For many Tasmanians, April means taking a break from work and school, so we bring you a megalist of activities and events – from Easter egg hunts, high teas and art sessions to major sporting events, concerts and new-release movies – arming you with all the information you need to make your April great.

EMBRACE AUTUMN

With the clocks turning back an hour at 3am for the end of daylight saving on Sunday, April 2, our evenings will be darker, which is the perfect opportunity to get the kids outside before bedtime and gaze up at the night sky or do some spotlighting with a torch.

The cooler April days are also when the magical colours of autumn emerge and leaves crunch underfoot, and kids will love hunting for a big pile of crunchy leaves to jump in.

The Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens is an obvious place to look, but other spots that look beautiful at this time of year include St David’s Park, Parliament Lawns, Fitzroy Gardens and New Norfolk Esplanade, where the revamped Derwent Valley Autumn Festival, run by the local Rotary Club, will be held on Sunday, April 23, from 10am-4pm. Entry is free but tickets are required (via Eventbrite).

SEE THE FAGUS

The turning of the crinkle-cut foliage of the fagus – Tasmania’s only winter-deciduous native tree, which dates back to Gondwana times – from brilliant gold to rust red and orange is a sight to behold in April.

Colours reach a peak around Anzac Day, and typically continue to stay vibrant for about a month. The annual Cradle Mountain Festival of Fagus will be held on April 22-23, with visitors able to marvel at the spectacular shades of autumn colour while also taking part in workshops, tours, dining events, fagus-themed sip ‘n’ paint classes and photography workshops with Tasmanian landscape photographer Luke O’Brien. More info at cradlemountainhotel.com.au. Mt Field National Park is another popular place to view the turning of the fagus – for the best places to see the fagus and tips for planning your trip visit parks.tas.gov.au

GO ON AN EGG HUNT

The Royal Hobart Hospital Research Foundation’s annual Easter Egg Hunt and Family Picnic will be held on Good Friday (April 7) at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens from 10am-2pm.

Children aged 4-14 will be given a set of clues that lead them on a hunt through the gardens, leading them to a secret location to receive a bag of chocolate treats. There will be children’s entertainers, face painting and a visit from Easter Bunny. Limited tickets available on the day. $10 for children (ages 4-14), $20 adults, $50 for a family of four. Under-4s are free. rhhresearchfoundation.org Meanwhile, the Amaze Richmond Easter Egg Hunt will be held on Easter Sunday (April 9) from 8.30am, while Iron Creek Bay at Sorell will host a playground egg hunt on Easter Sunday at 2pm.

MORE EASTER FUN

There will be an Easter Eggstravaganza free Family Fun Day at Burnie Arts and Function Centre from 10am-3pm on Easter Saturday (April 8), including a screening of the film Peter Rabbit.

The Hobart Easter Fun Fair will be held at Brighton Showground from April 7-9 (sessions at 11am-3pm daily), with rides, games, showbags and food. Tickets are $3. For details visit Hobart Easter Fun Fair on Facebook. Meanwhile, the Bruny Island Easter Carnival will be held on Saturday, April 8, from 10am-4pm, at Alonnah, featuring woodchopping, gumboot throwing, nail driving and sheaf tossing as well as an Easter egg hunt. bica.org.au

EASTER HIGH TEA

An Easter-inspired Afternoon Tea will be served daily in The Atrium at Hobart’s Hotel Grand Chancellor from April 1-10 and is being hailed as the “perfect eggs-cuse” to catch up with family and friends and enjoy some “egg-stra special treats”. Sessions run from 11.30am to 4pm, bookings are essential – call 6235 4547. $38 adults, $16.50 children.

Meanwhile, chocolate will be the focus at Movenpick Hotel’s Tesoro restaurant, where the regular Chocology experience takes on an “eggs-tra delicious twist” from April 7-11, from 2-4pm. Children can join the fun with the Little Sweet Treats package for kids 12 years and under, making Easter Chocology a fun and delicious experience for the whole family. $39 for adults (which includes chef’s daily selection of six house-baked Easter-themed treats such as mini cakes, tarts and chocolates, a Movenpick ice cream affogato and a glass of sparkling wine) and $20 per child (four house-baked treats, a milkshake and a Movenpick ice cream). Bookings essential on 6235 9840 (tesorohobart.com.au)

