18 Best Easter Activities in New Zealand
If you’re looking for something for the whole family to do this Easter, it can be difficult to come up with your own list of Easter ideas. Fortunately, we’re here with an extensive list of fun Easter activities for you to choose from! That way, you can focus on spending more time with the family, rather than being stuck at the drawing board.
Book in a Sip & Paint Class
Easter holidays aren’t just for the kids. Give the grown ups a chance to celebrate by booking a sip & paint class with Pinot & Picasso today. Not only do our classes offer the chance to stretch your creative muscles, but also provide a light-hearted environment for you and your friends to catch up in.
Painting itself is so much fun, but it’s even better with our BYO policy. So don’t just bring your friends, grab the drinks and your enthusiasm for this Easter activity.
Organise an Easter Egg Hunt
Give the little ones a chance to experience the Easter magic by organising an Easter egg hunt around the house, or out in a nearby park. You may have to get up real early this Easter morning, but it will be more than worth it to see the magic of finding hidden eggs.
It’s also very important that you leave signs that the Easter bunny was the true mastermind behind this Easter hunt. Creating footprints out of flour or icing sugar can be an easy way to leave traces in your house, or you may place several little bunnies around the hidden eggs to give a hint. Just this little bit of extra effort will keep the Easter magic intact for years to come!
Make Some Hot Cross Buns
If your family loves to get messy in the kitchen, making hot cross buns is a great idea for a collaborative Easter activity. Make a whole selection of delicious treats – like chocolate or sultanas – or keep things simple by making the family’s favourite. Baking is the perfect way to keep little hands busy this Easter, and hot cross buns are a staple for a New Zealand Easter.
Visit Your Local Church
If you celebrate Easter due to your beliefs, or you are just invested in celebrating with your community, you can visit your local church. There are several services on offer across the Easter weekend, incorporating music, prayers, and communal activities to provide a great time of religious celebration. While it is not necessary to visit church every day of the holiday, it’s common to go on Easter Sunday.
Play Easter-Themed Games or Activities
You can’t make an Easter activities list without including a bunch of games to play. While hunting for eggs is the most well-known Easter game for children, there are plenty more that the whole family can get into.
You can keep to the classics and have an egg-and-spoon race with plastic eggs, or pin the tail on the Easter bunny, but you might like to get creative these holidays. Put an Easter twist on the game flour toss, making sure your plastic eggs are filled with flour to toss between teammates; whoever loses cracks open the egg and gets floured. Surprise your family by coming up with your own game ideas and get everyone in on the fun.
Organise a Picnic
Settle down for lunch or afternoon tea this Easter with a picnic. Once you’ve found the right place to settle down you can set up your picnic site. Try incorporating classic Easter treats into your picnic feast: hot cross buns, roast lamb, marshmallow eggs, fruit bread, even Easter cookies or cake. To keep the children entertained, you can set up a game or two after they’ve eaten their fill (and to work off the sugar-high they’re sure to have after all of their Easter chocolate).
Make Easter Baskets
Grab some paper and learn how to DIY your very own Easter baskets, the perfect size for some Easter eggs or little chicks. You can keep things small and simple by folding a paper basket, or take on a challenge and get to weaving. There are plenty of instructions available online to make your own Easter basket, but you can always keep an eye out on any holiday classes at your local community centres.
Decorate Some Easter Eggs
Whether it’s boiled or plastic eggs, kids will never say no to getting messy with some paints and dye. With some supervision, your kids can dip hard-boiled eggs into dye, filling up entire egg cartons with their handy work.
If you’re not looking forward to that kind of mess, you can instead decorate plastic Easter eggs with paints or markers. While this kind of decorative task is usually marketed as Easter activities for kids, don’t hesitate to join the fun and make your own adorable egg design.
Bake Some Easter-Themed Treats
Not getting your fill of delicious treats from the hot cross buns? Then it’s time to break out the Easter cookie cutters and cake tins for some more baking! Have fun making shapes of bunnies and chicks in cookie dough with the cutters; hopefully enough to feed the whole family. If cookies aren’t your style, there are numerous recipes for Easter cakes, muffins or brownies available out there waiting to get baked.
Host an Easter Brunch or Dinner
Nothing says an Easter celebration quite like having family and friends over for brunch or dinner. Bring out the barbie and get sizzling for some classic snags and burgers, or take your time in the kitchen with a roast pork or lamb. Round it out with some fresh salads and side platters (and don’t forget the Easter treats you baked!)
Participate in Parades or Other Community Events
If you’re unsure of what to do this Easter, you can always check on your local community calendar. There are sure to be community events in your area, including Easter activities for the kids. So keep an eye out for any cake decorating or markets going on near you; there might even be an Easter parade held at your closest major city!
Watch Some Easter-Themed Movies or TV Shows
If the weather doesn’t suit a day of play outside, take your Easter activities inside. You can keep the children entertained with an Easter-themed movie like ‘Hop’, or have some learning fun with TV shows like VeggieTales.
Give Easter Gifts or Cards to Friends and Loved Ones
Show your appreciation this Easter by giving gifts or cards to your loved ones. You can even make your card by hand, or create your own gift basket with their favourite chocolates. Any gift is appreciated when it comes from the heart, and your loved ones are sure to be ecstatic with their gift, whatever you buy or make.
Go on a Nature Walk or Hike
Get in touch with nature for this year’s Easter activity! Bring the whole family or just go for a one-on-one trip with a mate to your local trail. Whether it’s along the shoreline or deep in the bush, take the time to appreciate our country’s native flora and fauna!
Visit a Local Easter Market or Fair
Keep an eye on your local market space, your community may be organising an event for Easter. Markets or fairs are always a great Easter activity for the whole family, with local craftsman stores, street foods and fair rides. You can get your fill of Easter activities while also perusing the wares your community has to offer.
Make Easter Crafts
If decorating plastic eggs isn’t enough for you and the kids, there are plenty more activities that will get them creating Easter masterpieces. There’s lots to create with simple household items, including paper for origami (cranes are fun, but bunnies are even cuter!), or a paper plate, paint and some feathers to make your own chick. The possibilities are endless!
Read Some Easter-Themed Books or Stories
Entertain the kids with some Easter books, or send them off to sleep with a gentle story. There’s almost too many books to name that describe the adventures of the Easter bunny or a chaotic egg hunt. You can really get your kids in the mood for the Easter weekend by reading to them.
Host a BBQ Backyard Event
Gather everyone you know and love this weekend for a BBQ Backyard Bash. Get the grill out and start tossing on the meat and vegetables; can’t have a BBQ without them! It’s important to bring all of the essentials, but don’t forget to bring along the Easter spirit. Organising Easter-themed games, decorations and food are brilliant, but bringing along guest star the Easter bunny is even better (as long as it’s not too hot a weekend for whoever’s lucky enough to wear the bunny costume)!
FAQ’s
Do You Need Experience for a Sip and Paint Class?
Absolutely no experience is needed with one of our classes. We encourage everyone, regardless of their painting expertise, to come along and give Pinot & Picasso a chance. Our talented artists will be here to walk you through each step!
Can We Bring Food?
Bring as much food as you’d like (as long as there’s enough for us to share)!
How Long Does a Sip and Paint Class Last?
Each one of our classes lasts for 3 hours, more than enough time to get your fill of painting and creative spirit.
