Easter Events

The Easter holidays make a great time to visit The New Forest. Spring will very much be here with the fresh greens of the leaves, spring flowers blooming and the arrivals of newly-born New Forest pony foals.

Whether you are here for a day trip, a short break or for the duration of the Easter holidays, there are some fantastic events that you can get involved with.

Family-friendly Easter events

Look out for some family-friendly events including Easter crafts, egg hunts and perhaps even a visit from the Easter Bunny! Our listings below showcase some of the cracking events we have running here.

Highlights include the Bonnets Galore event at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu. Think looking under the car bonnet, creating your own Easter bonnets and a historic cavalcade in the arena. Plus, head into the Victorian Kitchen in Palace House and you can help the chef make (and sample, no doubt) some tasty Easter biscuits.

Come and say hello to Bobtail Bunny and his forest friends, Betty Bunny, Hennie the Hedgehog and Red the Deer at Paulton’s Park this Easter. There will also be lots of opportunities for Easter crafts and of course, the chance to go on some thrilling rides and meet the park’s resident animals and birds.

Hop aboard the miniature steam train at Exbury Gardens as you pass by the displays of flowers or join the rangers at Lepe Country Park in some nature-based fun along Lepe beach and shoreline. From discovering mystery maritime creatures to arts and crafts, there are lots of opportunities to get involved here.

Get hands-on at Longdown Activity Farm with calf-feeding, kid-goat feeding, tractor/trailer rides and animal encounters. Plus, look out for themed activities over the Easter holidays too and meet some of the park’s latest arrivals.

Or how about embarking on an Easter egg hunt with a twist? Paddle your way along the Beaulieu River with New Forest Activities in one of their Canadian canoes before exploring the riverside for chocolate eggs. Be sure to book in advance for this as it’s likely to sell out soon.

The annual family tradition of the Cadbury's Eggstreme Easter Trail at Foxbury returns on Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. Run by the National Trust, this is a great way to explore Foxbury, a special conservation area in the New Forest National Park that’s only open for special events like this.

Look out for living history encounters at Buckler’s Hard and get hands-on with some of the exhibits in the maritime museum. The popular river cruise from Buckler’s Hard along the Beaulieu River also begins at Easter and is a great way to learn more about the history of the area and embark on some wildlife spotting.

If your little ones love dinosaurs then be sure to make a trip to Marwell Zoo over the Easter holidays as it hosts Brickosaurus - an interactive dinosaur expedition with dinosaurs made of LEGO bricks.

Plus, watch the deer being fed by the New Forest National Park Rangers at Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary (a great spot for a walk, BBQ and picnic too). The feeding takes place anytime (when a ranger is free) between 12.30pm and 2.30pm from April - September. Don’t forget to ask the rangers all of your questions about the New Forest National Park too, they are a wealth of information on the local area.

Soak up the colours of spring

Our gardens will be looking bright with daffodils and primroses and the sounds of birdsong and there are plenty of outdoor activities to join in with including cycling, water sports and some amazing walking trails.

Exbury Gardens really comes alive in spring and you may be lucky enough to see the early appearance of some of the native bluebells. Either way, you will be in awe of the beautiful spring-time colours of some of the plants and flowers that you can find here.

Equally, the grounds and gardens that surround Palace House, Beaulieu are filled with colour over spring. Late April usually sees the stunning wisteria and laburnum begin to flower in the Victorian Garden, just remember to take your camera along!

Our garden centres, such as Fairweather’s, are ideal to visit for the chance to take part in gardening workshops, or to pick up a plant or so for your own garden and head to the St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery in Lymington for the latest art exhibitions, bringing a touch of colour to your day.

At the New Forest Wildlife Park, near Ashurst, the Tropical Butterfly House will reopen in early April. It offers a fantastic opportunity to spot some of the tropical butterflies plus see their caterpillars and larvae. On site you will also get to meet a wide range of animals from across the globe.

Book your Easter break today

Many of our hotels, holiday parks and other places to stay will offer special breaks over the Easter weekend, be sure to check out our special offers for details. We’d strongly recommend booking early though to avoid disappointment. If you haven’t already then pick up your Go New Forest card today to help save money off days out, food and drink and lots more in and around the New Forest.

Come back soon, we’ll be adding more events on!

Keep checking back to this page in the lead up to Easter as we share with you more of the exciting events that are due to take place here in The New Forest, including details of Easter egg hunts, craft activities and much more.

Organising an event in the New Forest this Easter?

If you are organising an event over the Easter holidays that takes place in the New Forest that you would like us to feature then please submit details of it via our event form.