GET ARTY

Easter-themed family friendly painting classes will be held at Frida’s Sip n’ Paint in Hobart on Thursday, April 6, and Saturday, April 8, tickets are $35.

fridas.com.au/our-studios/hobart. Meanwhile, Hobart Art Gallery is holding Paint A Seascape! (Fridays 6.30-9pm) and Paint A Landscape! (Saturdays 6.30-9pm) paint ‘n’ sip sessions with artist Phillip McKay during April for $79. hobartartgallery.com

AUSSIE RULES FOOTY

Footy fans can enjoy two games at Launceston’s UTAS Stadium in April – the Hawks take on North Melbourne in Round 3 on Saturday, April 1, at 1.45pm, and the Hawks play Adelaide in Round 6 on Sunday, April 23, at 1.10pm. Tickets start from $27 for adults and $5 for juniors. ticketmaster.com.au

NEW MOVIES

The Super Mario Bros Movie hits Tasmanian cinemas on April 5 and is expected to attract large numbers of gaming enthusiasts, both young and old.

Children may also enjoy animated feature Argonuts – about a smart and adventurous mouse embarking on a colourful journey into Ancient Greece – and animated fantasy/adventure film Mavka: The Forest Song.

New releases for adult viewers include Dungeons & Dragons: Honour AmongThieves, Toni Collette’s Mafia Mamma and basketball film AIR, directed by Ben Affleck, which explores the game-changing partnership between a then-rookie Michael Jordan and Nike’s fledgling basketball division which revolutionised the world of sports and contemporary culture.

John Farnham: Finding the Voice is expected to be released on April 27, and numerous other music performances will also be shown on the big screen in April including The Journey: A Musical Special from Andrea Bocelli, Coldplay – Live at River Plate, Metallica: 72 Seasons – Global Premiere, and The Rocky Horror Show Live from Theatre Royal. villagecinemas.com.au

Meanwhile, the State Cinema’s April offerings include The Giants, which interweaves Bob Brown’s story with the life cycle of the ancient trees he fights to save (there’s a Q&A screening on April 15) and a series of Royal Ballet performances including Turandot and The Sleeping Beauty. statecinema.com.au

ON THE WATER

There will be plenty of sailing action for the three-day Dover Regatta from April 7-9, run by Port Esperance Sailing Club.

Visit facebook.com/Dovertas.

VISIT THE THEATRE

Join Marcia Hines, DJ Joe Accaria and a dazzling array of acrobats, aerialists and vocalists for a night of fun, funk and fabulous music in Velvet Rewired at Hobart’s Theatre Royal until April 9.

The Theatre Royal will also present Prima Faci from April 4-6, comedy superstar Daniel Sloss on April 11, Diesel: Greatest Hits Alone with Blues Tour 2023 on April 13, Dr Who’s Janet Fielding Down Under tour, hosted by Rove McManus on April 15, pianist Tamara-Anna Cislowska at Hobart Town Hall on April 19, Pseudo Echo Ultimate Tour on April 21, A Taste of Ireland on April 22, Bruz by political satirist Jordan Shanks on April 24, and Shake Rattle ‘n’ Roll on April 27. theatreroyal.com.au.

IN CONCERT

The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra is celebrating its 75th anniversary with a string of performances.

Events include More Music from the Movies at Federation Concert Hall on April 21, showcasing themes from popular films including Jurassic Park, Lord of the Rings, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Chariots of Fire, Schindler’s List, The Mission, Babe and more. tso.com.au. Meanwhile, music lovers can enjoy popular live music by candlelight at Hobart Town Hall on April 29 as part of the Candlelight: A Tribute to Coldplay concert. Book at feverup.com

THEATRE & WORKSHOPS FOR KIDS

Hobart’s Theatre Royal will also be a great place for kids during April with a school holiday program packed with exciting shows and workshops that children of all ages will love.

Archipelago Productions’ The Carbon Neutral Adventures of the Indefatigable Enviroteens by award-winning cartoonist First Dog on theMoon will be live on stage from April 19-26. There will also be acartoon drawing workshop with First Dog on the Moon on Saturday, April 22, at The Hedberg for children aged 8-14, while a two-day workshop, The Future of Toys, will be held on April 14 and 15, giving kids aged 8-12 the chance to bring preloved toys back to life and transform them into unique inventions with the help of artists Benjamin Paul, Sarah Hall, Caitlin Fargher and Selena De Carvalho using salvaged plastics and emerging sustainable technologies.

