Easter is the perfect time to relax, celebrate, and create lasting memories with loved ones. Whether baking, crafting, embarking on a long weekend adventure, or heading to local Easter events, there are endless ways to make the most of the holiday and deviate from your norm. In this guide, we’ve got 8 egg-stra special ways to celebrate this Easter!
It’s that time of year once again! Easter is one of the year’s first extended breaks, offering us a chance to rest, relax, and celebrate with friends and family. The holiday is traditionally associated with renewal, hope, and togetherness, and while classics like egg decorating and egg hunts are still hugely popular, there are plenty of unique ways to celebrate the season. We’ve gathered a few creative ideas to make your Easter even more special. Why not try something new and make this holiday truly memorable?
- DIY Easter hamper – get crafty with Easter treats
Easter doesn’t have to mean chocolate; for something, a little different, create a custom hamper for friends and family. The beauty of this is that it can be fully personalised to the recipient – filled with their favourite snacks, treats, alcohol, and knick-knacks – and can be upscaled or downscaled to suit your budget. Simply pick up a gift box or basket from your local dollar shop, fill with a base of tissue paper, then stack with goodies galore. It’s a thoughtful gesture guaranteed to beat generic chocolate any day!
- The great Easter bake-off
Love it or hate it, Easter is big on indulgence – hot cross buns, Pane di Pasqua, mountains of chocolate and a good old pavlova to top it off. Instead of baking everything yourself or spending up large at the shops, why not host a friendly bake-off? Challenge your family or friends to contribute a homemade treat to the Easter celebration, and the best one wins! Though really, everyone is a winner on the day with a table of delicious home baked Easter treats to dig in to. This is a fun way to come together, get everyone involved and add a little (not so healthy) competition to the mix.
- Host a friends-ter aka ‘Friend Easter’
Not everyone spends Easter with family; maybe your chosen family is your friends. That doesn’t mean you can’t celebrate! Host a ‘Friend-ster’ or Friend Easter and pack it full of adult Easter egg hunts, egg painting, Easter trivia, laugh laden egg and spoon races, themed cocktails and a potluck feast. Set the scene with cute Easter décor and fancy napkins to make the day feel egg-stra special. Friend-ster is a fun, relaxed way to celebrate, and may just become a new favourite tradition.
- Take a long weekend break
The Easter period is the perfect time to reset, rest, recharge, and take pause, all of which are hugely important for avoiding burnout as we dive into the remainder of the year. Make the most of the break with:- Mini road trips – hit the open road and explore the wider Canterbury or beyond. Whether it’s a scenic cruise on coastal roads or a cross-state adventure, taking things at your own pace allows you to discover hidden gems and local cuisine, chase waves, and embrace the freedom of stopping whenever and wherever you please.
- Wellness retreats – get into the Zen zone and escape the daily grind with a wellness retreat that focuses firmly on relaxation, mindfulness and rejuvenation; this is self-care at its finest. If travelling to a retreat isn’t an option, bring the retreat factor home by embracing simple wellbeing and mindfulness practices.
- Tiny escapes – escape to a cosy tiny home or luxury glamping spot to surround yourself in nature, unplug and rejuvenate. Many of these combine the charms of simplicity and nature with the luxuries and comforts of modern living. The result? An ideal space for some serious downtime.
- Unwind with arts and crafts
Arts and crafts aren’t just fun, they’re an excellent opportunity to tap into your very own wellbeing-enhancing creativity. Things like painting or decorating eggs, knitting or sculpting are all-absorbing, reducing stress levels, boosting mindfulness and improving your mood. Polymer clay is a fantastic product for all ages and abilities, you can sculpt Easter eggs, baskets or any custom Easter-themed designs, pop them in the oven, and then get out the paints for round two of creativity. Get inspired by classic New Zealand art patterns and colours and incorporate this into your clay designs. You’ll feel accomplished, boost your mood and wind up with some unique homemade decorations for the years ahead.
- Decorate your home
Easter 2025 décor trends embrace a mixture of minimalism, nature-inspired elements, and sustainable choices. To decorate like a seasoned pro, opt for soft pastels like sage green and blush pink, paired with wooden accents and natural textures like rattan, jute, and linen. Choose eco-friendly and sustainable items like cloth napkins, fabric eggs and handmade décor items that you can use year after year. Finally, when setting the table, choose neutral tableware, and bring in natural elements, candles to cast warm, soft lighting and earthy-toned ceramic plates.
- Try something exotic
Break from your usual traditions this Easter and incorporate some interesting customs from around the globe! Try Orthodox Easter’s red egg cracking game, cook up a giant omelette like they do in France, or give a Lent-inspired fast a go. You could even host a multicultural Easter dinner with friends and family, where a different culture inspires each dish. This year is the perfect time to try something new, both Orthodox Easter and Catholic Easter fall on the same day, Sunday, April 20th. With the multicultural communities we’re part of, get involved and try something new.
- Get out and about
Keep it simple this Easter and celebrate in a way that suits your style and is a little less by the book. Many places around the city and within our local communities’ host egg-citing events, from festivals to parades, markets, and organised egg hunts, which take the pressure off you and dial up the lively fun. Here are a couple of our favourites around the city:- Christchurch Easter Show – A family favourite, the Christchurch Easter Carnival delivers a fun-filled long weekend packed with amusement rides, egg hunts, and live entertainment. Kids can enjoy meeting the Easter Bunny, while adults can browse craft markets or relax with live music and delicious local food.
- Christchurch Easter Bunny Hunt – Celebrate Easter in Christchurch with two exciting events. On April 18 and 19, families can take part in the Easter Bunny Hunt at the Christchurch Gondola by collecting a hunt form, searching for hidden bunnies and letters at the Summit Station, and unscrambling the Easter word to win a treat. The Gondola will be open from 10am to 5pm daily over Easter, with no surcharge at Red Rock Café on Good Friday or Easter Monday. On April 19, the Easter Bunny will visit the Christchurch Tram, handing out chocolate treats to children between 10am and 1pm. From April 18 to 21, visitors can also guess the number of Easter eggs in a jar at the Tram Booking Office in Cathedral Junction for a chance to win. The Christchurch Tram operates daily from 8:30am to 6pm, with the last departure an hour before closing.
Make this Easter one to remember
However you celebrate, Easter is the perfect time to reflect, reset and connect with your loved ones. Whether that’s a fun bake off with friends or family, exploring new places or simply enjoying a well-earned break at home, make it an Easter to remember. If you’re looking to buy a new home to create lasting memories for many Easters to come, reach out to us at First National Progressive. Your friendly local experts provide exclusive real estate market insights and will guide you to finding your keys to happiness. Wishing you a joyful, healthy, and Happy Easter from all of us here at First National Progressive.
Disclaimer
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