Skip the fuel sting with these affordable Easter getaways and staycations across Australia.
Amid recent climbs in fuel prices, Aussies are rethinking long drives. In promising news, the Albanese government has announced it will temporarily be cutting fuel costs by 26.3 cents per litre from 1st April to provide some relief. That epic East Coast road trip may still be off the cards while the effects take their time to settle in – but there are still plenty of wallet-friendly escapes within your home state. Below are our top tips and picks for affordable Easter holidays in each Australian state for 2026, complete with accommodation that’s not too late to book.
Tips for saving money this Easter holiday
Swap cars for regional and tour buses this Easter. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Look to alternative transport: regional bus and train services, along with day tours with transport included, are your best friend
Join holiday park memberships for savings on accommodation
Target late school holidays periods when prices are lower
Plan for a city staycation; stay closer to home or in cities with good public transport networks to save on fuel
Best affordable Easter getaways in Australia 2026
NSW
Regional experiences
Explore Katoomba with the Blue Mountains Explorer Bus. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Blue Mountains Explorer Bus
This hop-on-hop-off bus operates every day and takes you to the Blue Mountains’ most coveted attractions, as well as its best-kept treasures.
Free Easter egg hunt at Robertson Public House & Kitch, Southern Highlands
Hop along to the festivities at this annual easter egg hunt on Easter Sunday, where you’ll find sweet treats and pub grub alike.
Jetty Foreshore precinct, Coffs Harbour
Coffs Harbour has a cyclable and walkable jetty precinct. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Spend the day strolling, biking and dining around this good-vibes-guaranteed waterfront hangout. And for foodies, the lively Harbourside Markets on Easter Sunday are a must.
Tours from Sydney to the Hunter Valley
Hope Estate is one of many excellent wineries in the Hunter Valley. (Credit: Destination NSW)
Explore the famous Hunter Valley wine region with ease with companies such as RRR Tours, who offer a transfer from Sydney – no car necessary.
Sydney experiences
Ingenia Holiday Parks Sydney Family Easter Show
This much-loved Easter extravaganza at Moore Park pulls out all the stops – thrilling rides, stage shows, mazes and much more.
Hills Easter Show
Visit this Easter show at Castle Hill Showground from Friday 3 April to Monday 6 April for magic shows, jumping castles, fireworks and dodgem cars. Family entry tickets (two adults, two children) cost $30.
Fairfield Easter Show
This six-day event attracts thousands of visitors each year, and promises kelpie dogs, rides and free circus workshops in 2026.
NSW accommodation
Return to nature at NRMA Ocean Beach Holiday Resort, Umina Beach. (Credit: Destination NSW)
The holiday park has fun activities for all ages. (Credit: Destination NSW)
NRMA Merimbula Beach Holiday Resort, South Coast
NRMA Ocean Beach Holiday Resort, Central Coast
NRMA Port Macquarie Breakwall Holiday Park
Mantra, Novotel, Mercure and Peppers properties across the state
Savings deal: Two nights at the new 25hours Hotel The Olympia, located in Sydney’s Paddington, from $569 when booked through Luxury Escapes. Includes a daily a la carte breakfast plus a $50 dining credit.
Head to the Bendigo Easter Festival on Saturday 4 April to witness a traditional lion and dragon dance presented by Bendigo Chinese Association. Spoiler: it’s set to end with the lighting of 100,000 firecrackers.
Geelong Easter Fest
Join the giant easter egg hunt at Geelong Easter Fest 2026, and linger for the foodie trucks, carnival games, line dancing and Easter Bunny meet and greet.
Mountain biking, Falls Creek Easter Festival
Falls Creek is a stellar mountain biking destination. (Credit: Falls Creek)
Pump up the adrenaline and enjoy the thrill of mountain biking with Blue Dirt MTB Shuttles from Falls Creek Easter Festival.
Beechworth Golden Horseshoes Festival
Join the Easter fun run, enjoy live music and peruse flea markets at this Beechworth community fest, running from 3 to 6 April.
Melbourne experiences
Family Museum Sleepover, Melbourne Museum
Spend a night at Melbourne Museum, slumbering among dinosaurs on a cloud-soft, ergonomic Ecosa mattress. Grab your torch and learn about dino fossils unearthed over 67 million years.
Melbourne Skydeck
Sky-high views at Melbourne Skydeck. (Credit: Tourism Australia/Visit Victoria)
Rally the crew and head 300 metres above ground to the southern hemisphere’s highest public observation deck for unparalleled views over Melbourne’s skyline.
Need tips, more detail or itinerary ideas tailored to you? Ask AT.
