What’s On In Wellington This Easter Long Weekend

If you’ve glanced at the calendar and assumed things might slow down in Wellington over Easter, think again. The long weekend still comes with a solid mix of things to do—you just won’t have to fight the same summer crowds to get amongst it.

This is a great time of year to be in the capital. The air cools off, the city feels a little less hectic, and you can actually move between plans without too much fuss. There's a decent lineup of markets worth checking out, live music popping up across the city, and a handful of Easter events geared towards families (plus a few reasons to get out of the house between rain spells).

Across Wellington, events are scattered through the CBD and into the suburbs, making it easy to set up out a long weekend itinerary that suits how much—or how little—you want to do.

Here’s exactly what’s on in Wellington this Easter long weekend—and what to expect from the weather while you’re at it.

The Festive Forecast For Easter In Wellington 2026

Wellington in April usually brings a mix—clear spells, cloud rolling through, and wind that can change the feel of the day pretty quickly. It’s not unusual to cycle through a few conditions in the space of a few hours. Days hover around 17°C, but between the wind and shifting conditions, it can feel cooler—especially in the shade.

This Easter long weekend starts strong. Friday is looking clear with sunny breaks, hitting around 20°C, though it’ll be breezy. Saturday follows a similar pattern—mild but windy and overcast. By Sunday, things turn, with morning showers and cloud cover, and Monday continues in that vein with rain developing later in the day.

What This Means For Your Easter Plans

Make the most of Friday and early Saturday if you’re keen to be outside. After that, keep things flexible—plan stops you can dip in and out of, and don’t go far without a jacket.

Things To Do Over The Easter Long Weekend

Wellington’s Great Easter Egg Hunt

Starts at Iko Iko, 118 Cuba Street, Te Aro, Wellington CBD

If you’re keen to get out and explore the city, Wellington’s Great Easter Egg Hunt turns the CBD into a clue-based trail with a chocolate payoff at the end. Start at Iko Iko to pick up your first clue, then follow the path through a mix of local businesses, collecting hints as you go.

It’s designed to take around one to two hours, depending on how long you settle at each stop, making it a solid option for families—or anyone who likes their Easter plans with a bit of movement built in. Finish the trail, and you’ll score a reward pack, plus go in the draw for a larger prize.

Insider Intel

• Skip the public holidays—this one doesn’t run on Good Friday, Easter Sunday or Easter Monday, so Saturday is the way to go.

The Details

What: Wellington’s Great Easter Egg Hunt
When: Monday 30 March–Sunday 12 April (excluding 3, 5 & 6 April), 10am–3pm
Where: Starts at Iko Iko, Wellington CBD
Cost: Free

Go Zone Easter Bonanza

Go-Zone Wairarapa, Norman Ave, Waingawa Industrial Park

If you’re happy to venture a little out of Wellington, Go Zone’s Easter Bonanza is a full week of kid-focused activities layered on top of its usual indoor play setup. Running in the lead-up to Easter weekend, it’s designed to keep younger ones busy with a rotating mix of scavenger hunts, crafts and games.

Expect Easter-themed add-ons like egg hunts (running at set times through the week), colouring stations, glitter tattoos and a few interactive bits scattered around the space. Everything sits alongside the usual Go Zone attractions, so there’s plenty to fill a few hours.

Insider Intel

• Weekday mornings are your best bet for the egg hunts—they run in limited windows and can get busy.

The Details

What: Go Zone Easter Bonanza
When: Monday 30 March–Sunday 5 April (egg hunts Mon–Thurs, 9.30am–2pm)
Where: Go-Zone Wairarapa, Norman Ave, Waingawa Industrial Park
Cost: $12–$16 (Easter activities included with general admission)

Easter High Tea at Artisan

Level 1, Bolton Hotel, 12 Bolton Street, Wellington

If you’re after something a little more polished over the long weekend, Artisan at the Bolton Hotel is putting on an Easter high tea that leans classic with a seasonal twist. Expect a mix of savoury bites—like smoked ham croquettes, chipotle chicken vol-au-vents and egg sandwiches—followed by a line-up of Easter-themed sweets, from chocolate macarons to carrot cake and a hot cross scone to finish.

It’s all paired with bottomless T.W.G. tea, making it a good option for a slower afternoon with family or friends.

Insider Intel

• Bookings are essential—this one tends to fill up quickly across Easter weekend.

The Details

What: Easter High Tea
When: Friday 3 April–Sunday 12 April (Fridays–Sundays)
Where: Level 1, Bolton Hotel, 12 Bolton Street, Wellington
Cost: $65 per person ($30 for children under 12)

Kai Tahi Easter Fun Day

20 Parumoana Street, Porirua City Centre, Porirua

If you’re after a solid free option just outside the city, Porirua’s Kai Tahi Easter event is an easy win. Running for a few hours on Saturday, it’s packed with simple, crowd-pleasing activities—think scavenger hunts, crafts and plenty of chocolatey spot prizes.

