Outdoor adventures

With the weather still warm, it's the perfect time to get outdoors. Zip through the trees at Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures near Jamberoo and race down the waterslides at Jamberoo Action Park. Take the kids bushwalking and camping in magnificent national parks, like Dorrigo National Park on the North Coast and Mungo National Park in Outback NSW. 

Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures, Knights Hill

Just west of Sydney are the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains. Enjoy spectacular views in the ancient landscape at Scenic World. Hop aboard one of the world’s steepest incline railways into a rainforest and glide between rugged cliff tops on a glass-floored cable car. Afterwards, be sure to embark on one of the many amazing bushwalking trails in the region - there are plenty of kid-friendly options taking in sandstone cliffs, waterfalls and dramatic views.

Read more: The most exhilarating adrenaline activities in NSW

Scenic World, Blue Mountains

Camping and road trips

The autumn months are the perfect opportunity to get back to nature on a camping adventure. To immerse yourself in nature, pitch your tent at a secret or remote campsite. For easy access to amenities and entertainment for the kids, book into a family-friendly holiday park. If your pet is coming too, opt for a pet-friendly holiday park. 

If you want to take a scenic drive, follow our family-friendly guides to the Blue Mountains, Lake Macquarie, Bathurst, Dubbo and Kiama.

Read more: The best beachside camping spots in NSW

BIG4 South Durras Holiday Park, South Durras

Beaches and water sports

April is the perfect time to hit the beach, with the water still warm from the summer sun and more than 2,000km of coastline to explore in NSW. Relax on beautiful beaches or try your hand at water sports.  Learn to surf on the South Coast, go swimming at Seal Rocks, boogie board at Toowoon Bay Beach on the Central Coast, or travel up north to Coffs Harbour to see kangaroos hopping across Moonee Beach. If you’re looking for one of NSW's most iconic beach holiday destinations, Byron Bay offers plenty for adults and children alike. Make time to explore The Tweed’s towns while you’re in the region. 

Central Coast Surf Academy, Avoca Beach

There’s lots of fun to be had on rivers and lakes too. In The Murray, you can ride a paddlesteamer, fish for the famous Murray cod, stroll the Beach to Beach Riverside Walk and sleep in a houseboat. Or head to the Clarence Valley and follow the longest whitewater rafting trail in Australia. In Lake Macquarie, there’s stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, snorkelling, boating, fishing and more.

Read more: Best boating experiences in NSW 

River of Islands Houseboat, Mulwala

Animal encounters

The autumn school holidays are the perfect time to introduce children to all the different animals at zoos and wildlife parks, or simply spot them in their natural surroundings. Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo is an open-range zoo that’s home to over 4,000 animals and leads the way in conservation efforts and breeding programs. You can even spend the night in a safari tent.

Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo

Feed giraffes and zebras at Altina Wildlife Park in Darlington Point, just south of Griffith, or let a meerkat sit in your lap at Mogo Wildlife Park on the South Coast. Symbio Wildlife Park is just a short drive outside of Sydney and lets you get closer than ever before to some of the most amazing animals from Australia and around the world.

Off the coast of Narooma, you can snorkel with playful seals in the clear waters off Montague Island. In Port Stephens, you can swim in the ocean with wild dolphins and pat manta rays at Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters.

Read more: Amazing animal encounters to experience in NSW 

Irukandji Shark and Ray Encounters, Anna Bay

Museums and galleries

When planning your holiday, check the events calendar for all the local activities in the area. Many museums put on exhibitions and workshops for kids during school holidays. Sports fans will love the Bradman Museum and International Cricket Hall of Fame in Bowral. See a huge T. Rex skeleton and unique opalised fossils at the Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum in Bathurst.

There are also plenty of great regional galleries across NSW to explore. Other family favourites around NSW include the Temora Aviation Museum, Science Space in Wollongong and the Killer Whale Museum in Eden.

Read more: A guide to NSW's UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Bradman Museum and International Cricket Hall of Fame, Bowral