Easter activities that won’t break the bank

Easter can be a crazy time for some, especially when there’s chocolate eggs to be bought and family lunches to prepare. But for others, Easter is the ultimate time of relaxation, four forced days away from work being the perfect time for a getaway.

With price hikes for flights and hotels though, the costs of taking a break begins to outweigh the joys and most families and couples choose to spend the long weekend at home.

To ensure you get the full R&R you deserve, here’s a few options for weekend activities that aren’t housework and won’t hit the savings too hard…

Staycation

Who says you need to go anywhere to have time away? Head into the city and act like a tourist for the day. Every major city in Australia has free walking tours, just sign up and show up! They are of course not completely free, it’s customary to tip your tour guide at the end (don’t be that person), but the cost is kept to a minimum and you get a lot of valuable information about your own city. Find a local favourite restaurant in the city for lunch (dumplings are our suggestion) and make a day of it.

Drive away

The beauty about living in Australia is the amazing landscapes we all have so close to our cities. Head inland or along the coast for an hour and you have a whole new perspective nothing like home. Go out and stretch your legs, the fresh air really does wonders. A couple of great locations around an hour away from the main cities are:

• The 1000 Steps, Dandenong Ranges – around 50 minutes from Melbourne
• Royal National Park – 55 minutes out of Sydney
• Queens Park, Ipswich – 45 minute drive from Brisbane
• Barossa Valley – 65 minutes from Adelaide
• Perth Hills – 45 minutes away from Perth
• Mount Field National Park – 90 minutes from Hobart (a little longer than the others but worth the drive)

Hit the beach

It doesn’t have to be 30 degrees to justify a beach day. Grab a rug, blanket, and portable speakers and you have the perfect location for a picnic (if it’s not too windy). Don’t forget snacks and company!

Go to the market

Easter markets are growing in population all over Australia. Get there early in the morning and enjoy the food and craft stalls. Some great markets to hit up:

• Burrawang Easter Market – New South Wales
• Queen Victoria Market – Victoria
• Meadows Easter Fair – South Australia
• Redcliffe Festival of Sails – Queensland
• Fremantle International Street Arts Festival – Western Australia
• Salamanca Market – Tasmania

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