4 family road trips for the 2023 Easter long weekend

Hitting the road for the Easter long weekend is a great Australian tradition. The public holidays on Good Friday and Easter Monday offer just the right amount of time to get where you’re going, unwind, and then head back home relaxed. If you’re travelling with family, the trick to the perfect Easter long weekend road trip is to hit the road early to avoid traffic and spend quality time with the family.

An easy 90-minute drive east of Melbourne, the vineyards around the Yarra Valley and the foothills of Mount Dandenong aren’t just for adults: they’re also the perfect Easter long weekend getaway if you’ve got little kids.

Wake up to see hot air balloons crossing the sky, take a scenic drive or bike ride through the vineyards, or a tractor tour with fruit sampling at Rayner’s Orchard

. Not to be missed is a visit to the area’s most famous family-friendly attraction, the Puffing Billy

 steam train. Drape your legs outside the carriage sills as the heritage steam train runs through the lush fern gullies – just remember to book ahead or you might miss out.

Stock up on Easter eggs at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie

, indulge in some Easter themed desserts at the cafe, or head over to Warratina Lavender

 farm for an Easter egg hunt in their lavender garden. Previously a cherry orchard, the farm boasts 10,000 lavender plants and during the egg hunt, kids will have six tokens to hunt down, which they can exchange for a bag of Easter eggs.

Roma’s Easter in the Country

 festival is the perfect way for city-slicker families to get a taste of country life. The party kicks off on the Wednesday before Easter long weekend, running until Monday, and is perfect for teens wanting a little more action than an Easter egg hunt.

Located around a five to six hour drive west of Brisbane, the festival includes a street parade, country music concert, a tour of the Roma Saleyards

 (the largest cattle selling centre in the Southern Hemisphere), a huge outdoor BBQ event and a rodeo.

Those who like their horse power with a little grunt can see drag races and burnout competitions or get involved in the local competition scene. There’s an art competition, a fishing competition, and the kids can even cheer you on in the famous wife-carrying race on Easter Sunday (with the winner taking away the wife’s weight in beer).

Six hours south of Sydney, the crisp autumn air of the Snowy Mountain region is the perfect place for families who love outdoor adventure and are keen to hike, fish and bike their way through a pristine alpine wilderness.

Before you head up into the national park however, start your long weekend in Jindabyne, where over the Easter Long Weekend you’ll find the street edition of the annual Lake Light Sculpture

 festival. Normally held on Easter long weekend on the edge of Lake Jindabyne, this year due to high water levels, the sculptures will instead be placed in the town.

Further up the mountains at Falls Creek, the kid-focused Easter Festival

 has mountain biking skills camps, guided nature and historical walks, a giant Easter egg hunt and the famous egg toss (expect to get a little gooey).

Over at Thredbo, families can enjoy the Easter Adventure Carnival

, including a visit from the Easter bunny on Easter Sunday, or simply enjoy hiking, biking and alpine bobsledding.

Pitch the tent, hitch up the caravan, and pack a pair of riding boots for a weekend away camping at Glenworth Valley. A short drive north of Sydney in the Central Coast hinterland, the blissfully quiet valley, primarily offers horse riding and camping.

Come Easter Sunday it offers up an Easter egg hunt

 with four different times and a staggering 25,000 eggs thrown into the fields.

Glenworth Valley is a great base to explore the Central Coast. Located a short drive from the Australian Reptile Park

 and Treetops Adventure

 ropes and climbing park, it’s also close to surfing beaches and seaside villages, the inland waterways of Brisbane Waters and trendy Central Coast suburbs like Long Jetty and The Entrance.

^Disclaimer

^{Viva Energy Australia Pty Ltd (“Viva Energy”) has compiled the above article for your general information and to use as a general reference. Whilst all reasonable care has been taken by Viva Energy in compiling this article, Viva Energy does not warrant or represent that the information in the article is free from errors or omissions or is suitable for your intended use.}