Family Adventures For The Long Weekend & Spring School Holidays 

Feature Image: Ingenia Holidays Bonny Hills

The October long weekend is just around the corner, with New South Wales and South Australia celebrating Labour Day on Monday 6 October, and Queensland enjoying the King’s Birthday long weekend at the same time.  

For families, the timing couldn’t be better — these long weekends overlap with the spring school holidays across most of Australia, making it the perfect opportunity to pack up the kids and enjoy a few days away. 

While Victoria doesn’t have a public holiday in October, families can still take advantage of the AFL Grand Final holiday in late September or Melbourne Cup in early November to plan their own long weekend. 

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How to Enjoy the Long Weekend in Queensland 

Queensland families are spoilt for choice this spring. In Brisbane, little ones can step into Bluey’s World, a fully immersive play space based on the hit show, while the city also comes alive for the Moon Festival — a colourful evening of lanterns, lion dances, and food stalls. 

For somewhere to stay, BIG4 Sandstone Point is a hit with kids thanks to its giant waterpark, jumping pillow and mini golf, while parents will love the swim-up bar and on-site dining. Ingenia Noosa Foreshore offers riverside camping and cabins perfect for kayaking and picnics, and BIG4 Gold Coast Holiday Park is just minutes from the theme parks — perfect for thrill-seeking families who also want resort-style pools and playgrounds on site. 

Further north, BIG4 Cairns Coconut is practically a destination in itself, with water slides, adventure playgrounds, go-karts and even a licensed café/bar for the adults. Pair your stay with the Cairns Tennis International or explore Cairns’ local favourites — Rusty’s Markets for fresh tropical produce and street food, the Tanks Arts Centre for family-friendly art and music, and the lively Cairns Night Markets for souvenirs, snacks and evening entertainment. 

How to Enjoy the Long Weekend in New South Wales 

In NSW, the Labour Day weekend is the perfect excuse for a coastal road trip. Families can set up at Discovery Forster, BIG4 Ingenia Soldiers Point, or Ingenia Bonny Hills, where playgrounds, splash zones and beach access keep kids entertained all day. For those closer to Sydney, NRMA Ocean Beach combines the surf with pools, slides and kids’ clubs — making it as easy for parents as it is fun for kids. 

Events add extra sparkle. The Horizontal Festival at Centennial Vineyards is more than a concert — think wine tastings, food trucks, live music and arts in a scenic vineyard setting. Meanwhile, Wanderer Festival in Pambula Beach offers indie and folk music mixed with theatre, circus acts and creative workshops. Out west, the iconic Deni Ute Muster is a uniquely Australian festival with live music, rides and activities that families will never forget.  

For something smaller, school holiday programs like circus workshops in Mittagong or chocolate rocky road making in Shoalhaven are perfect for a creative afternoon. 

How to Enjoy the Long Weekend in South Australia 

South Australia’s Labour Day weekend is all about variety. In Adelaide, cultural celebrations like the Deepavali Festival add colour and music to the city, while the Nature Festival runs across the state with guided walks, outdoor workshops and nature play for kids. For something seasonal, the Festival of Halloween in Adelaide is a family-friendly mix of costumes, parades and spooky fun. 

Stay in the thick of it at Marion Holiday Park, where the waterslides, movie nights and arcade make it a family favourite, or book into Discovery West Beach for beachfront cabins and plenty of playground space. If you’d prefer a slower pace, Victor Harbor Holiday Park and Echo Holiday Park Normanville offer access to the Fleurieu Peninsula’s best beaches, whale-watching lookouts and classic fish-and-chip dinners by the sea. 

How to Enjoy the Long Weekend in Victoria 

Although Victoria doesn’t have an October long weekend, families can still take advantage of the spring holidays with AFL Grand Final Friday in late September or Melbourne Cup in early November. Melbourne itself is buzzing with kid-friendly attractions — LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, Luna Park, SEA LIFE Aquarium and the Melbourne Skydeck are all big hits. Seasonal events like the Melbourne Royal Show and Moon Festival at Queen Vic Market add even more fun, and families can stretch their legs in the Fitzroy Gardens or take the free Kids Explorer Bus at the Royal Botanic Gardens. 

Coastal escapes are just as appealing. BIG4 Apollo Bay and BIG4 Anglesea offer playgrounds, jumping pillows and easy access to the Great Ocean Road’s beaches and walks, while BIG4 Bellarine Holiday Park and BIG4 Ingenia Inverloch stand out for their indoor pools and splash parks, giving kids plenty to do whatever the weather. 

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With spring school holidays and long weekends on the way, this is the best time of year to create family memories. Whether it’s waterslides at BIG4 Sandstone Point, beachside fun at NRMA Ocean Beach, spooky adventures at Adelaide’s Festival of Halloween, or rides and showbags at the Melbourne Royal Show, every family will find a park and event that’s just right.  

Pack your bags and make this long weekend one the kids will be talking about long after the holidays end. 

Did you know that if you take a camping holiday between October 1st and February 28th, you could win a shot at one million dollars? Find out more!