Family Easter Activities Bayside Melbourne (2026 Guide)

The Ultimate Easter Weekend Guide for Kids, Families & Coastal Fun

Easter in Melbourne’s Bayside suburbs feels different from the rest of the city.

Instead of crowds and traffic, you get beach walks, playground picnics, community egg hunts, outdoor cafés, and relaxed family traditions that locals return to every year.

Whether you live in Brighton, Hampton, Sandringham, Black Rock or are visiting for the long weekend, this is your complete guide to family-friendly Easter activities in Bayside Melbourne for 2026.

Why Bayside Is Perfect for Family Easter Celebrations

Families love the area because it offers:

✔ Safe beaches for young children
✔ Walkable café strips
✔ Large foreshore parks
✔ Community-focused Easter events
✔ Easy day-long itineraries

The typical Bayside Easter rhythm:

Morning church or egg hunt → brunch → playground → beach walk → sunset picnic

Easter Egg Hunts & Community Events

Local Easter Egg Hunts (Bayside Tradition)

Community Easter egg hunts usually run across the long weekend through local churches, sports clubs and neighbourhood groups.

Popular Bayside areas to check:

• Brighton foreshore community events

• Hampton Street family activities

• Sandringham village Easter celebrations

• Beaumaris community church events

Many local parishes host free family Easter mornings combining:

• Kids’ activities

• Face painting

• Chocolate egg hunts

• Live music or BBQ gatherings

👉 Tip: Smaller local events often feel more relaxed than large city festivals.

Family-Friendly Easter Church Services

Easter church attendance remains a major Bayside tradition for families.

St Andrew’s Anglican Church, Brighton — Family-Oriented Anglican Easter Worship
228 New Street, Brighton VIC 3186
St Andrew’s is a historic Anglican parish with an uplifting liturgical tradition, choir and services for all ages in the heart of Bayside Brighton. Over Easter, the parish typically offers Palm Sunday Eucharist, Good Friday reflective liturgies, and joyful Easter Sunday services that include scripture, music and community fellowship — often with elements especially welcoming to children and families. It’s a warm, inclusive setting rooted in tradition but accessible to newcomers.

 St Leonard’s Catholic Parish (Glen Waverley) — Large Easter Sunday Gatherings
349 Springvale Road, Glen Waverley VIC 3150
St Leonard’s is part of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne and serves a vibrant community with regular Masses throughout the week. Around Easter, you’ll find a full Holy Week program including Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Good Friday Passion Liturgy, Easter Vigil and multiple Easter Sunday Masses — a great option if your family enjoys rich liturgical celebration and the traditional Easter rhythms of the Catholic Church. Typical parish Mass times are on weekends and weekdays, with Easter weekend schedules published by the parish as the date draws closer.

Holy Trinity Anglican Church Sandringham — Relaxed Community Atmosphere
10 Thomas Street, Hampton VIC 3188 (near Sandringham)
Holy Trinity Anglican Church in the Sandringham/Hampton area is a welcoming congregation with a warm, community-focused style of worship. While specific 2026 Easter programs aren’t published yet, Anglican parishes like this usually offer Holy Week services (Palm Sunday, Good Friday reflection) and an Easter Sunday Eucharist geared to be accessible for families and newcomers alike — a relaxed but reverent way to mark Easter together as a community. (For exact times and children’s event details, check the parish’s site or contact them closer to Easter.)

Tips for Families Attending Easter Services

• Arrive early: Easter services often draw larger crowds, especially Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday.

• Child-friendly elements: Many churches offer kids’ talks, activity sheets or designated children’s spaces during key services.

• Holy Week rhythm: If you want the full experience, consider attending services across the week — from Good Friday reflections to the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night.

Best Bayside Playgrounds for Easter Weekend

Outdoor Family Adventures – Bayside Bike Rides

Over the Easter long weekend, the Bay Trail absolutely comes alive. With cooler autumn weather and long public holiday afternoons, it’s one of the best times of year to get the bikes out.

The good news? Bayside’s coastline is wonderfully flat — which makes it perfect for kids who are still building confidence on two wheels (and much easier for parents pushing along beside them).

Here are a few family-friendly routes to try:

Brighton → Sandringham Foreshore Ride
A classic stretch of the Bay Trail. Wide paths, beach views the whole way, and plenty of playground and café stops along the route if little legs need a break.

Black Rock → Half Moon Bay
A shorter, scenic option with beautiful coastal views. It’s manageable for younger riders and feels like a mini adventure — especially when you roll down toward the bay.

Port Melbourne → St Kilda Ride
Flat, spacious and lively over Easter weekend. Expect lots of other families out riding, scooting and walking. There are plenty of places to stop for snacks or ice cream once you reach St Kilda.

With mostly flat terrain and clear shared paths, Bayside riding is ideal for children learning to ride — and for parents who want a relaxed, scenic outing without steep hills or traffic stress.

Helmets on, snacks packed, and you’ve got yourself a perfect Easter afternoon.

 

Easter Picnics by the Bay

Kid-Approved Easter Treat Stops

After a big day of egg hunts, playground time and picnics by the bay, there’s usually one final stop on the family agenda… dessert. Easter weekend is basically Bayside’s unofficial “treat yourself” season — and no one’s pretending otherwise.

Here are the go-to favourites families gravitate towards:

Gelato Stops Along Hampton Street
Hampton Street is perfect for a post-dinner wander, and the gelato options don’t disappoint. Grab a cone, stroll the strip, and let the kids debate flavours while the adults sneak in a coffee.

Brighton Café Dessert Counters
Brighton’s café scene comes alive over Easter. Think display cabinets full of cakes, slices, hot cross bun specials and chocolate-inspired treats. Ideal for a relaxed sit-down dessert (or takeaway sweets for later).

Sandringham Village Ice Cream Shops
Sandringham keeps things simple and nostalgic — classic ice cream scoops, beachside vibes and easy walking distance to the foreshore. Perfect if you’re finishing the day with a sunset stroll.

Because after all the outdoor adventures, Easter chocolate and family time… a sweet stop isn’t extra. It’s tradition.

Perfect Family Easter Itinerary (Bayside Style)

Best Activities by Age Group