BIG4 Mornington Peninsula Holiday Park, Frankston South
BIG4 Dandenong Tourist Park, Dandenong South
Quest Apartment Hotels, Melbourne CBD: Quest on William, Quest Southbank, Quest Jolimont, Quest East Melbourne
Dorsett Melbourne, Melbourne CBD
Queensland
Regional experiences
Mary Valley Rattler Easter Express, Gympie
Hop aboard this iconic heritage steam train for a special Easter Sunday voyage from Gympie to the quaint town of Amamoor. The three-hour journey passes spectacular landscapes, with onboard volunteers happy to share the fascinating history behind the train.
Easter in the Country, Roma
Ever experienced Easter in the Queensland outback? It’s a hoot. Roma’s Easter in the Country is the place to be, offering rodeo comps, country tunes and market stalls in spades.
Easter Eggstravaganza, Sanctuary Cove
On Sunday 5 April, this free Gold Coast fest is dishing up a day of sweet surprises, scavenger adventures (with a chocolate reward, naturally) and animal encounters.
Brisbane experiences
Easter Family Fun & Markets, Coochiemudlo Island
The Easter markets on Coochiemudlo Island, held on Saturday 4 April, are set to sizzle with creativity – from bonnet making and rock painting to themed markets. Don’t miss the bunny visit at 10am.
Easter activities at Felons Brewing Co, Howard Smith Wharves
Spend the Easter long weekend at laidback Felons Brewing Co, which will feature a reptile show, egg hunt, bunny-shaped pizzas, fresh hot cross buns and outdoor cinema sessions for the whole clan.
Queensland accommodation
NRMA Treasure Island Holiday Resort, Gold Coast
Discovery Parks – Fraser Street, Hervey Bay
Discovery Parks – Bargara, Coral Coast
Mantra South Bank Brisbane
Western Australia
Regional experiences
Escape to seaside Mandurah, accessible by train from Perth. (Credit: Unsplash/Serina Bird)
Mandurah getaway
Just 75km from Perth and easily accessible by train, Mandurah makes for a wonderful, affordable Easter getaway. The Transperth Family Rider ticket is just $7, making it a super affordable day trip or overnight escape.
Mandurah is home to around 100 dolphins that can often be spotted from the shoreline. Join a low-cost dolphin cruise with Mandurah Cruises or hop aboard Mandurah’s very own pirate ship, then round out the day by visiting The Giants of Mandurah, a free outdoor sculpture trail perfect for walking or cycling adventures.
The Rottnest Express Easter Egg Hunt
This free and fun family activity will make your day trip to stunning Rottnest Island all the more memorable as you spot eggs around popular island locations. Simply book a ferry ticket with a Rottnest Express Quokka Club membership (a program that lets WA kids ride the ferry for free) and collect your hunting checklist before departing.
Perth experiences
Easter Family Fun Fair at Mandoon Estate
Taking place on 4 April 2026, this free event in a beautiful Swan Valley setting promises an animal farm, cellar door and bundles of Easter magic.
Easter Markets @ The Quay
Celebrate Easter along the Perth Esplanade and get to know some of the city’s most talented makers at this bustling outdoor marketplace.
WA accommodation
Say hello to the resident dolphins that come right up to the shore in Monkey Mia. (Credit: Unsplash/Ben Douglas)
RAC Monkey Mia Dolphin Resort, Shark Bay
Mandurah Coastal Holiday Park, Mandurah
RAC Karri Valley Resort, Yeagarup
South Australia
Experiences
Bike About
Jump on two wheels and access some of South Australia’s top tourism hotspots with Bike About hire and tours, from vineyard touring in the Barossa Valley and Adelaide Hills to an e-cycling safari through Monarto Safari Park.
Meadows Easter Fair, Adelaide Hills
This sprawling annual four-day treasure market in the Adelaide Hills is sure to delight all ages with 130 stalls selling everything from bric-a-brac to handmade art, vintage clothing to fabulous food.
Weekly travel news, experiences insider tips, offers, and more.
SA accommodation
Discovery Parks – Port Augusta
Comfort Inn Regal Park, North Adelaide
Mount Pleasant Hotel, Adelaide Hills
Tasmania
Experiences
Join the fun at Street Eats @ Franko. (Credit: Amy Brown)
Street Eats @ Franko, Hobart
Every Friday evening from December through April, Street Eats @ Franko takes over Franklin Square with Tasmanian gourmet goodies, craft sips and cheerful music.
Red Decker sightseeing tours, Hobart
Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a tourist in your own city, boarding the open-top, double-decker buses at Red Decker makes it easy to explore 20 captivating stops across the city.
Kids’ easter egg hunt, Burnie
Slated for Saturday 4 April 2026, this classic annual egg hunt at Burnie Park is buckets of fun and free for all.
