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Stuck for ideas for what to do with the kids this Easter? There are plenty of events on all around the country. Here’s our pick of the best for your brood of bunnies, whether you stay at home or take the time to hit the road.
Victoria
Mount Baw Baw Easter Family Festival – 30th March to 2nd April
Just 150 kilometres from Melbourne, this alpine ski resort is delightful even without snow. And easy on the wallet – entry to the resort is free in “Green Season”.
Over the Easter weekend Mount Baw Baw has events from 10am-4pm. A $25 Activity Pass will get you and the kids access to three jumping castles, tractor rides, laser tag, go-carting and chocolate-making. Mmmmm chocolate.
On Easter Sunday there is a great family BBQ and egg hunts, including the Golden Egg Giveaway which offers a season pass to anyone who finds the hidden golden egg.
Bendigo Easter Festival – 30th March to 2nd April
The series of markets and parades in this Victorian gold town is surprisingly not the highlight of the festival. The contenders for that accolade are the Vision Australia Easter Egg Hunt for 170,000 Cadbury chocolate eggs, or the appearance of Sun Loong, the longest Chinese dragon in the world. Read more about it here.
Melbourne Easter Show – 30th March to 2nd April
Quirky, hipster Melbourne is used to doing things its own way, and this fun festival is no different. The unique listings include monster trucks, sand sculptures, circus shows, a reptile kingdom and an aqua adventure zone.
New South Wales
Sydney Royal Easter Show – 23rd March to 3rd April, NSW
The Sydney Easter Show continues to grow from year to year. In between the rides, showbags, huge motorcross extravaganzas and grand parades, you’ll get a definitive taste of the Show’s humble agricultural origins. Must-sees include the wood-chopping, sewing and cooking competitions, and the Animal Walk past prize-winning horses, cows, pigs and chickens. We recommend leaving the car at home and using the extra event buses and trains and the benefit of an inclusive ShowLink ticket to get to Sydney Olympic Park.
Sydney Family Easter Show – 24th March to 2nd April
An exciting alternative is the Sydney Family Easter Show, which lives in Moore Park and is completely free. With an animal nursery, dog demonstration, a Smurfs Live Show, carnival rides and Big Top circus, this festival is ideal for smaller children who are perhaps not ready for the scope of the Royal Easter Show.
Lightning Ridge Easter Festival – 30th March to 1st April
Opal-mining centre Lightning Ridge is right near the Queensland border. It brings a distinctly regional flavour to the Easter Festival circuit, with a rodeo kicking things off on the Friday night and a horse racing carnival, street stalls, Family Fun Street races and piglet races continuing throughout the weekend. There are several caravan parks to choose from.
Thredbo Easter Carnival – 30th March to 2nd April
Turn up the chill factor and enjoy Easter on New South Wales’ snow fields. Make the most of the scenery before the snowfall and collect a stamp at the start of four trail heads on the family Hike Challenge or Bike Challenge. There is also family yoga, free disc golf, Easter egg basket making and giant games of chess, Jenga and Connect Four. Last but definitely not least, hit the jackpot at the Kids Giant Easter Egg Hunt, or for older competitors, the whopping $10,000 Golden Easter Egg Hunt from Lindt.
Queensland
North Brisbane Easter Festival 2018 – 30th to 31st March
Held in Mitchelton, this free event is your ultimate family fun fair. There are food trucks, sports, photo booths, a petting zoo and live music, all wrapped up in a laid-back, community vibe. Make the most of the proximity to Brisbane proper and visit the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Queensland Gallery of Modern Art and even take the drive out to Australia Zoo or the Gold Coast theme parks. Be wary of public holiday closures.
Roma’s Easter in the Country – 29th March to 2nd April
In its 41st year, this annual festival in regional Queensland’s south-west shows off Roma in all its glory. There are shows at the Big Rig harking back to Roma’s early oil and gas mining days. There are also mini train rides, rodeo events, a mud derby, drag races, buskers, garden walks, poetry performances, a Film Festival, street markets, and most importantly, a Monster Egg Hunt. If you’re staying in Roma, consider camping or cabin-ing at Villa Holiday Park or Big Rig Tourist Park.
Northern Territory
Darwin Easter Saturday Celebrations – March 31st
This relaxed community event on Darwin Waterfront will include family favourites like jumping castles and water slides, alongside unique offerings such as free circus workshops at Fairy Jill’s Enchanted Entertainment or Easter Bunny photos in Bunny Burrow.
ACT
National Folk Festival Canberra – 29th March 2nd April
It might not be Easter-related as such, but this line-up of live performances is a relaxed and intriguing outing for your long weekend. The range of music includes acoustic, Blues, bluegrass, Celtic, Indie and Country. There is a dedicated KidzFest section.
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Sophie is a die-hard pasta lover, beach-goer and theatre fanatic hit hard with the travel bug. When exploring new places, Sophie loves straying from the beaten path and chatting with locals about the best places to grab a bite to eat.