Best things to do in Sydney over Easter Weekend 2025

The four-day weekend in April presents the perfect opportunity to explore the city. Here are some of the best things to do in Sydney over Easter Weekend.

This year, the Easter weekend falls on April 18-21. Whether you celebrate the religious importance of Easter, marking the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, or you lean into the chocolate eggs and chance to enjoy some family time instead, there are many ways to spend the weekend in Sydney.

From the Sydney Royal Easter Show, a hugely popular and lively event every year, to the quieter Centennial Parklands or ferry rides across Sydney Harbour, there’s so much to choose from whatever your budget or interest.

Sydney Royal Easter Show

Roll up, roll up! Australia’s largest annual ticketed event is back. A celebration of Australian culture, from rural traditions to modern day lifestyles, the Sydney Royal Easter Show brings 12 days of non-stop entertainment, animal experiences, delicious food, carnival rides and games and much more. The high dive show and freestyle motocross bikes will have you on the edge of your seat, while kids will love the woolly Merino sheep, baby piglets and fireworks displays. With more than 800,000 visitors expected, it’s one of the must-do events this autumn.

Where: Sydney Olympic Park, 1 Showground Road, Western Sydney
When: April 11-22
Price: Adult from $37, child from $17, under-threes free.

Find out more at eastershow.com.au

Sydney Royal Easter Show returns for 2025 and is one of the best things to do this Easter in Sydney. Image courtesy of Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales. — *The Murray Wilkinson Yard Dog Demonstrations at Sydney Royal Easter Show. Image courtesy of Royal Agricultural Society of NSW.*

Explore Centennial Parklands

Known as the ‘lungs of the city’, a run around the Centennial Parklands is good for everyone, but especially children during school holidays. There are heaps of activities lined up, ready to keep kids entertained and give parents some well-earned respite. Some highlights include:

Spotlight Prowl for Families 2025

Learn how the park transforms when the sun sets and see if you can spot brushtail possums, tawny frogmouths and flying-foxes on this 1.5-hour spotlight walk for families with children aged 5+. Dress warm and bring a torch. Monday April 14 and Thursday April 24, 4:45pm-6:15pm. $24.50pp.

Alice in Easterland

Join Alice at The WILD PLAY Discovery Centre and watch as she helps the Mad Hatter find his Easter bonnet and deal with the Queen of Hearts. After the theatrical performance, children will have the opportunity to decorate their own Easter bonnet and then showcase their creation in the parade. Perfect for children aged four and above. Saturday April 19, 10:30am & 1:30pm. $20 for one adult and one child; free additional adults.

Little Red Riding Hood

Kids can become part of the action at this roving Aussie adaptation of the classic fairytale. They will step into the story and meet the hungry wolf, the brave huntsman and Little Red Riding Hood herself. Filled with songs, this 50-minute adventure doesn’t require any acting experience, just your imagination! Dressing up is encouraged. Thursday April 24, 10:30am-11:30am. $22 for one child and one adult; free for each additional adult.

Join an Easter egg hunt

Like many traditions, Easter egg hunts have been tried, tested and transformed over the years. Don’t go to BridgeClimb expecting to spot tiny chocolate eggs dotted along the climb route—instead, look out for cartoon eggs as you scale the Harbour Bridge on a Summit Day or Summit Twilight Climb from April 18 to April 21. Kids aged eight to 15 will have a chance to win a special Easter treat back at Base. April 18-21, available on Summit Climbs from 8am-5pm. Prices vary.

Elsewhere this year, guests at any of Meriton Suites‘ 23 locations across Australia, including its 16 Sydney hotels, can take part in the exclusive Golden Egg Easter Hunt. Those lucky to find one could win instant prizes and be entered into the draw to win a premium two-night stay. Open to hotel guests only.

Finally, make it a full day out with the family as you take the ferry from Circular Quay across to Manly, and head to Q Station. The boutique hotel hosts one of Sydney’s largest Easter egg hunts and it’s back this year. Along with the egg hunt, the beautiful lawns will play host to a jumping castle, live music performances, arts and crafts, face painting and a raffle with prizes from the likes of Hyro, Budgy Smuggler, KX Pilates, Manly Sailing and more. April 19, from 10:30am. $18 per child, $25 per adult.

Three people ascend the Sydney Harbour Bridge, harnessed for safety, overlooking the city skyline and Sydney Opera House at sunset — *BridgeClimb will host an Easter egg hunt with a difference on Summit Day and Twilight Climbs.*

Watch The Orchestra Project

An afternoon at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music’s impressive Verbrugghen Hall shouldn’t be missed. Especially as The Orchestra Project returns for its annual Easter Sunday symphony concert. 110 musicians from across the greater Australian classical music community will come together, conducted by Fabian Russell, to perform Ernest Chausson’s Poème, Maurice Ravel’s La valse and Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring.

