What’s on this Easter
With egg hunts at the beach, live entertainment and picnics, art shopping and nature walks, Northland has tons of activities for you and your loved ones to enjoy. Here are nine activities to do in Northland this Easter.
Join the Easter Egg Hunt at Otehei Bay
Have you ever tried Easter egg hunting on the beach? Well now’s the time to have a fun day out with the kids at Urupukapuka Island. Join Otehei Bay’s Easter Fun Day and enjoy a whole day of family activities this Easter Monday.
Otehei Bay is a family-friendly spot in a safe and sheltered bay on Urupukapuka Island in the Bay of Islands. This year they are hosting free Easter-related activities on Easter Monday from 12.30pm to 4pm. Some exciting activities include an Easter Egg Beach Dig, three-legged race, an egg and spoon race, arts and crafts, sandcastle competition, tug of war, giant Jenga and much more.
But kids are not the only ones who get to have a fun time at the beach. Everyone can explore the island on foot through multiple coastal walking tracks or play in the water on kayaks or paddleboards. There are also good food and drinks available at their beachfront cafe´ and bar.
Book your ferry from the mainland (Paihia and Russell) to Urupukapuka Island now on the Explore website.
Enjoy a day full of fun, food, and live entertainment at Waipu Carnival
In 2010, the Waipū Primary School PTA organised a summer carnival to raise funds for Waipu Primary school. It soon became a huge hit, not just for the school, but for the whole Waipu community. Since then, the proceeds of the carnival have funded multiple projects, including a multipurpose hall, scooter and bike track, the adventure playground and new computers.
This year, the annual Waipū Easter Carnival is back with bigger and better activities lined up. Visit the carnival on today at Caledonian Park from 9am to 2pm. Some of the attractions include the iconic Inflatable Zone, Mechanical Surfboard, Dunk Tank, Climbing Wall, White Elephant and Petting Zoo as well as live entertainment, food and beverages stalls, art zones, auctions, raffles and more.
As always, all proceeds go directly to Waipu Primary School. Organisers say to bring cash due to limited eftpos machines and there will be plenty of parking.
For more updates, visit Waipu Easter Carnival’s Facebook page.
Experience Kamo Wildlife Sanctuary at night
The Kamo Wildlife Sanctuary Easter weekend is shaping up to be a good one, with an exclusive Hear the Call overnight experience at the habitat. Guests are welcome to set up their own RV, caravans or tent and the sanctuary has planned a night of activities such as a communal BBQ dinner and a Twilight experience. You’ll even be able to visit the big cats come nightfall and join the staff for behindthe-scenes checks throughout the day.
On Easter Sunday, the sanctuary will also host an Easter egg hunt and tours of the big cats will be running on Saturday and Monday, from 10am to 2pm.
For bookings, contact the Kamo Wildlife Sanctuary’s Facebook page and visit www.bigcats.co.nz.
Enjoy a picnic with your friends at Tutūkākā Market
Easter weekend is the perfect time to spend quality time with your friends. Enjoy the chill vibes of a simple, but fun picnic date at the Tutūkākā Twilight Markets. The Tutūkākā Twilight Markets opened on Labour Weekend last year and will wrap things up for the year this Easter Saturday. Head on down between 4pm and 8pm to try out multiple food trucks and see various artists showcasing their art and music. One of the simplest but nicest things to do is set up a picnic in the park.
For more updates on participating vendors and performers, visit Tutūkākā Markets Facebook page.
Sip coffee by the shore at pua, Bay of Islands.
Enjoy great coffee, cakes, and Asian fusionstyled food at Marina Cafe in Opua.
Marina Cafe is open Monday to Tuesday from 8am to 3pm, and Wednesdays to Sundays from 8am to 8pm. The cafe offers a different menu during the daytime, more suitable for coffee and brunch lovers. Every Wednesday to Sunday, from 3pm to 5.30pm, the kitchen prepares dinner and offers cabinet food and chips, paired with beers, wines, and cocktails.
During their much-loved dinner service, the chef creates something new for guests to try, like sticky pork bites, creamy garlic mussels, smokey barbeque ribs, and lamb cutlets. Classic dinner dishes like pork and prawn ramen, Thai green and red curries, Kung Pao and Pork Schnitzel are crowd favourites too.
Marina Cafe also has live performers every Sunday night.
Message Marina Cafe Opua’s Facebook page to secure a table now.
Shop art at Whangārei Heads Arts Trail
Art lovers can check out creative local works at this year’s Whangārei Heads Arts Trail on March 30 and 31 from 10am to 5pm. More than 40 artists, including painters, potters, jewellers, photographers, printers, flax weavers, woodworkers, stone sculptors, glass sculptors and textile artists will be participating in the event. The trail stretches 35km from Onerahi to Whangārei Heads and is held within¯O community halls and home studios.
The big art exhibit features all creatives from amateurs to nationally known artists who love sharing their creative space with fellow art enthusiasts. This impressive collection of works showcases a diverse range of media, all packed into one easily accessible route. Entry to every studio is free, and trail guides will be available for purchase along the trail.
For more info, check out whangareiheadsartstrail.org.nz or Whangārei Heads Arts Trail’s Facebook page.
Museum date at Whangārei Art Museum
Home to various local and national artworks, a visit to the Whangārei Art Museum makes for a great addition to your Easter weekend.
The Whangārei Art Museum is Northland’s premier public art gallery, which showcases local, national, and international works through amazing exhibitions. Catch touring art exhibitions for free this Easter weekend, and see John Ward Knox’s “Walk on Waking” and Adele Younghusband, Esther Stewart, and Gerard Dombroski’s “A House for Adele . . . ”
The museum is closed on Good Friday but otherwise open seven days a week from 10am to 4pm.
For more info and updates, visit whangareiartmuseum.co.nz.
Visit the Lord of the Forest and go for a nature walk along the Ancient Kauri Trail
If you are looking for a more active Easter activity, step out for a walk along the Ancient Kauri Trail. This beautiful trail starts at Maungatūroto, passes Dargaville and ends in māpere. Embark on an adventure that showcases the forest’s dramatic contrasts, as well as the ruggedly beautiful beaches and the peaceful shelter of the kauri forest.
The trail is a majestic showcase of centuries-old kauri trees. For greater insight, take a guided tour so you can meet the two ancient trees of the Waipoua Forest: Tāne Mahuta, an approximately 2,000-year-old giant kauri popularly known as “The Lord of the Forest” and the Te Matua Ngahere, a kauri tree which is estimated to be between 2,500 and 3,000 years old, known as “Father of the Forest”. Visitors often leave with a sense of spiritual connection and learn a great deal about the history of this enchanting place.
Aside from the majestic kauri trees, the trail also provides great views of surrounding beaches and Tokatoka Peak.
To get the most out of your visit, download the free map at their website or book a guided tour via their Facebook page.
Stay for the weekend at a TOP 10 Holiday Park
Calling all campers — Easter weekend is the perfect time to take the whole family camping and have a nature-filled weekend — before winter descends on us all.
TOP 10 Holiday Parks make it easier for Kiwis to find safe and fully integrated accommodation options, exceptional facilities, and a family-friendly atmosphere for their camping adventure.
This Easter, TOP 10 Holiday Parks have prepared multiple holiday activities. The parks are open for the weekend and have all planned some epic Easter-related activities such as Easter egg hunts, colouring competitions, boat races and rock paintings. Every TOP 10 Holiday Park puts their own spin on these activities, but wherever you choose to stay, guests are guaranteed to have a good time. Visit their website to book. For more activities in Northland, visit northlandnz.com.