Have yourself a cracking Easter

1. Wally Wonka in Wexford

Step into the Wally Wonka Valley, nestled in the woodland setting of Secret Valley Wildlife Park, just outside Clonroche in Co Wexford. Your Easter adventure starts with an exciting egg hunt and a park-wide search to uncover the secret password that unlocks the golden gates.

Once inside the valley, meet a cast of quirky characters like the Oompa-Loompas and the Easter Bunny, explore Wally’s office and enjoy games as you collect stickers to claim your golden ticket and your choccie treat.

There is also a chance to bottle-feed baby goats and to hand-feed lambs and alpacas. Afterwards, there’s an opportunity to enjoy tractor trailer rides, an indoor bouncy castle and outdoor play areas.

Tickets are €20 per child; adults are €18. Younger children aged 1 to 2 are €5, and those under 12 months go free. A family of four is €70, and a family of five will cost €85.

• secretvalley.ie

2. Egg rolling in Down

Now is the time to try out the traditional Easter game of egg rolling on the Bleach Green at the Ulster Folk Museum located at Cultra in Co Down, three miles east of Belfast.

It is one of the fun activities that everyone in the family can enjoy at this living museum, which is home to a replica town complete with a collection of heritage buildings from times past. On the farming side, explore Gorticashel Flax Mill, Coshkib Hill Farm and see Meenagarragh Cottier’s House.

Heritage craft demonstrations take place over the weekend, with music on Easter Monday by the Ferguson Memorial Pipe Band and a craft workshop with Annan’s Arch based on the mischievous creature from Irish folklore – the púca!

The museum is open on Easter Sunday, Easter Monday and Tuesday from 10am to 5pm. Entry for an adult is €16.14, a child is €10.16 and a family of three is €32.16. Other family tickets are also available.

• ulsterfolkmuseum.org

3. Bunnies galore in Clare

Easter at Moher Hill Open Farm in Co Clare, which will celebrate 25 years in operation this summer, is when the beautiful bunnies take centre stage. This is the time to visit the 14ac farm run by the Canavan family beside the Cliffs of Moher; it is, after all, the season when the animals are keen to show off their young.

There are several different types of events taking place during the Easter weekend. The all-new Easter egg trails around the farm are suitable for children aged three to 12.

Then there is an under-5s egg hunt at 1pm and 3pm each day. In addition, there are fun egg-and-spoon and three-legged races at 1.30pm and 3.30pm over the three days, and of course, the Easter Bunny makes an appearance, and families can enjoy a photo with the character.

There are many animals to see, from the Highland cow to the more exotic emus, llamas and kune kune pigs. You also have the option of enjoying the mini-golf course, bouncing castle, and indoor and outdoor play areas.

Tickets for adults are €10, children are €12, children under three are €9 and kids under 18 months are free.

• moherfarm.com

4. Chocolate games in Tralee

The Easter Chocolate Games makes a welcome return to the Tralee Bay Wetlands Eco & Activity Park this year. Families will gather together on Easter Sunday and Easter Monday for some fun activities and games through the amenity at 11am, 12.30pm and 2pm each day. The games are suitable for kids aged four to 12.

Aside from the Easter events, there is an activity lake and walkway to enjoy, a viewing tour and nature tours with ecologists. The Lakeside Café is a lovely pit-stop to get a much-needed cuppa after all of the day’s exertions.

Tickets costs €12 per child. Accompanying adults are free.

• traleebaywetlands.org

5. Hop on the Easter Express

All aboard for Donegal’s biggest Easter hunt on from 19 to 21 April from 12pm to 6pm. Hop on the Easter Express train and set off on a journey through the enchanting woodlands of Oakfield Park near the heritage town of Raphoe. With your bunny bingo card in hand, search for hidden clues along the train route. Can you crack the clues, stay on the right path, and earn your delicious chocolate treat from the Easter Bunny?

Later, enjoy some fun games like the carrot toss challenge, an egg-citing crazy golf challenge, bunny hop races, and some hands-on crafts painting Easter eggs or designing bunny ears.

A train compartment for up to four people is €65.44; for five, it is €75.94; and for six, it is €86.44, including booking fees. Tickets should be booked online for a time slot on one of the three days.

• oakfieldpark.com

6. Treasure trail in Westport

Enjoy a one-of-a-kind Easter treasure trail at Westport Adventure on Easter Sunday. The Easter Bunny has been hard at work, carefully hiding clues across Mayo’s newest outdoor park on the historic Westport Estate. The mission is to seek, solve, and then celebrate from 11am to 3pm. Every adventure ticket for 20 April includes complimentary access to the Easter Treasure Trail. The trail is not available as a standalone ticket.

The award-winning park also boasts everything needed for a day of family fun, including Ireland’s largest net park; soar through the treetops on 100-metre ziplines, scale the climbing walls and enjoy giant swings, slides, and an aerial trekking course.

There are a variety of combo tickets for the adventure/net park ranging in price from €12 to €37 depending on activities and the ages of participants.

• westportadventure.ie