School holiday travel deals for 2024

The school holidays are the perfect time to take that long-awaited trip with the family or enjoy experiences closer to home. While it's true that prices can inflate during this period, you're also likely to find a great deal that can help you save on flights, accommodation, packages, activities and car hire.

We've narrowed down the deals you'll want to take advantage of for the school break.

School holiday travel deals

Deal exclusive

10% off activities with code FD300

Available on select dates on destinations including Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth and Hobart. Minimum spend of $300 required. Activities include hot air balloon flights, skydives and high teas. T&Cs apply.

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Up to 10% off Hobart activities with code

Available on select dates when you spend a minimum of $300. Activities include winery tours, getaways, high teas, spas, sightseeing cruises and helicopter flights. T&Cs apply.

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Code exclusive

Get 5% off activities with code

Available when you spend a minimum of $250 on activities such as hot air balloon flights, rally driving, skydives, high teas and more. Destinations include Sydney, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth and Hobart. T&Cs apply.

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Code

Get 5% off Brisbane whale watching cruises

Available on select travel dates when you spend a minimum of $250.

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Deal

Up to 30% off selected family holiday hotel deals

Available on selected accommodations in Cairns, Port Douglas, Gold Coast, Whitsundays, Darwin, Melbourne, Sydney, Queenstown, Adelaide and Dubbo. Limited time offer. T&Cs, exclusions apply.

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Deal

School holiday activities from $10

Available on selected school holiday experiences at Adrenaline. T&Cs apply.

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Deal

Up to 74% off things to do in Adelaide

Available on select dates and activities including skydiving, wine tours, attraction passes, classes, rally driving and more.

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Deal

Up to 10% off Melbourne stays

Available on select stay dates from December 2023 – December 2024, including during Christmas and New Year's Eve. Destinations include Northern Suburbs, Southbank and more.

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Deal

Australia stays from $30 per night

Available on select stay dates until December 2023 in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Darwin, Canberra and more. Sample rate is for a stay at Gilligan's Backpackers Hotel & Resort in Cairns.

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Deal Editor's pick

Up to 15% off Sydney getaways

Available on select travel dates until December 2023. Destinations include Coogee, Bondi Beach, Surry Hills and more.

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Deal

Darwin bus tours from $47

Available on tours from Saturdays to Thursdays. Sample rate is for a classic ticket. T&Cs apply.

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Code

Buy 2 or more and get 10% off with code

Available on activities including skydives, whale watching cruises, day tours and getaways. Must purchase 2 or more vouchers. Destinations include Gold Coast, Cairns, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. T&Cs apply.

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Deal

Up to 26% off Gold Coast hotels

Available on stays until December 2023. Destinations include Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach and more. T&Cs apply.

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Deal

Up to 48% off Brisbane stays

Available on select travel dates until December 2023. Destinations include Brisbane CBD, Spring Hill, Fortitude Valley and more.

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Deal

Up to 50% off Perth stays

Available on select properties until December 2023. Sample stay is at Gallery Hotel. Destinations include Northbridge, Fremantle, Scarborough and more.

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Deal

Up to 10% off hotels stays

Subscribe to TFE Hotels eClub and get 10% off stays on destinations including Sydney, Melbourne, Singapore and more. T&Cs apply.

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Deal

Up to 15% off hotel getaways

Available on select travel dates on destinations across Australia and more. T&Cs apply.

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Deal

Up to 72% off things to do in Melbourne

Available on select dates and activities including bike tours, river cruises, diving, skydiving, classes and more.

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Deal

Up to 79% off things to do in Perth

Available on select dates and activities including diving, sailing, surfing, classes and more.

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Deal

Up to 15% off getaways

Available on select travel dates. Destinations include Australia and more. T&Cs apply.

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Deal

Australia beach holidays from $76 per night

Available on select stay dates in Adelaide, Sydney, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Melbourne and more. Sample stay is for a studio apartment in Mornington Peninsula. T&Cs apply.

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Deal

Up to 41% off domestic stays + free cancellations

Available until December 2023. Destinations include Broome, Mackay, Launceston, Darwin, Perth, Cairns, Sydney and Gold Coast. T&Cs apply.

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Deal

Up to 30% off Australia tours

Available on select travel dates in 2023 to Brisbane, Cairns, Adelaide, Uluru, Darwin, Hobart and more.

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Deal

Australia sightseeing cruises from $140

Available on select travel dates until 2024, including Easter and school holidays. Activities include whale- and dolphin-watching and lunch and sunset cruises in Sydney, Cairns, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Perth and Melbourne. T&Cs apply.