There’s also a magic bubble show scheduled mid-morning, with interactive tricks that pull both kids and adults into the action, plus a bouncy castle to keep things moving in between.

Insider Intel

• Time your visit around the bubble show—it’s the main event and worth sticking around for.

The Details

What: Kai Tahi Easter Fun Day
When: Saturday 4 April, 10am–1pm
Where: Kai Tahi, Porirua
Cost: Free

Outdoor Easter Movie: Peter Rabbit

Aotea Lagoon South Lawn, Papakowhai Road, Porirua

For a low-effort Easter Sunday plan, this outdoor screening of Peter Rabbit is about as easy as it gets. Set up on the grass at Aotea Lagoon, it’s a bring-a-picnic, find-a-spot and settle in kind of afternoon—ideal if you’ve got kids (or just want something relaxed to round out the weekend).

Arrive from 2pm to claim your space, with the film kicking off at 3pm. There’ll be a couple of food trucks on-site, but packing your own snacks is a safe bet.

Insider Intel

• Parking right by the lagoon is limited—try Okowai Road and allow a little extra time to walk in.

The Details

What: Outdoor Easter Movie – Peter Rabbit
When: Sunday 5 April, arrive from 2pm (film starts 3pm)
Where: Aotea Lagoon South Lawn, Papakowhai Road, Porirua
Cost: Free

Children’s Easter Scavenger Hunt

Cobblestones Museum & Early Settlers Village, 169 Main Street, Greytown

If you’re up for a short drive out of Wellington, this one leans into a more classic Easter setup. Held at Cobblestones in Greytown, kids follow a trail of clues through the village, solving puzzles and completing activities along the way before collecting their Easter reward at the end.

There’s also a costume element in the mix—little ones are encouraged to come dressed as the Easter Bunny, with a parade and prizes for the best ears, fluffiest tail and most creative look.

Insider Intel

• It’s a morning event, so plan to head out early—easy to pair with a café stop in Greytown afterwards.

The Details

What: Children’s Easter Scavenger Hunt
When: Sunday 5 April, 9am–11am
Where: Cobblestones Museum & Early Settlers Village, 169 Main Street, Greytown
Cost: $5 per child (adult supervision required)

Ōtaki Easter Market

Ōtaki Market, 58 Main Highway, Ōtaki

Set just off the highway, the Ōtaki Easter Market is a solid Sunday option—it’s a classic outdoor market setup with a mix of local stallholders, food trucks and a few Easter extras layered in, just a day trip from Wellington city.

Alongside the usual mix of crafts, plants, homewares and secondhand finds, there’s a free crafting table and colouring comp for kids, with Easter eggs up for grabs. Food-wise, you’re covered—from waffles and fry bread to seafood chowder and sausage sizzles—so it’s easy to make a proper stop of it.

Insider Intel

• There’s plenty of free parking nearby (including at the train station), so it’s an easy one if you’re driving up from Wellington.

The Details

What: Ōtaki Easter Market
When: Sunday 5 April, 10am–2pm
Where: Ōtaki Market, 58 Main Highway, Ōtaki
Cost: Free

The Big Easter Weekend

Ngā Manu Nature Reserve, 74 Ngā Manu Reserve Road, Waikanae

If you’re up for a proper day out, Ngā Manu’s Big Easter Weekend is one of the more packed options on the calendar. Set across the reserve, it mixes classic Easter activities with the chance to explore the grounds—so it’s part scavenger hunt, part nature day.

The main draw is the annual rock and egg hunt, with colourful finds hidden throughout the reserve and prizes up for grabs. There’s also face painting, a small activity hub for kids, and a sausage sizzle to keep things ticking over while you explore.

Insider Intel

• Give yourself a couple of hours—there’s more to see than just the Easter setup, including native wildlife around the reserve.

The Details

What: The Big Easter Weekend
When: Friday 3 April–Monday 6 April, 10am–5pm
Where: Ngā Manu Nature Reserve, 74 Ngā Manu Reserve Road, Waikanae
Cost: $17 adult, $8 child, family passes available

What’s Open Easter Long Weekend

Graze Wine Bar 

95 Upland Road, Kelburn 

Image credit: Graze Wine Bar | Vicki Young

Take a walk up to Kelburn and pop in to Graze, where Max Gordy and Stina Persen and their team are serving snacks for days, alongside a great wine list and house-made non-alcs too. A pescatarian and vegetarian restaurant, trust the chef with a small “Snack Attack” option for lighter dinner fare perched up by the chef’s table or trust the chef with “Feed Me,” and make sure you get the pierogi. Keep an eye out for their winemaker pour takeovers and pop-up events with other chefs too. —Vicki Young

Insider Intel:

• Chef-Owner Max is all about a no-waste philosophy, making sure things are pickled, fermented and all locally sourced. Their latest snack, fish skin crackling, is dusted with foraged onion weed powder and puffs up like pork skin. Mmmmm. —Vicki Young