[Back to the blog](/experience/blog/) # A December–January stay between Main Beach and the river > Choose an individual Contessa apartment for the summer school break, Christmas or a January long weekend. Plan the holiday dates first, then leave room for the beach, gardens and a slower daily routine. --- Look at the photographs before deciding what summer should feel like. One Contessa apartment may draw you towards its dining room, another towards the balcony or the way its living space opens out. The residence you choose is shown by apartment number, with its own images and details. That is a useful beginning for a stay long enough to unpack properly. Beyond the apartment, there are two sides to the day. The beach is across the road from Contessa in Main Beach, while gardens and a private marina face the river. You might begin with the sand and end with a walk through the grounds, without making either part an organised excursion. ## Choose the length of the stay together The Queensland state-school summer holiday spans **12 December 2026–26 January 2027**, between a term ending 11 December and a student return on 27 January. Use the [Education Queensland term dates](https://education.qld.gov.au/about-us/calendar/term-dates) and [future calendar](https://education.qld.gov.au/about-us/calendar/future-dates), then check your own school if travelling from interstate or outside the state system. Some families will choose Christmas itself. Others may find a few nights in January easier to coordinate with grandparents or friends. The calendar has several useful pauses: **Christmas Day, 25 December; Boxing Day, 26 December and its additional holiday on 28 December; New Year's Day, 1 January; and Australia Day, 26 January**. Christmas Eve's holiday applies only from **6 pm to midnight**. The [Queensland Government list](https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/travel/holidays/public) confirms these dates. New Year's Day falls on a Friday. Australia Day is a Tuesday, so a longer January weekend needs Monday 25 January off if that is usually a working day. Decide those arrangements before agreeing how many nights everyone will share. ## Let the residence do some of the hosting A full kitchen changes the way a family gathering works. You can prepare lunch in the apartment, put the cold food away in a full-size refrigerator and leave the dishwasher until afterwards. A washing machine and dryer are there for the longer stay, alongside the two bathrooms included in each holiday apartment. Choose on the occupancy and photographs for the residence itself. Three bedrooms can suit a family of six; a smaller party may prefer a two-bedroom apartment. Furnishings and views are individual. The river, gardens, marina, pool, city and ocean are possible outlooks across the building, rather than promises attached to every booking. The open-plan living, dining and kitchen area is air-conditioned, with ceiling fans in the bedrooms. Keep that distinction in mind if different generations have different preferences for a summer night. It belongs in the booking decision as much as the balcony photograph does. ## Keep a local day available Tedder Avenue is a five-minute walk for cafés and restaurants. Check a business's actual festive opening before making it the Christmas lunch plan. The apartment kitchen leaves another option if the family's preferred meal is at a time that suits the children. There is a heated indoor pool as well as the outdoor pool in the landscaped grounds. The gym, sauna and tennis court give a longer visit variety; tennis equipment is available for an additional charge. On a day without tickets or reservations, choose one thing and see where the rest of the afternoon goes. For a larger outing, the G:link is about 15 minutes away on foot. A car has free undercover basement parking at Contessa. Decide which journey suits the people travelling, including the return after dark. ## Add celebrations selectively The [Christmas guide](/experience/blog/christmas-quiet-end-main-beach/) explains HOTA's November carols and the status of closer festive announcements. For 31 December, consult the [official city calendar](https://www.whatsongoldcoast.au/Major-events) when the new programme is available. This review does not confirm the council's 2026 fireworks times, and no particular apartment's view of a display is guaranteed. In January, our [Magic Millions article](/experience/blog/magic-millions-2027-main-beach-apartment/) separates the Main Beach polo outing from the Bundall racedays. Sport-following families can also use the [futsal guide](/experience/blog/main-beach-stay-national-futsal-2027/) to plan the trip to Carrara. [Browse Contessa's residences](/accommodation/) with your dates in mind. Check-in is 2–5 pm and check-out 8–10 am. Settling those first and last hours leaves the middle of the holiday free to take its own pace. ## More from the journal. ### [Coming to support someone at the Pan Pacific Masters Games](/experience/blog/pan-pacific-masters-games-considered-stay/) Travel tips ### [Following the Schools Cup from your own Main Beach apartment](/experience/blog/volleyball-supporters-main-beach-apartment-2026/) Travel tips ### [Christmas at Contessa: a table together and time in the gardens](/experience/blog/christmas-quiet-end-main-beach/) Local guide ### [A Contessa residence for polo Sunday and the Magic Millions Carnival](/experience/blog/magic-millions-2027-main-beach-apartment/) Travel tips ### [A January futsal week, planned around Main Beach](/experience/blog/main-beach-stay-national-futsal-2027/) Travel tips ### [A considered Main Beach stay for Gold Coast conferences in 2027](/experience/blog/gold-coast-conference-stay-main-beach-2027/) Travel tips