School holiday staycation ideas for families on a budget 

School holidays don’t have to mean expensive trips or packed itineraries to feel special. With a little planning, a staycation can give your family the break you need without the stress of travelling or overspending. We’re here to help you plan an easy, enjoyable holiday close to home that works for your family and your budget.

Why staycations are a great idea for school holidays

Staycations are an easy and affordable way for families to enjoy the school holidays without travelling far from home. Instead of spending money on flights and long travel days, staycations offer families the chance to rediscover the best of their local area. 

Some families might enjoy the idea of booking nearby accommodation. Others might choose the novelty of a few out-of-the-ordinary activities. With some imagination, it's possible to create a holiday feeling in your own backyard.

Plan your staycation step-by-step

To make a staycation feel like a proper holiday takes some intention and planning. Remaining in your own city, it’s easy to fall into the same daily habits you have during the school year. But the whole point of a holiday is to experience a break from the usual routine! 

Here we outline some planning steps that can help ensure you have fun with your family during school holidays:

Step 1: Gather the family together for a brainstorming session

Asking everyone in the family to contribute ideas helps create excitement around your staycation and encourages buy-in from the kids since they’re the ones coming up with the things they want to do.

Get a sense of what everyone wants from the school break. That might be having a sleep in, getting outside more or being active. Make sure you’ve got something that speaks to each person’s interests and that will help you connect as a family.

Sometimes the moments kids remember most are the ones that feel a little out of the ordinary, like meeting giraffes at the zoo, racing from ride to ride at a theme park, or sharing popcorn at the movies on a Wednesday afternoon.

Step 2: Choose a few special family-day-out activities

You don’t need to fill every day, but having a few planned activities to build your itinerary around will give everyone something to look forward to. Some families like to spread out one or two outings across the week, with quieter days in between.

That might include:

• A beach day
• A fun family trip to the cinema
• A theme park day
• A trip to a wildlife park
• Or a hike

Discover local savings with RACQ Member Benefits*:

Sometimes the moments kids remember most are the ones that feel a little out of the ordinary, like meeting giraffes at the zoo, racing from ride to ride at a theme park, or sharing popcorn at the movies on a Wednesday afternoon.

If they’re local to you, you can plan memorable outings with discounted Australia Zoo tickets* or even a Village Roadshow Saver Annual Pass* for just $170.10 to enjoy a full day out and no blackout periods on future visits (Village Roadshow Saver Annual Pass offer ends 30 June 2026).

Your membership gets you discounts and deals on fun activities near you. Even if you’re further afield, you’ll find plenty of activities on our Member Benefits page when you search by region.

A midweek movie night can be a fun break in your routine and is as simple as heading to the cinema using discounted Event or BCC Cinemas movie eVouchers^ and saving up to 40%.

Step 3: Create a unique holiday routine

For a staycation to feel special it needs to be distinctly different than your normal routine.

That could be as simple as:

• slower mornings instead of rushing out the door
• midweek treats, like ice cream or takeaway
• staying up a little later for a movie night

These small changes can help home feel less like “everyday life” and more like time off.

Turn a simple treat into a holiday moment with RACQ Member Benefits*

School holiday fun doesn’t always have to involve a big day out. Sometimes, a simple treat like heading out for ice cream can feel just as special.

Sharing a scoop at Baskin-Robbins to get a buy-one-get-one waffle cone deal using your member benefits discount* is an easy way to turn something familiar into a holiday moment.

When you become an RACQ member, those moments can become more affordable. Members can access a range of food and dining offers, including discounts on restaurants, takeaway and sweet treats, helping you enjoy the holiday feeling while keeping spending in check.

Step 4: Discover local attractions to find an affordable family activity

There’s often more nearby than you realise, especially when you treat local places like part of your holiday.

A “day out” might be:

• visiting a place you haven’t been to in a while
• planning a simple outing around food
• or turning a short drive into something a bit more memorable

Ways to save with your RACQ Member Benefits*:

Even something as straightforward as stopping for snacks or lunch along the way can feel like part of the experience. No matter where your short day trip takes you, be sure to check RACQ member discounts* where you are. Small savings at places like cafés or dessert spots or even a quick stop at Caltex service station for your 4 cents off per litre discount^~ can make it easier to say yes to the extras.

Step 5: Book an overnight stay to make you feel extra special

Sometimes, one night in a nearby hotel can give your family that “we’re on holiday” feeling without the cost and planning involved in a bigger trip.

Whether it’s a city break, a beachside escape, or simply a night somewhere with a pool and breakfast included, a short getaway can turn the school holidays into something that feels truly memorable.