Tasmania accommodation
Mövenpick Hotel opened in Hobart in early 2021. (Credit: Loic Le Guilly)
Mövenpick Hobart
BIG4 Strahan Holiday Retreat
Burnie by the Bay Apartments
Peppers Seaport Launceston
Northern Territory
Experiences
Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin
Get your creative juices flowing with a visit to MAGNT. Not only is it free admission, but you’ll get to explore a spectrum of compelling exhibitions, including Exit Art from regional Year 12 students.
Parap Village Markets, Darwin
Spend Saturday morning at the famous Parap Markets, where you can savour flavours from South East Asia from a host of buzzy food stalls (including the beloved Mary’s Laksa) or take home a locally made gift.
Easter Egg Hunt at the Waterfront, Darwin
The 2026 iteration of this well-loved Easter festival, taking place Saturday 4 April, will feature a special Easter bonnet parade, petting zoos and jumping castles. Secure a picnic spot or book a table at one of the nearby F&B venues.
NT accommodation
Bed down for a comfy stay at Mercure Darwin Airport Resort.
Mercure Darwin Airport Resort
Rydges Darwin Central
Discovery Parks – Alice Springs
Safari Lodge Motel, Tennant Creek
ACT
Experiences
Find fresh air at the National Arboretum Canberra. (Credit: Kannika Afonso/VisitCanberra)
National Arboretum Canberra
Fall back into step with nature and enjoy the fresh air at the National Arboretum, home to more than 44,000 rare and endangered trees. Check out the Forest Sculpture Gallery, take kids to the multi-sensory POD playground for kids and admire award-winning architecture.
Fyshwick Fresh Food Markets, Canberra
Hop along to Canberra’s oldest market institution on Easter Saturday. There’ll be plenty of farm-fresh produce and delicatessen goods, as well as free Easter cookie decorating and carrot pot planting for the little ones.
ACT accommodation
Mercure Canberra blends modern comfort and affordability. (Credit: Mercure Canberra/Ina J Photography)
Capital Country Holiday Park, Sutton
Adina Serviced Apartments Canberra Dickson
Mercure Canberra
Eleanor Edström is Australian Traveller’s Associate Editor. Previously a staff writer at Signature Luxury Travel & Style and Vacations & Travel magazines, she's a curious wordsmith with a penchant for conservation, adventure, the arts and design. She discovered her knack for storytelling much earlier, however – penning mermaid sagas in glitter ink at age seven. Proof that her spelling has since improved, she holds an honours degree in English and philosophy, and a French diploma from the University of Sydney. Off duty, you’ll find her pirouetting between Pilates and ballet classes, or testing her friends’ patience with increasingly obscure vocabulary.
A change is as good as a holiday, but never more so than in the Bendigo region when it’s the seasons putting in the transformative work.
With its gold rush history, opulent architecture and booming food and wine industry, there’s no denying that the Bendigo region is beautiful to visit at any time of year. Visit between March and May, however, and you’ll find the Bendigo in autumn really comes alive. Foliage erupts in a canvas of golden colours and the cooling air makes immersing yourself in nature all the more enticing.
Need a few ideas to get you started? We’re so glad you asked.
1. Tackle the bike trails
Pink Cliffs Reserve in Heathcote can be seen on the O’Keefe Rail Trail. (Image: Visit Victoria/Emily Godfrey)
Welcome to a region that punches well above its weight when it comes to cycling. This is where hammies are tested on multi-day rides, and first-timers fall in love with the sport on short (and ridiculously pretty) trails.
The 49-kilometre O’Keefe Rail Trail is the headline act, following the old railway line between Bendigo and Heathcote. Cross the Campaspe River at Axedale Recreation Reserve and pause at the Platypus Compass Sculpture and the First Nations mural marking the connection between Djaara and Taungurung Country, with Axedale acting as the perfect halfway stop to refuel at a pub or cafe.
Pedal a little further Heathcote’s Pink Cliffs Geological Reserve to be rewarded with views of sculpted pink clay cliffs and narrow gorges that are perfect for a photo stop. Searching for a different type of reward? The Heatchote Wine Region is full of inviting cellar doors.
There are plenty of other options in the Bendigo region, from the 210-kilometre Goldfields Track, to the Bendigo Creek Trail and Back Creek Trail – both ideal for riders of all abilities. The 3.7 kilometre Little Lake Boort loop is a great family-friendly option.
Prefer something more adventurous? Spring Gully Mountain Bike Park has been keeping BMX Bandits’ dreams alive for years.
2. Enjoy the crunch of autumn leaves
Pack a picnic and head to the Valley of Liquidambers.
