Moving House in Melbourne's School Holidays: 2026–27 Dates & Costs
By Move Near Me team ·
Short answer: For moving house in the Melbourne school holidays, aim for a weekday in mid-January 2027, or the last week of Term 4 (ending Friday 18 December 2026) if you can manage the school run. Move Near Me’s hourly rate is the same all year; Saturdays add $10/hour, Sundays $20 and public holidays $35. Check your school zone before offices close.
When do the Victorian school holidays start in 2026?
The Victorian summer school holidays start on Monday 21 December 2026, after Term 4 ends on Friday 18 December, and run to Wednesday 27 January 2027. Government school students start Term 1 on Thursday 28 January 2027.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Mon 5 Oct – Fri 18 Dec 2026 | Term 4 2026 |
| Mon 21 Dec 2026 – Wed 27 Jan 2027 | Summer school holidays |
| Thu 28 Jan 2027 | Government school students start Term 1 |
| Thu 25 Mar 2027 | Term 1 ends |
Five days in the break are Victorian public holidays, when our public holiday rate applies: Christmas Day (Fri 25 Dec), Boxing Day (Sat 26 Dec), the additional Boxing Day holiday (Mon 28 Dec), New Year’s Day (Fri 1 Jan 2027) and Australia Day (Tue 26 Jan 2027).
Non-government (Catholic and independent) schools may use different dates. Check your school’s calendar and the Victorian Government’s school term dates page before you lock in a date.
What is the best time to move house with school-age kids?
The best time is a weekday in the second or third week of January. The public holidays are mostly behind you, and you still have time to unpack before school goes back. The next-best option is a weekday in the last week of Term 4.
| Window (2026–27) | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Last week of Term 4 (14–18 Dec) | Kids at school while the crew works; weekday rates; all summer to settle in | A few days of school runs from the new address |
| Week before Christmas (21–24 Dec) | Weekday rates; in before Christmas | Kids at home; busy roads and shops |
| Christmas to New Year (25 Dec – 1 Jan) | Many parents are off work | Four public holidays at +$35/hour; 29–31 Dec are normal weekdays |
| Early January (4–8 Jan) | Weekday rates; three weeks before school | School offices may still be closed |
| Mid-January (11–22 Jan) | Weekdays are often easier to book; time to unpack | Saturdays can fill first |
| Final days before Term 1 (25–27 Jan) | Enrolment and uniforms sorted | Australia Day on Tue 26 Jan; little time to unpack |
Should you move before or after the school holidays?
It depends on the school run and whether your child is changing schools. Moving during the holidays means no school run on the day. Moving late in Term 4 suits families whose child is staying at the same school. If your dates fall in Term 1, pick a weekday when the kids are at school.
Is it more expensive to move in the school holidays?
No. Move Near Me doesn’t charge a seasonal surcharge: the rate is $105/hour for 2 removalists and a 4.5 t truck all year. The price changes with the day (Saturday +$10/hour, Sunday +$20/hour, public holiday +$35/hour), the size of your home and access extras such as stairs ($30 a flight).
Every job has a 2-hour labour minimum plus a fixed 30-minute call-out, and time after the minimum is billed in 15-minute blocks. Billable time runs from when the crew arrives at the first address until the last item is unloaded. All prices exclude GST.
Worked example: 3-bed house, Reservoir to Doreen
A 3-bed house in Reservoir moving to Doreen (City of Whittlesea), with no stairs or extras. The quote form recommends 3 removalists and an 8 t truck: $105 + $45 (third mover) + $20 (8 t truck) = $170/hour on a weekday. Our quote form estimates 4.75–6.25 hours, including the 30-minute call-out, on any day. Say the crew takes 5 hours from arrival to the last item unloaded: with the call-out, that’s 5.5 hours.
| Move date | Day | Team rate | Labour, 5.5 hrs incl. call-out | Form’s range (ex GST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 13 Jan 2027 | Weekday | $170/hr | $935.00 | $807.50–$1,062.50 |
| Sat 16 Jan 2027 | Saturday +$10/hr | $180/hr | $990.00 | $855–$1,125 |
| Mon 28 Dec 2026 | Public holiday +$35/hr | $205/hr | $1,127.50 | $973.75–$1,281.25 |
The Wednesday saves $55 + GST over the Saturday and $192.50 + GST over the Monday 28 December public holiday. With GST, the Wednesday move is $935 + $93.50 = $1,028.50. Packing as well is $55 per packer-hour; our quote form adds 6–8 packer-hours ($330–$440 + GST) for a 3-bed home.