Even a quick overnight stay can:

• Give you a chance to relax
• Create excitement for the kids
• Break up the week with something different
• Deliver the holiday feeling without travelling far

Make overnight stays more affordable with RACQ Member Benefits*

RACQ members can save 15% off Rydges and QT Hotels and Resorts eGift Cards^# that can be used across accommodation, food, and beverages at select locations.  If you are craving a change of scenery, this can be a simple way to enjoy a mini getaway while keeping your school holiday budget under control.

Step 6: Keep things flexible (and manageable)

One of the biggest benefits of staying close to home is flexibility. Plans can change, weather takes an unexpected turn, and energy levels go up and down. Having a mix of at-home days, short outings, and one bigger activity can make the holidays feel more balanced and easier to manage. Don’t be afraid to play it by ear and leave room for spontaneous surprises.

Tips from a seasoned staycationer to help make your at-home holiday feel luxurious

A successful staycation is often less about how far you travel and more about how different it feels from your everyday routine. Even simple activities like doing arts and crafts, spending a day at the park or arranging a nearby overnight stay can feel special with a little extra planning.

We asked one staycation-savvy RACQ member for her favourite ways to create that true “holiday feeling” at home and here is what she said: 

“The difference between being at home and having a real staycation is giving yourself permission to step away from the everyday jobs and routines. That’s what makes a hotel stay feel so relaxing. Thankfully, I’ve learned that you can recreate that feeling surprisingly well with a bit of preparation.”

1. Pack a suitcase and live out of it for the duration of your holiday

It sounds simple, but packing clothes and toiletries helps everyone slip into holiday mode - especially the kids. Work out what you’ll need for the week and commit to living out of your suitcase.

Why it works: Instead of constantly dipping back into your wardrobe and bathroom cabinets, you create that same lovely feeling you get in a hotel where everyday life is temporarily out of reach.

2. Do a quick tidy-up before the holidays start

Starting your staycation with the cleaning and laundry already done makes home feel noticeably calmer once ‘holiday-mode’ begins. One of my favourite tricks is adding a new fragrance diffuser for the week – a new scent instantly changes the atmosphere and makes everything feel more special.

Why it works: Hotels feel relaxing partly because you’re stepping into a fresh environment. A tidy space, different scent and fewer practical jobs help create that same mental shift at home.

Optional upgrade: Just like hotel housekeeping, I set aside a short 20-minute family reset each day to do the absolute basics (like taking out the rubbish or putting dishes away) so the house stays functional without slipping fully back into normal life.

3. Prepare the meals ahead of time

Nothing pulls you out of holiday mode faster than realising you need to do a grocery run. Before your staycation starts, stock the fridge and keep meals intentionally simple so you’re not constantly cooking, cleaning or heading to the shops.

Why it works: Having food sorted ahead of time removes a huge amount of daily mental load and helps the week feel slower, easier and more indulgent.

Optional upgrade: Make one of your planned activities a meal out to save on unnecessary cooking.

4. Create a simple schedule

When staycationing with kids, completely winging it rarely feels relaxing. The days work better when they have a loose shape to them. You might schedule a movie morning, an afternoon outing or a dedicated baking or craft session. It’s just different enough from normal life to feel novel.

Why it works: A few planned “chapters” throughout the day make the holiday feel more memorable and less like another weekend spent drifting through the usual routine.

5. Add small holiday treats every night

The things that make a staycation memorable are usually the small, repetitive indulgences. A café breakfast, fresh pastries, a family board game or starting a new TV series together with proper snacks can be enough to shift the mood and make the week feel genuinely special.

Optional upgrade: Turn one thing into a daily holiday ritual (whether it’s afternoon ice creams or a game of cards after dinner) so the staycation develops its own traditions and rhythm. 

Start planning your school holiday and try our staycation ideas today

Staying local can take the pressure out of school holidays because it requires less travel and fewer logistics – meaning you’ve got more room to enjoy the moments that matter. 

Start with one simple staycation idea and let it build from there. And if you’re looking for easy ways to save money and are not a member yet, join RACQ and find out how your membership can help with simple, local ideas to enjoy more as a family.

^*Terms and conditions apply to all offers. View the individual offer for full details. Retail partners, offers and discounts may change at any time without notice.

^{^}Terms and conditions apply. eVouchers must be pre-purchased through RACQ. Visit racq.com/movies for more details. 

⁺Terms and conditions apply. Qld residents 18+ only. eVouchers must be pre-purchased through RACQ. Visit racq.com/movies for details. Competition ends 30 June 2026.  

^~Conditions apply. Offer available at participating service stations. Limit applies per member per day. Visit racq.com/caltex for offer details.

^#Terms and conditions apply. Visit racq.com.au/hotel-giftcard for details. Retail partners, offers and discounts may change at any time without notice. eGift Card must be purchased through RACQ Member Benefits.