Blinding clusters of crimson, burnt orange and brilliant yellow; here, autumn leaves are crisp confetti of fire and gold. See the magic up close with a slew of parks seemingly dedicated to showcasing Mother Nature’s colour wheel, especially from mid April to early June.
Pack a picnic for an afternoon at Valley of Liquidambers in Heathcote, where Liquidamber trees transform into a wonderworld of magical foliage. Don’t miss taking a leisurely stroll across the swinging bridge back towards the main street.
Rosalind Park might be celebrated for its annual tulip display come springtime, but it’s hard to compete with the theatre of autumn. Here, many trees date back to the 1800s, and there’s no better place for a romantic stroll than along the elms, oak and Queensland Kauri that dominate this park.
Head straight to Lake Weeroona, where an ornamental lake begs for a leisurely lap around its edges, either on foot, or with pedal power.
3. Immerse yourself in First Nations culture
Explore Kooyoora State Park on a cultural tour.
Its ‘Mountain of Light’ (Guyura in the Dja Dja Wurrung language) title is impressive, but so too is Kooyoora State Park’s rugged landscape of granite outcrops, rocky ridgelines and wide-open skies.
While there’s nothing to suggest you couldn’t explore Kooyoora’s walking tracks on your own, the best way to understand the 40,000 years of history behind its natural wonders is to book a 2.5-hour Kooyoora Cultural Tour with Dumawul Tours.
Led by Djaara cultural guides, expect a traditional Welcome to Country smoking ceremony, before engaging storytelling rewinds the clock to reveal the deep cultural significance of the land, its flora, fauna and its continuing connection to Country.
Keen to stay a little longer? Consider staying overnight at the campground and committing to the park’s wealth of walking trails, such as the 5.3-kilometre hike from the camping ground to the lookout on the Long Rock Walking Track.
4. Splash in the region’s waterways
Paddle through Serpentine Creek Canoe Trail. (Image: Visit Vic)
Water babies rejoice: the Bendigo region offers a wealth of waterways to explore.
Flowing 392-kilometres from the Great Dividing Range to the Murray River, the best way to enjoy Loddon River is with a stop at Bridgewater. Here you can swim in the natural infinity pool or tackle the all-abilities, five-kilometre Serpentine Creek Canoe Trail before browsing the cute stores in town. Hungry? Grab a bite at Bridgewater Hotel.
Lake Eppalock is popular for water activities, but don’t miss a visit to Little Lake Boort and Big Lake Boort. Birders, in particular, will love the former, thanks to the large variety of bird species that nest in the boardwalk area surrounding the lake.
Meanwhile, Big Lake Boort is celebrated for its significant Indigenous history and over 400 scarred trees, and offers an opportunity to spot birds and go canoing.
Meanwhile, watersports and recreational activities at Crusoe Reservoir, located on the outskirts of Bendigo, are the order of the day. Take a walk to the picnic spots of No. 7 Park nearby, and maybe even camp there for the night.
5. View epic lookouts
Spend time at Peregrine Ridge.
Sometimes a holiday requires a phenomenal spot on which to perch as you survey your temporary kingdom below. The Bendigo region, happily, doesn’t do anything by halves.
Located in Heathcote-Graytown National Park, Viewing Rock Lookout – a rocky outcrop offering spectacular views over Heathcote and surrounds – remains a popular choice. Take the hour-long Viewing Rock Circuit Walk and try your hand at gold prospecting nearby.
Prefer the romance of sunrise or sunset? Pyramid Hill, a stunning granite hill rising 187-metres above sea level, is the place to be (preferably with a coffee and a bagel)
Over in Terrick Terrick National Park, a walk to the summit delivers a full 360-degree panorama of woodlands, farms and open-sky plains. Pack lunch – and perhaps a tent – as picnic tables and camping are available.
Carve out time for Peregrine Ridge, a vineyard situated at the eastern side of Mt Camel Range with an elevation ranging from 250-290 metres. Be rewarded with delicious wine and a cellar door which offers floor-to-ceiling views.
6. Enjoy the Bendigo region’s parks and gardens
Stroll through Bendigo’s best gardens. (Image: Visit Vic)
Rosalind Park, located right in the centre of town, is considered Bendigo’s backyard and rightly so. Home to the Bendigo Easter Festival, it’s just as popular year-round for its sixty acres of rolling lawns, towering elms, fernery and winding paths – not to mention the playground which has plenty of little fans of its own. A short drive away, Bendigo Botanic Gardens– established in 1857 – offers a more tranquil space for deep-level nature immersion.
Those who favour something a little more formal, cottage-style Canterbury Park Gardens– famous for its dahlias in autumn – delivers. Stroll through its meticulously maintained ornamental gardens before checking out Lake Tom Thumb and Lake Neangar nearby.
