{EASTER} Activity Report: Hunter Valley Gardens

We love to get out and about at Easter - I try to limit the day trips to a few a week at most during the holidays because if it's more (and I made that disastrous mistake last year) you resume life after the holidays feeling like you didn't have a holiday at all!

Those who live in the greater Sydney region and who have kids anywhere from 1-9 will want to mark this in their calendar... a day trip to Hunter Valley Gardens is so so much more than just pretty surrounds - it's a fun family experience.  No one has to get on a roller coaster -there are no hideous sideshows or overly sugary distractions - just honest to goodness family fun.

As we're arriving we pass the Hunter Valley Chocolate Factory and the Lolly Factory but we'll be late for those who we're meeting so we vow to ourselves we'll stop in our way home....  we arrive and there's a train waiting for us to take us on ride ......

But it's full!  So we get ourselves acquainted with one of the entertainers - my girls LOVED the hula hoops - we have them at home and the moment they were out their eyes widened and they were like WOW!

All the kids (and even some of the parents) were 'rainbowed' too.  Very cute.

Then it was time for the train ride - remember if you're 1-9 this can be the highlight of your day...

The gardens are magnificent - there's many of them and the walking is not hard - easy for prams - it's tranquil and very relaxing.  There's tons of picnic tables and grass ready for picnics and if you don't feel like bringing your own there's a brasserie on site too.

Here's some of the scenery:

But folks that's not all, not all AT ALL.

During the Easter long weekend (22-26th April) there's going to be an eggstra (sorry couldn't resist) incentive to get along to Hunter Valley Gardens... so much to do and see!

Easter craft, gingerbread decorating, Hunter Valley Glee club, colouring in competition, hatching chickens (so cute!) and GAMES.

Easter egg hunt: and don't worry your kids aren't going to be beside themselves on chocolate... they are plastic but can be exchanged at the end for a cadbury egg...

Egg and spoon races - this was hilarious!

And sack races!

and there's a jumping castle too!

Full program is here

It all happens at the Storybook garden - which was by far my girls' favourite:

There's all your favourites there:

(all the kings men with Humpty - not real people, not real!)

You can sit with Alice and all her mates at the tea party! (This is where we found lots of eggs!)

There's literally loads of the story book displays.. this is another - Jack and Jill

We were very lucky on the day we visited we also saw a croc stars show with Kevin - I actually learned so much about how reptiles protect us from spiders (not a fan here) and help farmers with locusts etc.

Baby Saltwater croc!

Shingle back lizard

Everyone pat them too, even if you're nervous!

Turns out when we were leaving we had such a great time we were too worn out for chocolate or lolly factory.... so we've vowed - next time.. there will be a next time we'd also love to check out the number of gift shops on site too.. maybe we just need a weekend there!  Thank you to Hunter Valley Gardens for our invitation and a lovely day had by all!

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