WITH the Easter Bank Holiday just around the corner why not get hopping on down to an egg hunt.

There are lots of events taking place this weekend and with the weather set to stay fair and sunny, what better way to enjoy the weekend with your family.

*THOUSANDS of chocolate Easter bunnies, giant eggs and other prizes are up for grabs at Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens’ Giant Easter Egg Hunt over the bank holiday weekend.

Anyone who finds a hidden token near the paths in the 30-acre gardens can claim a Lindt chocolate golden bunny, while each day two lucky people who find a golden horseshoe will win a giant chocolate Easter egg.

Two visitors each day who find a golden acorn will receive a family season ticket worth £95 to the gardens, Abbotsbury Swannery and Abbotsbury Children’s Farm.

There will also be entertainment for children, including a magician, a bouncy castle and slide, trampolines and face-painting.

The Easter activities run every day from Good Friday, April 14, to Easter Monday. The gardens are open from 10am to 5pm (last admission 4pm).

Abbotsbury tourism general manager John Houston said: “Our Giant Easter Egg Hunt is hugely popular with families and there are thousands of Easter treats to be won.

“Children always have a whale of a time hunting for the tokens and the grown-ups can enjoy the gardens at their spring best.

Normal Garden admission charges apply during the Easter weekend. For information about tickets and value passes and season tickets, go to abbotsburygardens.co.uk

*JOIN in a Jurassic Easter Egg Hunt with Weymouth BID and have some ROAR-some fun!
The Jurassic Egg Hunt launched in Weymouth on Saturday, April 8 and will run until Sunday, April 23.
Explorers need to use their investigative skills to make their way around the town centre to find the 'Jurassic Dino eggs' and solve a riddle to discover where a very rate 'T-Rex egg' has been hidden.
The egg hunt is part of a pair of events organised by Weymouth BID for Easter.
This Saturday, Weymouth will host its first 'Roarsome Dino Day', where there will be a host of dinosaur-related activities to keep families busy.
Activities will start at 11am in New Bond Street and continue throughout the town until 3.30pm.

Trail forms can be downloaded at weareweymouth.co.uk

*MAX gate, Hardy’s Cottage, Corfe Castle, Kingston Lacy, Studland Beach, Brownsea Island, Burton Bradstock, Cloud’s Hill and Golden Cap Estate will be hosting egg hunts this Easter. In partnership with Cadburys, the National Trust is hosting Easter trails for a price of £2.50. Visit their website for dates and more information.

*LULWORTH Castle is going down the rabbit hole with an Alice in Wonderland-themed Easter adventure extravaganza from Friday, April 14, to Monday, April 17, from 10:30am to 5pm. Activities include themed trails, egg hunts, crafts, a bouncy castle, soft play for under fours and crazy golf. The price for adults is £7, children £5 and under fours go free. Tickets can be booked online or bought on the day.

*THE Park Easter Trail at Moors Valley Country Park takes place from April 8 to 28 between 10am and 3.30pm. For £1 per person little ones can hunt the forest for eggs and look for clues high up in the trees that might result into prizes.

*BECOME a nature detective at Beaulieu Motor Museum this Easter. There will be a wildlife treasure trail, animal-themed face painting, cress planting, bark rubbings and a giant tree carving between April 8 and 23. There will also be a quiz with clues to find cars with the names of birds, flowers and animals, while those visiting over the Easter weekend can also meet the Easter bunny and enjoy a chocolate treat. All Easter activities are included for free with general admission entrance, as well as rides on the monorail, vintage bus and Wheels attraction. Go Karts will also be back on the track throughout the Easter break.

*FROM Good Friday to Easter Monday, Monkey World ape rescue centre, near Wool, will be handing out chocolate Easter eggs to the first 100 children in the park every day. The attraction is open daily from 10am to 5pm.

*HEAD out to the Langham Wine Estate at Crawthorne near Dorchester for an Easter egg hunt with a difference.

This charity Easter egg hunt, being held on Saturday from 11am to 3pm, is in aid of the Weldmar Hospicecare Trust.

Fifty per cent of the £5 door fee for adults goes to charity and kids go free and there will be lots of chocolate eggs hidden in the vineyards!

Whilst the little ones hunt for chocolate eggs amongst the newly pruned vines adults can enjoy sampling the range of Langham sparkling wine in the tasting room.

*LYME Regis is putting on Easter activities for all the family.

On Easter Sunday from 10am children can join in the great Easter egg hunt following in bunny's footsteps and hop, skip and jump around the Langmoor and Lister Gardens to work out a series of clues and take part in mischievous activities.

Trail forms will be available at the Marine Parade Shelters.

For older children and young adults there's the chance to try egg bowling and compete in the inaugural World Egg Bowling Contest at the Marine Parade Shelters. The winner will be whoever manages to get their egg closest to the black bullseye by 3pm.

During the week of April 9 to 15 families are also invited to embark on the Smugglers Easter Egg Trail, an adventure solving clues to navigate through the town and locate the twelve eggs hidden in shop windows.

Anyone wishing to take part should purchase the Smugglers Easter Egg trail form from Roly’s Fudge Pantry.

For further information contact Sally Raynes on 01297 639182 or email sallyraynes@wackynation.com

*ALONGSIDE Fancy’s Farm Easter egg hunt, a Portland student will be fundraising to raise money for the Meningitis Research Foundation.

Activities include a bouncy castle and farm quiz with prizes donated from local businesses.

The event is open 10am until 5pm from Friday, April 14 until Sunday, April 16.

Are you hosting an event? Let us know and we will add you to the list! newsdesk@dorsetecho.co.uk