It’s not too late to have an Easter escape – city or country

If you dropped the eight ball this Easter, fear not: here are the best last-minute travel deals and things to check out this long weekend and school holidays in Melbourne and beyond.

To chase the bright lights …

New installation Trail of Lights on the banks of the Murray River.Credit: Serena Munro

Head to the banks of the Murray River in Victoria’s north-west for a new art installation by light artist Bruce Munro, whose artwork Trail of Lights (mildura.com/lights) features 12,500 lights across five trails – from a gentle 950 metres to the longer 2.2 kilometres – on Lock Island. For the ultimate river experience, try the 2½-hour cruise that glides down the Murray through Lock 11 and takes in the glittering river from the comfort of the 60-seater modern cruiser.

Poolside at Mildura’s newest boutique property, Kar-Rama.

Stay at the region’s newest boutique hotel, Kar-Rama (karrama.com.au), where stylish, mid-century-inspired rooms overlook a heated butterfly-shaped pool and its adjacent shaded loungers. Installation entry from $45; hotel from $230.

To avoid the bright lights …

Stalactites and stalagmites at Buchan Caves Reserve.

Pack the tent and corral the crew: it’s currently free to camp across campgrounds within the Parks Victoria (parks.vic.gov.au) network, which contains over 4 million hectares of land and marine ecosystems to explore. Plenty of spots don’t require bookings, including Buchan Caves Reserve, where you can also explore the drip-like stalactites of Fairy Cave or Royal Cave on a guided tour that takes in the 400-million-year-old natural phenomena. Little ones getting restless? Head east of Melbourne to the former Olinda Golf Course, where the new timber Nature Playscape at the Olinda Precinct sits beneath forests of Mountain Ash trees and within walking distance to the village. (FYI: there’s adult-sized swing sets too.)

To capitalise on a quieter CBD …

Melbourne Museum’s annual Easter scavenger hunt.

Rather the Easter bunny visit you on a staycation? Spend a long weekend in the Melbourne CBD and make the most of free city events, including the Great Museum Easter Egg Hunt at the Melbourne Museum and the kid-friendly schedule at the Queen Vic Market (qvm.com.au) – photo ops with the Easter Bunny and carrot bowling included. The Langham Melbourne’s (langhamhotels.com) Easter package includes chocolates, daily buffet breakfast and fruit baskets, plus miniature fluffy robes for the children, from $480 a night, while Ovolo South Yarra (ovolohotels.com) has availability across a range of rooms from $185 a night. The quirky Hotel No (hotelno.melbourne) Airstream “rooms” – complete with free minibar, outdoor decks and queen beds – has availability, at this stage, for the long weekend, starting from $399 a night.

To ride into the sunset …

Trails to suit all levels at Djuwang Baring (Creswick Trails).

Pump up the tyres and strap on your helmet, because the long weekend is prime time to hit the dirt at one of the state’s newest mountain bike trails. Djuwang Baring in Creswick features 60 kilometres of trails through the Central Victorian goldfields just 20 minutes from Ballarat. The Omeo Mountain Bike Park in Gippsland offers paths for experienced and for amateur riders across 50 kilometres (and there’s another 100 kilometres on the way, which will make the park the biggest in Australia), but the Rutherglen Loop track – which traverses downtown and meanders around wineries along 48 kilometres of track – is the way to get around during a weekend of slow cabernet sipping.

To chase the swell …

Bells Beach will resume hosting duties for the Rip Curl Pro.Credit: Ed Sloane/World Surf League

Head to famous surfing epicentre Bells Beach, in Torquay on the Surf Coast Highway, for this year’s Rip Curl Pro, which starts on Friday and runs until April 28. The pitstop on the World Surf League Championship Tour (and the longest-running surfing event in competition history) promises a colourful competition with appearances from surfing legends and sport newcomers. There’s also a DJ-led music party at the surf club on Friday to kick off the weekend. Bring your own board to catch waves between tournament sessions. Tickets from $17. See worldsurfleague.com

To enjoy an all-family laugh fest …

Still tickets available ... Melbourne International Comedy Festival.Credit: Jim Lee

The Melbourne International Comedy Festival runs until April 20, and the gut-busting performances run every day until then. There are still plenty of tickets available for individual and headliner shows but you’ll be promised an afternoon of fun at the (Very) Big Laugh Out on Good Friday, held in Federation Square. There are two 90-minute showings (one at 1.30pm and another at 3.30pm), with street performers, comedians and musical acts taking to the stage to delight the young and young-at-heart. It’s totally free and bookings aren’t required. See comedyfestival.com.au

To bring the crew together …

The dining hall at Ballarat brewery and restaurant Aunty Jacks.

There’s still availability for Airbnb getaways in regions including Ballarat and the Great Ocean Road. Find your home-away-from-home then wander the Ballarat Botanic Gardens to see the leaves changing colour before refuelling at steampunk-inspired brewpub Aunty Jacks, or head down the Great Ocean Road towards Port Campbell National Park for a coastal walk along the pristine headland. Port Campbell Bay’s gentle waters make it a great spot for end-of-season dips and beach-bound Easter picnics. BYO eggs. See airbnb.com

To skip town altogether …

It’s not too late to wing it out of state. Qantas has flights to Brisbane from $325 one-way, while Virgin is offering Saturday flights to Launceston from $88. Flight Centre has seven nights at the Mercure Bali Legian from $495 per person or at Silkari Lagoons Port Douglas from $413 per person, while Jetstar packages to Bali start from $1500, including flights, and Osaka, Japan, from $3000 for the long weekend.