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Deal

Up to 34% off Australia holiday packages

Available on select dates when you book your hotel and flights together. Destinations include Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, and Gold Coast. T&Cs apply.

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Code

Up to 10% off Melbourne activities + an extra 10% off with code

Available on select dates until 2024 on activities including driving experiences, kayak tours, attraction passes and more. Minimum spend of $300 is required. T&Cs apply.

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Deal

Up to 10% off young traveller discount

Get up to 10% off when you are travelling with children between the age of 5 and 17. T&Cs apply.

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Australian school holiday dates

New South Wales

Looking for something to do during the upcoming school holidays in Sydney?

Queensland

Check out our top school holiday activities in Queensland.

Victoria

Check out our top school holiday activities in Victoria.

Western Australia

Check out our top school holiday activities in Western Australia.

South Australia

Check out our top school holiday activities in South Australia.

Australian Capital Territory

Check out our top school holiday activities in the Australian Capital Territory.

Tasmania

Check out our top school holiday activities in Tasmania.

Northern Territory

Best places to travel with kids during school holidays

Gold Coast: It's the place you want to be in during the school holidays. From amusements parks such as Dreamworld, Warner Bros. Movie World and Wet'n'Wild to epic outdoor activities such as hiking, surfing and abseiling, both you and the kids will be spoiled for choice on school holidays fun.

Busselton: The calm waters of Geographe Bay make this town south of Perth ideal for a family break.

Darwin: If your kids love adventure and the great outdoors, a trip to Darwin is right up your alley. The Northern Territory is home to fun outdoor activities like camping, hiking and horse riding. There are also plenty of national parks to explore.

Sunshine Coast: Both kids and big kids are catered to on the Sunshine Coast. Beach time, rainforest hikes, 4x4 adventures through national parks and harbour cruises can all be factored into a holiday here whether you're single, a couple or a family.

Byron Bay: Laid-back beach holidays are the name of the game in Byron, plus there are plenty of national parks to explore in the Hinterland.

Thailand: Thailand is a tried-and-tested holiday destination for grown-ups. Castaway-quality beaches, floating markets and a healthy dose of nightlife make it a no-brainer for adults. This country has plenty for families too. Think tuk-tuk rides, short walks in the jungle and the experience of coming face to face with an elephant.

Bali. Offering beach time, massages and luxury accommodation, Bali has become a favourite with Australians. Water parks, marine parks, a monkey forest and a butterfly farm are just a few of the things that can feature on a family itinerary.

Hawaii. The 6 islands of Hawaii offer something different. Families can't really go wrong with Oahu where there are easy hiking trails, affordable house rentals and family-friendly restaurants. Couples should consider "the private isle" Lanai, which is home to Sweetheart Rock and secluded beaches.

Fiji. You can't really go wrong with Fiji. What's not to like about palm-fringed beaches, top snorkel spots, sand dunes and dolphin spotting? Kids should especially like the water sports, such as paddleboarding and kayaking. Grown-ups will really appreciate the island's foodie side – lovo feasts and sundowners by the sea.

Looking for more family holiday inspiration? Check out our top picks for where to go in select Australian cities:

• Sydney
• Canberra
• Melbourne
• Brisbane
• Sunshine Coast
• Adelaide
• Perth
• Hobart

Tips for travelling during the school holidays

There's no getting around the fact that summer holidays push up the price of holidays, but there are a few things you can do to make sure your getaway won't break the bank.

• Keep an eye out for flash sales. Big brands often run short sales. If you're open-minded about where you want to go, you might bag a deal.
• Be savvy. Compare holiday prices on a price comparison site like Finder. You're likely to score a better deal by booking in advance.
• Consider a big brand. Many of the big-brand holiday companies run deals like free places for children. Sign up to newsletters to keep in the loop and check websites in the lead-up to the school holidays.
• Consider all-inclusive. Going all-inclusive can take a bit of the strain off the budget if you're travelling with a brood, so look for a holiday that includes meals, like a cruise or a resort. This is also a great option if you're travelling with other families.
• Discover a new destination: The most popular school holiday destinations are likely to have a heftier price tag when you book. Consider travelling somewhere regional or less popular to score a good deal. The more money you save on flights and accommodation, the more you can spend on fun activities while you're there.

Written by

Alex Keshen

Author

Alex Keshen was the global travel publisher at Finder and has been living, breathing and, of course, writing about all things travel for more than 10 years. She has a Bachelor of Journalism from Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada and has appeared in Travel Weekly and the Huffington Post. See full bio