret River and south coast. Kimberley Wet season — road closures north of Broome. |
| Autumn Break | April | 15–28°C | 24–34°C | Kimberley Dry season begins. Northern wildflower season. Perth mild. |
| Winter Break | July | 8–18°C | 15–30°C | Perth cool with rain. Whale watching season (Humpback, June–November). Kimberley and Ningaloo in peak Dry season. |
| Spring Break | Sep–Oct | 12–22°C | 22–34°C | Wildflower season across southern WA (over 12,000 species). Whale shark season ending at Ningaloo. |
Kings Park and Botanic Garden spans 400 hectares overlooking the Swan River — one of the largest inner-city parks in the world. Perth Zoo houses 1,200 animals across 17 hectares. The Western Australian Museum Boola Bardip (opened 2020) provides free general admission to natural and cultural history exhibits. The Swan Valley, 25 minutes from the CBD, contains 40+ cellar doors alongside chocolate factories and craft breweries.
Rottnest Island (Wadjemup) covers 19 km² and is home to approximately 10,000 quokkas (Setonix brachyurus), a small marsupial found only on this island and isolated mainland WA populations. The island has 63 beaches and 20 bays. No private vehicles operate on the island — transport is by bicycle or shuttle bus. Ferry services depart from Fremantle, Perth, and Hillarys. Accommodation and ferry tickets sell out 6–8 weeks in advance during school breaks.
The Margaret River region contains over 200 wineries, producing 20% of Australia's premium wine output from 1% of total vineyard area. Ngilgi Cave and Lake Cave provide underground limestone formations. Busselton Jetty extends 1,841 metres into Geographe Bay — the longest timber-piled jetty in the Southern Hemisphere — with an underwater observatory at its end. Surf breaks at Margaret River host WSL Championship Tour events.
Ningaloo Reef extends 260 km along the northwest coast and is the largest fringing reef in Australia. Unlike the Great Barrier Reef, Ningaloo is accessible by wading from shore at Coral Bay. Whale shark encounters operate from March to July (the largest known aggregation site). Humpback whale season runs June to November. Turtle nesting occurs from November to February at the Jurabi Turtle Centre near Exmouth.
The Kimberley covers 423,517 km² — three times the area of England. Purnululu National Park contains the Bungle Bungle Range, featuring beehive-shaped sandstone towers banded in orange and grey. Horizontal Falls near Talbot Bay is a tidal phenomenon where ocean water forces through two narrow gorges. Accessible during the Dry season (May–October) by 4WD, scenic flight, or organised tour. The Gibb River Road (660 km unsealed) connects major gorges and waterfalls.
Perth has an efficient public transport system with SmartRider cards. For regional WA, car hire is essential. 4WD is required for many Kimberley and outback destinations. Domestic flights connect Perth with major regional centres including Broome, Exmouth, and Kalgoorlie.
WA operates 2-3 hours behind eastern states (no daylight saving). Factor this into flight times and scheduling. WA's size also means significant time differences during road trips between regions.
When travelling in remote WA, carry sufficient water, fuel, and supplies. Check road conditions before travelling, especially after rain. Mobile coverage is limited outside population centres. Always tell someone your travel plans for outback trips.