Worked example: 4-bed house, Glen Waverley to Berwick
A 4-bed house in Glen Waverley moving to Berwick (City of Casey) on Wednesday 16 December 2026, while the kids are still at school. The quote form recommends 3 removalists and an 8 t truck at $170/hour and estimates 6.25–7.5 hours, including the 30-minute call-out. Say the crew takes 6.5 hours on site: with the call-out, that’s 7 hours.
| Item | Calculation | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Labour and truck (6.5 hrs + 30-min call-out) | 7 hrs × $170 | $1,190.00 |
| GST (10%) | $119.00 | |
| Total | $1,309.00 |
The form’s range for this move is $1,062.50–$1,275 + GST. Stairs, disassembly or a long carry add fixed fees. See what removalists cost in Melbourne for every rate.
How far ahead should you book removalists for the summer holidays in Melbourne?
Book as soon as your settlement or lease date is fixed. Mid-January weekdays and the last week of Term 4 are usually easier to get than Saturdays, but any summer date can fill.
- Have a back-up day: if you want a Saturday, ask about the Friday or Monday next to it.
- Quote early: our instant online estimate takes a few minutes, and we call back within 2 business hours to confirm the price and date.
- Know the terms: you can cancel free up to 48 hours before the move. After that, a $150 late cancellation fee applies (or 50% of the estimate, if that’s less).
Renting your current home? Line up your notice and final inspection with the move date using our guide to moving out of a rental in Victoria.
Do you need to change schools after moving house in Victoria?
Not always. A child who is already enrolled may be able to stay at their current school, so ask the school. For a place at the local government school, check the new address’s zone and contact the school before it closes for summer.
Your child’s local government school is set by their permanent residential address (or, with more than one address, where they spend most of their weekdays), and they have a right to enrol there. Out-of-zone places depend on space, then the Placement Policy priority order. See how to choose a school and enrol.
Checklist for changing schools after moving house
- Look up the new address on Find my School via the school zones page, and check the 2027 zone: a small number of zones may change each year
- Contact the new school in Term 4, before the office closes, about enrolment and orientation
- Ask which documents it accepts to verify your address; they should show a parent’s or carer’s full name and the new address
- Tell your current school the leaving date. Between government schools, the old school sends a transfer note to the new one (see changing schools)
- For an out-of-zone school, ask whether it has space before you plan around it
Moving into a newer area such as Doreen, Craigieburn or Point Cook? Check the 2027 zone map rather than assuming the nearest school is your zoned school.
Moving house in the Melbourne school holidays: 8-week checklist
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 8 weeks out | Confirm the date; check the school zone; get a quote |
| 6 weeks out | Contact the new school; book removalists and packing |
| 4 weeks out | Pack rooms you don’t use; clear out unwanted items |
| 2 weeks out | Arrange a carer for moving day; update your address |
| Moving week | Pack a kids’ essentials box; confirm access with your removalist |
| Before Term 1 | Set up bedrooms, find uniforms, practise the school route |
For utilities, mail and the rest, see our moving house checklist for Melbourne.
How to keep children safe and settled on moving day
The easiest moving day is one where the kids are somewhere else, such as with a grandparent, friend or holiday program during loading.
- Kids’ essentials box: pyjamas, clothes, favourite toys, snacks, chargers and medicines, travelling in your car
- Beds first: ask the crew to reassemble the kids’ beds first ($25 per item for disassembly and reassembly)
- Clear path: keep children and pets out of the route between the truck and the door
Short on time? Our packing services Melbourne team can pack before the truck arrives.
FAQ
Q: When does Term 1 2027 start for Victorian government schools? Government school students start Term 1 on Thursday 28 January 2027, after summer holidays that run from Monday 21 December 2026 to Wednesday 27 January 2027. Non-government schools may use different dates, so check with your school.
Q: Does Move Near Me charge more during the school holidays? No. Move Near Me’s rates don’t change by season. Weekdays have no surcharge, Saturdays add $10/hour, Sundays $20/hour and public holidays $35/hour, excluding GST.
Q: What is the best week to move house with school-age kids in Melbourne? A weekday in the second or third week of January usually works best, leaving time to unpack before school. The last week of Term 4, ending Friday 18 December 2026, also works if the kids are at school during the move.
Q: Can we move on Boxing Day or Australia Day? Yes, at our public holiday rate of $35/hour on top of the weekday team rate. In summer 2026–27 it applies on 25, 26 and 28 December 2026 and 1 and 26 January 2027.
Q: Can my child stay at their current school after we move? Possibly. An enrolled child may be able to stay at their current school, so check with the school. To enrol at your new local government school instead, check the new address’s zone on Find my School for the right year.
Q: What happens to my child’s school records when they change government schools? When a student moves between Victorian government schools, the old school sends a transfer note to the new school.
Planning a move between terms? Get a moving house quote Melbourne in minutes, or see our house removals Melbourne service.