Your long weekend road trip might be cancelled but there’s no need to mope. The Easter long weekend is certainly looking a little different than what we imagined, but there are still plenty of ways to have a bit of fun, even in lockdown.
You can still support your local cafes and restaurants by picking up takeaway eats, ordering Melbourne’s best hot cross buns and having Easter treats delivered. If you need more than just food to get you through the long weekend, you’ve come to the right place.
From virtual vacays to baking extravaganzas and boozy Easter egg hunts, here’s how to spend your long weekend in lockdown.
Friday
9am | Get Zen
You might be ready and raring to work up a sweat with a run or an online HIIT class, but before you get to that, take 10 (or 30, if you can hack it) for a little meditation session to start your weekend right. Take a minute to stop, breathe and remember all the things you’ve got to be grateful for; you’ll forget about those cancelled plans in no time. If you want to take it a step further, physically write down three things you’re grateful for, it’s a sure-fire way to boost your mood.
9:30am | Sweat It Out
Now that you’ve tended to your mental well-being, it’s time to get physical. Get some vitamin D with a run or a long walk, or take to your lounge room for an online workout, yoga sesh or dance class. Once you’re done, treat yourself to a killer breakfast and get ready to channel your inner Nigella.
11am | Bake Up A Storm
Even if you’re not usually much of a baker, we’re willing to bet you’ve at least thought about it since lockdown hit. Considering you’ve got nothing but time this weekend, why not try your hand at recreating this epic Easter cake or have a crack at taking your Hot Cross Buns to the next level.
3pm | Do Something Productive
It’d be easy to sit on the couch and get the Netflix binge started, but if you start now, will you ever stop? We know that by the end of the weekend we’re all going to be in food and sugar comas, so today is the day to tick one of those iso jobs off your list. Tackle your wardrobe, your pantry or your photo roll (or one of these ideas) and feel good about sliding into cocktail hour.
6pm | Eggspresso Martini Cocktail Hour
Round up your mates (on Zoom, of course) and have a crack at making this epic eggspresso martini for a mighty fine night of quarantine. All you need is a hefty Easter egg and a few basic ingredients to make the drink of your dreams. If worse comes to worst, we reckon a good glug of red wine in an Easter egg would go down pretty well too.
7pm | Feast On Your Favourite Seafood Dinner
As if you haven’t been thinking about it all week, the time has finally rolled around to tuck into Supernormal’s lobster roll or Hunky Dory’s salt and pepper calamari. If you were organised, you would have had pre-ordered your grocery box and be gearing up to make your own Friday night feast. If not, there’s nothing better than good ol’ fish and chips from your local.
Saturday
9am | Take A Virtual Vacay
You went to bed early and you’ve already been up for hours doing a bit of meditation and practicing gratitude, right? So now it’s time to settle in on the couch for a virtual vacay to the US of A. Hit Yosemite National Park, Salt Lake City or the Museum of Modern Art, all minus the jetlag.
11am | Brunch Time
Your real-life brunch might have been cancelled, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do it at home. Organise the virtual brunch, send your mates the link and pour yourself a well-deserved mimosa. While it might not be the same as seeing them in person, you won’t have to cater to anyone’s weird dietary requirements (or share your hot cross buns), so count your blessings.
3pm | Get Your Binge On
If you had one mimosa too many at brunch, never fear—there’s no need to be productive today. In case you missed it, Stan is dropping Parasite early and Saturday 11 April is the day so queue it up and get watching. If you’ve already seen it, try the binge-worthy four-part series everyone’s talking about or jump on the Disney+ Bandwagon. We’ve also gone and found you the best movies on Netflix, the best feel-good movies on Netflix, the best tearjerkers on Netflix, the best comedies on Netflix the best shows on Netflix, the best movies on Stan and the best shows on Stan the best free-to-air shows, plus a bunch of streaming services that aren’t Netflix or Stan. So don’t tell us there’s nothing you want to watch.
5:30pm | Get Your Daily Dose Of Vitamin D
You’ve been to the USA, you’ve caught up with friends, you’ve watched one of the greatest movies of all time; now it’s time to hit the great outdoors. If you’re lucky enough to live near the coast, go for a run or walk along the beach and you might be lucky enough to catch a sunset—always a good way to round out the day. If not, just get outside in the sunshine and move a bit. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, there’s nothing more important than your physical and mental health right now. A good dose of vitamin D and some exercise will help both.
8pm | Throw A Virtual Party
Pour yourself a drink and tune in at 8pm to The Lounge Room Sessions for a gig from Benny Walker this Saturday night. If you’re looking for more house party vibes, dial in some friends and catch OneSixOne’s live stream DJ sets from 7pm.
Sunday
10am | Boozy Easter Egg Hunt
If you think Easter egg hunts are just for kids, think again. Whether you’ve got a huge backyard to squirrel things away in or you live in a tiny apartment, it’s time for you and your housemates to get creative. Hide anything from mini spirits bottles and jello shots to cold hard cash and notes with truth or dare options on them. You could always throw in some actual Easter eggs, adults like those too. If you happen to have plastic eggs you can hide things in that’s great, but we won’t judge if you’re just hiding jello shots in the bushes.
12pm |Family Lunch
It wouldn’t be Easter Sunday without a roast lamb with the family, so set up that virtual party; you’re surely getting good at it by now. If your parents still haven’t quite mastered the art of the virtual catch up, remember to give them a little demo before the party starts.
4pm | Stretch Your Legs
If you didn’t go very far to find your Easter hunt goodies, it’s time to get moving. Whether you head outside for a stroll, try an online yoga class or opt for a sweat-inducing HIIT workout, we promise you won’t regret this once the endorphins kick in.
7pm | Truth Or Dare
If you were clever enough to hide some truth or dare notes in your boozy Easter egg hunt, now’s the time to play. Hit the tunes, pour yourself a glass and get to know your roomies a little better. If you need some inspo, check out these ideas. Not into truth or dare? Crack out your board games, puzzles or a pack of cards; it’s time to get competitive.
Monday
10am | Take A Virtual Class
It’s day four of the long weekend and you’re likely getting a bit antsy, so it’s time to try something new. Lucky for you, there are plenty of online classes to be found. Shannon Bennett’s Vue de monde is offering free online cooking masterclasses, or let the NGV guide you through a virtual drawing class. If those don’t tickle your fancy, we’ve found more great online classes to try here.
12pm | Get Cultured
If you’re feeling intellectual, head to the NGV Channel for a virtual tour of Keith Haring | Jean-Michel Basquiat: Crossing Lines. While you’re all set up, #KeepTheMusicGoing with a live performance from the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
3pm | Try Your Hand At Pickling
It’s the end of the weekend and we’re willing to bet there are a few vegetables at the back of your fridge that are looking a bit worse for wear. You probably know you can pickle cucumbers and cabbage, but in all honesty, you can pickle just about anything. Get started with our pickling 101 here.
6pm | Treat Yourself
It’s the end of the long weekend. You made it, hopefully without any major meltdowns. Treat yourself to a delivery of one of Melbourne’s cult-class dishes or check out our list of restaurants now offering takeaway. While you’re at it, throw in some tinnies or a nice drop with these local alcohol delivery services.
It doesn't stop with Easter. Entertain yourself through iso with these hobbies.
Image credit: Unsplash | Kinga Cichewicz