Summer vacation care excursions start soon: NSW public school holidays begin on Friday, 18 December 2026, and many programs schedule their biggest excursion days in early January. If your program is already drafted, book coaches now, before the popular dates go.
Get a community group quote. Send us your draft excursion calendar and we will quote each day. Use our online quote form.
Key dates for the summer break
According to the NSW Department of Education calendar, the summer holidays run from Friday, 18 December 2026. Eastern division students start Term 1 on Wednesday, 3 February 2027, and western division students on Wednesday, 10 February 2027. Catholic and independent schools can have different dates, so check with the schools you serve.
Within that period, plan around:
- Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, when most services close
- Australia Day on Tuesday, 26 January 2027, when venues and roads are busy
- hot days, when outdoor excursions may be swapped for indoor venues at short notice
Groups we move in the summer holidays
- OSHC and vacation care services running daily excursion programs
- Council and community holiday programs
- Faith-based and cultural holiday programs for children and young people
- Sports clinics and holiday camps
Booking early
Coaches are in demand over summer, because holiday programs, sporting clubs and community groups all travel on the same days. We suggest booking four to six weeks ahead for any January excursion. When you book, give us:
- the excursion date and venue
- the expected number of children and educators
- arrival and departure times required by the venue
- your service’s pick-up point and any second stop
If numbers change after enrolments close, let us know and we will adjust the vehicle size. For services that run the same venue every week of the holidays, one booking can cover all the dates.
Supervision and headcounts
Excursions run by education and care services need a risk assessment under the national regulations, and the service decides educator numbers. ACECQA’s guidance also expects a record that accounts for each child every time they get on or off a vehicle. On our coaches, that works like this:
- educators check names at boarding and again before the coach leaves each stop
- the driver waits for the educator’s all-clear before moving off
- one educator sits near the front and one near the back
- a final walk-through of the coach happens after every drop-off, so no child or bag is left behind
Seatbelts and seating
Ask for a seatbelt-equipped vehicle when you book and we will confirm it on your booking. Brief children before departure that seatbelts stay on until the coach has stopped. Younger children should sit with an educator nearby, and children who get travel sick should sit near the front.
Choosing a coach size
- Up to 20 people: a 20 seat minibus suits small programs or older children’s groups.
- Up to 28 people: a 28 seat coach covers a typical single-room program with educators.
- Up to 48 people: a 48 seat coach suits most combined-age excursion days.
- Up to 57 people: our largest coach suits big services or two programs travelling together.
See all vehicles on our fleet page and more about our school and OSHC transport. Our vacation care bus hire page explains how we book a whole holiday program.
Holiday excursion questions
When do NSW public school summer holidays start in 2026?
They start on Friday, 18 December 2026. Eastern division students return on Wednesday, 3 February 2027.
How early should our vacation care service book January coaches?
Book four to six weeks ahead, and earlier if your program includes popular venues in the first week of January.
Can one coach do two excursions on the same day?
Yes, if the times allow. A morning trip and an afternoon trip can share one coach with a clear changeover.
What happens if we change the venue because of hot weather?
Call us as early as possible. We will confirm whether the new venue works with the booked coach and timing.
Who does the headcount on board?
Your educators do the headcount at every stop. The driver waits for their all-clear before leaving.
Can two services share one coach?
Yes. Each service keeps its own roll and educators, and we plan stops for both pick-up points.
Get a community group quote. Ready to lock in your summer excursion days? Use our online quote form.
