10 great reasons to take the family to the Isle of Wight this Easter

Why not head to the Isle of Wight this Easter? It’s full of quintessential British beauty, fun events and its own island magic.
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The Island, easily reached with Wightlink, offers families a chance to get away from it all. And with Wightlink’s Kids Go Free offer, families can enjoy travel savings this Easter holidays when travelling on foot, and in all other school holidays throughout 2019.

Enjoy a varied and fun-filled staycation or day out on the Island. With Wightlink, a family of four can get return ferry crossings from just £34 (based on two adults and two children travelling by foot from Portsmouth to Fishbourne).

To book or for more information, go to www.wightlink.co.uk

Get away from it all with a family trip to the Isle of wightGet away from it all with a family trip to the Isle of wight
Get away from it all with a family trip to the Isle of wight

Here are 10 great Isle of Wight adventures to enjoy this Easter.

1. Get away from it all

There’s something special about stepping on board a Wightlink ferry from Portsmouth – be it on foot or with your car – as it signals the start of your Isle of Wight adventure. You might be staying for a few hours or a few nights, but as you wave goodbye to the mainland you can literally feel your troubles lifting from your shoulders. Take the FastCat from Portsmouth Harbour railway station and you’ll be in Ryde in just 22 minutes. Or take the car and leave from Wightlink’s ferry port in Gunwharf, arriving in Fishbourne 45 minutes later.

2. Chocafrolica at Blackgang Chine

Have fun at Chocofrolica at Blackgang ChineHave fun at Chocofrolica at Blackgang Chine
Have fun at Chocofrolica at Blackgang Chine

Get away from the crowds at the festival and relax this Easter at Blackgang Chine. Children can enrol as a chocolatier and revel in the wonders of the cocoa bean. Activities involve a giant Chocolate Bubble Bath and a search to find the golden bubble, with a chocolatey prize on offer. Other special games involve the Honey Bee Quest where families can explore the park for a chance to win another chocolatey prize, with the Easter Bunny also hopping around throughout the day. On Easter weekend, there will be an amazing 5-tier chocolate fountain and performances from the marvellous Coco the Bubble Wizard.

3. Young Adventurers activity days

Adrenaline-filled full days of awesome activities will help keep kids aged 8-16 active over the holidays, making new memories and new friends. Children will have the chance to try coasteering, arrow tag, paddleboarding, archery, kayaking, climbing, mountainboarding, raft building and bushcraft skills!

4. Adventure quest at Osborne House

Enjoy Young Adventurers activity daysEnjoy Young Adventurers activity days
Enjoy Young Adventurers activity days

Prepare for a fun challenge as you enter a giant maze - ‘It is impossible to imagine a prettier spot’ said Queen Victoria of Osborne House, her palatial holiday home on the Isle of Wight. Join the hunt for dragon eggs on a legendary quest around the Osborne estate this Easter holiday. Crack the clues as you and your family follow the trail. Intrepid adventurers who track down the dragon egg will get a certificate and a sticker to prove it, and there’ll be a chocolate treat too! You can get questing at Osborne every day of the school holidays. It costs just £1 per child in addition to the normal admission price and there’s no need to book

5. Explore by foot or bike

Half of the Isle of Wight is protected as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, making it the ideal location to enjoy a day out as a family this Easter. From rugged coastal paths to enchanting forest trails and magnificent beaches, the Island has a variety of landscapes that can be explored in a number of ways. There are plenty of walking routes from gentle strolls to harder clifftop hikes, as well as specially designed routes that include a historical element, such as the Dinosaur Safari. Most cycling routes are off-road, making them safe for a family ride, but there are also opportunities for road-cycling and mountain biking.

6. Isle of Wight Steam Railway

Go on a hunt for dinosaur footprintsGo on a hunt for dinosaur footprints
Go on a hunt for dinosaur footprints

Families looking for a springtime sojourn through the Island’s blossoming countryside can enjoy a trip on the steam train (April 19-22), where children’s entertainer Greg Chapman will also amuse families with juggling, stories and general antics. Other activities include the Desmond Duck Treasure Hunt each day at 1.15pm. Families can save by booking online in advance.

7. Jack Up The Weekend

Parents can enjoy a throwback and introduce their kids to the ’80s this Easter on the Isle of Wight. Jack Up The Weekend on April 19-20 is an exciting new spin-off event from the organisers of the hugely successful Jack Up The ’80s summer festival and is perfect for lovers of ’70s and ’80s music, and their kids. The event presents two great headline bands performing in concert on two consecutive nights over the Easter bank holiday weekend.

8. Walking With Alpacas

West Wight Alpacas offers the perfect Easter activities for any animal-loving families. The farm is home to around 60 alpacas, 13 llamas and many other animals, and visitors can choose to either go on a trek with the adorable animals or just watch them roam around the farm. Alternatively, visitors can choose from a variety of guided walks and activities such as llama agility, short and long farm walks or even, by prior arrangement, longer treks off the farm.

9. Tapnell Farm Park

For classic Easter fun, families can head to Tapnell Farm Park, where will there be a variety of activities on offer. Families can join Animal Encounter sessions and help keepers look after the baby lambs with feeding sessions. The Bugs and Beasties show will offer the chance to meet little critters, while children can also hand-feed the wonderful mob of wallabies and meet the meerkats. Free Easter-themed craft sessions will also be on offer alongside a new farm-themed Crazy Golf (including a small charge) and a Farm Park Footie Shoot Out.

10. Discover Dinosaur Island

The Isle of Wight has a diverse geology that contains a wealth of fossils just waiting to be found. There are giant dino footprints scattered around the Island’s shores and plenty of opportunities to take home a piece of history. Dinosaur Isle, Britain’s first purpose-built dinosaur museum and visitor attraction, hosts guided fossil walks at sites of palaeontological interest on the Island – a fun activity for dinosaur enthusiasts young and old.