Where: Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Macquarie Street, Sydney
When: Sunday April 20, 2:30pm-4:15pm
Price: Adult $60, student $25

Animal encounters for the whole family

Find out how the animal kingdom prepares for the colder months. Taronga Zoo has experienced a baby boom recently, with the arrival of hippo calf Lololi, seal pup Eve, chimpanzee babies Lemba and Cekiri, and twin red pandas keeping their parents busy. There’s also a brand-new Amphibian & Reptile experience to explore and, at the tail end of the school holidays, the Harbour View Cinema will return to show Moana, Shrek, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and 10 Things I Hate About You across four evenings (April 24-27).

West of Parramatta, Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park is home to more than 2,000 native species. Six habitat areas are spread across seven acres. You’ll find the intimidating cassowary, glossy black cockatoos, southern hairy-nosed wombats and smiling quokkas, found on on WA’s Rottnest Island and Bald Island. Australian icons including koalas and dingos can also be seen here.

For other animal experiences, dive beneath the waves to explore marine life at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, or head out of Sydney to Zambi Wildlife Retreat to meet animals who have retired from the circus and entertainment industry

Sydney is a notoriously outdoorsy city, offering beautiful beaches, coastal walks, pristine parklands and national parks all within easy access from Sydney CBD. The Bondi to Coogee coastal walk is a classic, while Spit Bridge to Manly Walk is a stunning 10km trail that takes in some of the city’s best harbour views. Alternatively, take a ferry from Cronulla to Bundeena and explore Australia’s oldest national park, the Royal National Park, or take the train from Central station to Katoomba to spend a day at the Blue Mountains. Scenic World is a must for families—will you brave the steepest passenger railway in the world?

Take a ferry ride

The Manly ferry is one of the world’s greatest ferry routes. It takes just 20 minutes and offers unrivalled views of Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. Sydney’s ferry network extends far beyond this though—take the 85-minute journey from Circular Quay to Parramatta in Western Sydney. It’s a great way to see the west of the city as you pass Cockatoo Island, Drummoyne, Kissing Point, Meadowbank and Sydney Olympic Park. Other noteworthy ferry routes include Circular Quay to Cockatoo Island or Taronga Zoo, Palm Beach to Basin and Cronulla to Bundeena in the south. It’s the best way to make the most of the warmer weather while by the water.

Tuck into high tea

High tea never goes out of style, whether you keep it traditional or mix things up with a themed spread. Especially for Easter, several Sydney hotels will be serving limited edition high tea experiences. At Four Seasons, kids are invited to a chocolate cooking class led by Quentin Zerr, a French-trained pastry chef, while parents sit back and enjoy a decadent chocolate-filled high tea. Three tiers of handcrafted treats will include a beetroot, goats cheese and cocoa powder tart, a salted caramel and pecan tartlet and scones with a Valrhona hazelnut spread. Chocolate High Tea: Available Fri-Sun 2pm-4pm, March 31-April 30, $99 for chocolate high tea, $119 with Champagne and $59 for children. Children’s chocolate cooking class: April 7 & 8 at 3pm.

At Amora Hotel Jamison Sydney, the Easter high tea buffet will be available for one day only on April 20. The menu includes chicken and avocado pinwheels, smoked salmon and fennel bagels with lemon ricotta, warm hot cross buns, macarons, rocky road and much more. There will also be a live chocolate station where kids can watch chocolate creations come to life before tasting them. Topping off the Easter activities is an Easter egg hunt and an appearance from Mr Rabbit. April 20, adult $109, child $69.

In the Grand Ballroom at Shangri-La Sydney, the whimsy of Wonderland takes over for the Alice in Wonderland High Tea. The extravagant feast includes strawberry coconut potion, caterpillar passionfruit pavlova log and Humpty Dumpty sandwiches. Giant rabbits, towering mirrors and a magical light display will have you feeling as if you’ve stepped straight into the story book. April 12-13, 18-20 and 25-27, 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm. Adult $84, child (three-11 years) $64.

*Kids will love the Alice in Wonderland themed Easter High Tea at Shangri-La Sydney. Image supplied.*

Join a guided tour

Why not tick off some of your sightseeing bucket list during the long weekend? Find your footing and download the Sydney Culture Walks app to find self-guided walking tour routes across the city to suit your interests or time restraints. If you’re not bothered about getting in your daily steps, opt for a hop-on hop-off Big Bus Tour, or ride through historic neighbourhoods and see parts of Sydney that you’d never get to see from a bus or taxi cab tour with Bonza Bike Tours.