Autumn School Holidays

Autumn is the perfect time for the family to get outdoors and make the most of NSW. Swim at beautiful beaches, hike in national parks, cycle through the bush or see native animals up close. If you prefer to stay indoors, you’ll find plenty of museums, galleries and observatories to explore during the autumn school holidays.

Camping & outdoors

There's nothing like pitching a tent with the kids. You can find places to camp by the beach, in national parks or choose a family-friendly holiday park and enjoy all the fun activities. Camp among the kangaroos at Pebbly Beach on the South Coast or hear the lions roar from your bed at Billabong Camp inside Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo.

NSW's top outdoor activities for autumn include:

• Hiking and bushwalking
• Mountain biking and cycling
• Kayaking and canoeing
• Fishing and boating

Beaches & watersports

Autumn is the perfect time to hit the beach, with the water still warm from the summer sun. Go snorkelling at Cook Island Aquatic Reserve near Tweeds Head, or learn to surf at Yamba.  Take the kids on dolphin-watching cruises in Port Stephens or get in the water and swim with wild dolphins in Jervis Bay.

Have an adventure

For an adventure high in the trees, kids as young as seven can soar on the TreeTops Crazy Rider, the world's longest rollercoaster zip-line, just 80min drive from Sydney on the Central Coast. Or try Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures on the South Coast. Kids of all ages will love the waterslides at Jamberoo Action Park.

An unforgettable destination for a family holiday is the Blue Mountains, a World Heritage wilderness near Sydney. At Katoomba, just two hours by train from Sydney, your family will enjoy breathtaking views from Echo Point Lookout and thrilling experiences with Scenic World.

Museums & galleries

When planning your holiday check the events calendar, as 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.

Other family favourites around NSW include the Temora Aviation Museum, Science Space in Wollongong and the Killer Whale Museum in Eden.