The hunt is over! Here’s a list of exciting things to do over the Easter weekend.
The long-awaited Easter break is upon us. For some, it’s a significant religious holiday to celebrate, and for others, it’s a much anticipated break from work. Regardless of what Easter means to you, it’s time to enjoy the last few weeks of summer, bask in the sunshine, take part in fun Easter egg hunts, and simply enjoy family time.
If you’re lucky enough to be leaving the hustle and bustle of the city for a few days, Au Pair Extraordinaire have put together a list of fun things happening in the popular holiday destinations to keep you and the little one’s entertained this Easter break:
Durban and the North Coast
From city, to beach, to theatre, to farmland, Durban and the North Coast offer something for every family. We’ve suggested our three favourites here:
Beacon Easter Eggsplorer Egg Hunt at the Durban Botanic Gardens
This well organised event promises to provide tons of fun for the entire family. Your kids will get to solve clues, complete challenges and hunt for giant Easter eggs hidden by the Beacon Easter Bunny all within the beautiful surroundings of the Botanical Gardens.
When: 31 March – 1 April, 10am – 2pm
Where: Durban Botanic Gardens, 9 John Zikhali Rd, Musgrave
Cost: R85 – Eggsplorers and R60 – Spectators
More info: Click here for more info and to buy tickets.
Africa’s Biggest Easter Egg Hunt
A full day of fun with uShaka’s Easter Egg Hunt! Plus all day access to Sea World, Wet ‘n Wild and uShaka Kids World. Eggs will be hidden all over the Phantom Ship Wreck Aquarium, which has plenty of nooks and crannies in its 500 metre-long viewing galleries. After the hunt, the kids will be entertained by an Easter Dolphin show, starring Slippy the Seal, Rusty the Penguin and Raggy the Shark.
When: 31 March – 1 April
Where: uShaka Marine World, 1 Bell Street, South Africa, Durban
Cost: R186 – Children and R138 – Adults
More info: Click here for more into and to buy tickets.
Holla Trails
For the more adventurous families, visit Holla Trails and put your mountain biking skills to the test. Holla Trails offers mountain biking and trail running consisting of 340km of marked trails. Riders are amazed at the variety of track and spectacular scenery that is available. There is plenty of track for the newer riders as well as those looking for an adrenaline rush. Trails run through spectacular tropical forest, jeep track roads and plantation roads.
Visit Holla Trails website for more info.
Cape Town
Hiking on the Delvera Farm Winelands
This is a great activity for the whole family. Have yourself a peaceful Easter by hiking up and around the Delvera Farm vineyards as the sun sets. There will be free Easter eggs for all hikers, and remember to wear walking shoes and bring along a jacket and torch for when the sun sets.
When: Saturday, 31 March 2018
Where: Delvera Farm
Cost: Hike is R100/p for adults and R50/p for children under 10.
Click here for more info.
Easter egg hunt on top of Table Mountain
A firm favourite for many families over the last few years, enjoy the cable ride to the top of Table Mountain, plus chocolate at the top!
When: Sunday 31 March 10:00 – 13:00
Book tickets on the Table Mountain website.
Bunnies Galore at Bugs Playpark
Bugz Playpark is a fantastic place to take the kids on Family Day as they’ll be hosting their popular Easter egg hunt, as well as loads of other Easter-themed activities. Events planned for the day include hoppety hula-hooping and pin the tail on the bunny. What’s more, a magician, juggler and roller skater will also be there to thrill and delight the little ones.
When: Monday, 2 April. The hunt starts at 11:30am
Cost:
Adults: R50/p
Grandparents: R35/p
Children: R60/p and those under two enter for free.
Email party@bugzplaypark.co.za for more info.
Watch a movie under the stars
Galileo Open Air Cinema’s Easter Sunday movie (Rise of The Guardians) will be showing at the magnificent Kelvin Grove Club in Newlands. There will also be jumping castles, face painting, balloon artists, interactive games and an Easter egg hunt. You can pack a picnic basket or buy food and drink at vendors on site.
When: Sunday, 1 April. Doors open 4pm and the movie starts at 7.45pm.
Cost: R150 p/p (includes blanket, backrest, sweet treat, egg hunt and play area access). Kids 10 years and under enter for free for this event
Visit here to book tickets.
Johannesburg
If you’ve decided to have a ‘stay-cation’ this year and have made Johannesburg your quiet Easter retreat, there’s still plenty to do in this concrete jungle of ours, and best of all, there won’t be any traffic!
The Big Red Barn
The big red barn is a magical space close to nature with lots of family-friendly activities created to give you a day out in the fresh air. It is set on Sunlawns Estate and is the perfect place for mountain biking. There are 36kms of scenic tracks which weave and wind through a shady gum tree forest, over rocky African grasslands and farm fields and criss cross through the Kaalspruit. If you want to work off the big Sunday lunch and all the Easter eggs, then this is the perfect way to do it.
Visit the website for more info.
Montecasino’s Easter Celebrazione
Montcasino is celebrating all things family at their Easter Celebrazione this year. Have fun on the giant inflatable park on the Piazza, be brave and try out the bungee experience, taste delicious food from many roaming vendors and shake hands with the Jelly Tots Man. The kids can also take part in some action packed fun in the Nerf Zone, hunt for Easter Eggs, have their face painted and meet the Easter Bunny. There’s something for everybunny!
When: From Friday, 30 March 2018 to Monday, 2 April 2018
Venue: Piazza, Grassy Area and the Bird Gardens
Time: 10h00 – 20h00 daily
Tickets: R50 per person for the entire day
Visit the website for more info.
The Stables Easter Market
Hop on by and join the Stables for their Easter Sunday Celebration. It will be a fun family day out with the Easter bunny and lots of kiddies entertainment. Indulge in artisanal Easter treats from talented market vendors and crafters. Plus there will be live music, craft beer and bubbly for the parents.
When: Sunday 1 April 9am – 3pm
Where: The Stables Village Centre, 212, 3rd Street, Chartwell (off Cedar Road, Broadacres).
Cost: R10 per person
Pets welcome
Staycation
If you don’t feel like getting out and about, keep the kids busy at home while you all revel in the spirit of Easter from the comfort of your own couch:
- Create a traditional Easter egg hunt for your kids. Hide the eggs in your garden or house (try not forget where you hid them!) and use talcum powder to create bunny paw prints so the kids can see that the Easter Bunny has come past.
- Egg painting and decorating is a firm favourite for the kids, and so simple and cheap to do;
- Empty a raw egg and dry the shell. Do this by poking two tiny holes into the egg shell, one at the top and one at the bottom, using a pin. Then blow into the egg through the bottom hole and the egg contents will come out of the top hole. Do this a few days before you want to paint them, so they are completely dry on the inside.
Date night
And, if you can sneak in a date night, Prime Circle will be performing at Rivonia Barnyard on Wednesday evening. Book tickets here.
Easter – the favourite holiday of all
After the chaos of Christmas, and the start of a very busy year, Easter is the perfect holiday to sit back, relax and reflect on the year so far, plus you get a long weekend, hot cross buns and scrummy choccies. From all of us at Au Pair Extraordinaire, we wish you a safe and enjoyable Easter break.