There will also be an Enviroteens Re-Animated workshop at Moonah Arts Centre on April 18, for kids aged 8-14, as they imagine how to save the world from destructive waste by a creating a carbon-neutral superhero, working with Bella Young and Emma Skalicky to create characters from recycled objects and learning about puppetry. theatreroyal.com.au. Meanwhile, Anne of Green Gables – The Musical will be performed at Hobart’s The Playhouse Theatre from April 12-23. playhouse.org.au

MARKETS

The final two Street Eats @ Franko night markets will be held on Good Friday (April 7) and Friday, April 14, with food, music and fun at Franklin Square from 4-9pm. Entry is free, tickets aren’t required. streeteatsfranko.com.au

Salamanca Market (salamancamarket.com.au) will be held on Easter Saturday from 8.30am-3pm. Hobart’s Farm Gate Market will be on Easter Sunday from 8.30am-1pm. farmgatemarket.com.au.

There are also lots of community markets being held over Easter at places including Snug, Campania, Eaglehawk Neck, Port Arthur and New Norfolk – visit Markets Tasmania on Facebook for details.

Meanwhile, Hobart Twilight Market will be held at Brooke St Pier on Friday, April 28, from 4.30-9pm (hobarttwilightmarket.com.au) and The Tasmanian Produce Market is held at Kangaroo Bay foreshore on Saturdays from 9am-1pm. tasmanianproducemarket.com.au.

LOCAL BEER

Celebrate Tasmania’s hop harvest at the annual Fresh Hop Beer Festival on April 14 (3-9pm) and April 15 (noon-9pm) at New Norfolk Distillery.

The event aims to bring together beer lovers and craft brewers to sample various fresh-hopped first-harvest beers from around the state (and from across Bass Strait), and enjoy a weekend of live music and food trucks.

There will also be a home brew competition and tours of the Bushy Park Estates hop farm. Single day tickets from $32.63, two-day pass from $53.73. Children 12 and under are free. freshhop.com.au

EASTER COCKTAILS

Treat yourself to a decadent Easter cocktail at Society Salamanca where offerings include a Caramilk concoction – a creamy, dreamy elixir made with vodka, white chocolate liqueur, caramel, sea salt and secrets. facebook.com/societysalamanca.

Or visit Waterline bar and eatery at Brooke St Pier for a Gin High Tea on Saturdays and Sundays from 2.30-4.30pm, featuring three gin cocktails (Waterline Cooler, Deep Sea Mule and G&T 43) plus a tasting platter featuring delicious morsels such as bush-spiced halloumi, seafood terrine, rye bruschetta and southern fried chicken for $75 per person. waterlinebrookestreet.com.au

EASTER SEAFOOD

Fish and chips are a popular Easter and school holiday indulgence – Hobart’s Waterfront is an obvious starting point, with Mures, the fish punts and Fish Frenzy.

If you’re day-tripping, put Doo-lishus (at the Eaglehawk Neck Blowhole), The Fish Van (Triabunna) and Lobster Shack (Bicheno) on your radar.

Or cook your own – fresh Easter seafood offerings at Mures include line-caught blue eye trevalla, prawns, oysters, rock lobsters, mussels, Atlantic salmon and ocean trout.

A special this Easter is a whole de-boned blue eye trevalla, stuffed with herbs and spices and tied ready for cooking, weighing in at about 2kg. Pre-orders close on Sunday, April 2. mures.com.au/easter-orders

ANZAC SERVICES

As the sun rose on April 25, 1915, Australian and New Zealand soldiers rowed towards the shores of Gallipoli, not knowing the terrible fate that awaited them.

Every year since, as the sun rises, Australians gather across the nation to remember those whose lives were lost, and the legacy of all those who have followed in their footsteps.

Last year more than 120 Anzac services were held across Tasmania, with similar numbers expected this year.

Hobart commemorations include a Dawn Service at the Cenotaph on Queens Domain at 6am, and an Anzac Day Parade which starts in Macquarie St at 11am and concludes with a service at the Cenotaph. For details of services visit rsltas.org.au/whats-on/anzac-day •