Easter 2018 public holidays guide: What’s on and what to do in Melbourne
Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday, and Easter Monday are public holidays in Victoria, so you can expect some businesses to have restricted trading hours.
That shouldn't stop anyone from enjoying the long weekend, so we have put together a list of what’s on and where to go in Melbourne.
An egg hunt in Geelong.
Photo: Nicole ClearyWhat's on
- Melbourne Easter Show: Friday 30 March to Monday 2 April 10:00am-9:00pm at Cranbourne Turf Club, Grant Street, Cranbourne 3977. Parking is available on site at $5 per car. The egg hunt is $10 per child. Tickets for rides are available on the day or on Eventbrite.
Supermarkets
Coles
Good Friday: Closed
Some stores have differing open and closed times over the rest of the weekend and on Monday. You can find out about a Coles near you here.
Woolworths:
Good Friday: Closed
Some stores have differing open and closed times over the rest of the weekend and on Monday. You can find out about a Woolworths near you here.
Aldi:
Good Friday: Closed
Easter Sunday: Stores will finish trading by 6pm.
Some stores have differing open and closed times over the rest of the weekend and on Monday. You can find out about a shop near you here.
IGA:
Boccaccino Supa IGA Balwyn, 1030-1050 Burke Road: Closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, regular hours on Holy Saturday and Easter Monday.
Supa IGA Brunswick, 614 Sydney Road: Open every day 8am-9pm.
Piedimonte's Supa IGA, Pascoe Vale, 366 Bell Street: Open all weekend 8am-9pm.
Morgans Supa IGA Glengala, Fitzgerald Road Sunshine West: Open all weekend 7am-9pm.
Piedimonte'supa IGA North Fitzroy, 37 Best Street: Closed on Good Friday, regular hours on other days.
Reservoir Supa IGA, 26 Edwardes Street: Closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, open Holy Saturday 8am-7pm, Easter Monday 9am-5pm.
Ritchies Supa IGA Dromana, Dromana Hub Shopping Centre, Point Nepean Road: Closed on Good Friday, open Holy Saturday 7am-10pm, Easter Sunday and Monday 8am-9pm.
You can find out about an IGA near you here.
Shopping Centres
Melbourne Central: Closed on Good Friday, open other days 10am-6pm.
Melbourne Emporium: Closed on Good Friday, open other days 10am-6pm.
Chadstone: Closed on Good Friday, open 9am-9pm on Holy Saturday, 10am-7pm on Easter Sunday, 10am-6pm on Easter Monday.
Highpoint: Closed on Good Friday, open regular hours on Saturday and Sunday, open 10am-5pm on Easter Monday.
Northland Shopping Centre: Open regular hours all weekend.
Eastland Shopping Centre: Closed on Good Friday, open other days 10am-5pm.
Westfield Doncaster: Closed on Good Friday, open 9am-6pm on Holy Saturday, 10am-5pm on Easter Sunday and Easter Monday.
Westfield Southland: Closed on Good Friday, open 9am-5pm on Holy Saturday, 10am-5pm on Easter Sunday and Easter Monday.
Westfield Fountain Gate: Closed on Good Friday, open other days 10am-5pm.
The Glen, Glen Waverley: Open regular hours all weekend.
Myer Bourke Street Mall: Closed on Good Friday, open regular hours on other days.
David Jones Bourke Street Mall: Closed on Good Friday, open 9am-7pm on Holy Saturday, open 10am-7pm on Easter Sunday and Easter Monday.
Cinemas
The story of Mary Magdalene, featuring Joaquin Phoenix as Jesus, is showing in some cinemas over the holiday break.
Photo: Jonathan OlleyVillage Cinemas: All branches open regular hours all weekend, 1300 555 400
Hoyts: All branches open regular hours all weekend, 1300 357 357
Palace Cinema, The Kino: Open regular hours all weekend, (03) 9650 2100
Cinema Nova, Carlton: Open regular hours all weekend, (03) 9347 5331
Lido Cinemas, Hawthorn: Open regular hours all weekend, (03) 8658 0000
The Astor Theatre, St Kilda: Open regular hours all weekend, (03) 9510 1414
Markets
The South Melbourne Market is closed Good Friday but fresh food stalls will open from 6am on Thursday March 29th.
Photo: Ken IrwinFootscray Market: Open on Holy Saturday 7am-5pm, closed on other days.
Prahran Market: Open on Holy Saturday 7am-5pm, closed on other days.
Preston Market: Open on Holy Saturday 8am-3pm, closed on other days.
South Melbourne Market: Open on Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday 8am-4pm, closed other days.
Queen Victoria Market: Closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday, open 6am-3pm on Holy Saturday, 9am-4pm on Easter Sunday.
Public transport
Timetables:
Public transport services will run a Sunday timetable on Good Friday and a Saturday timetable on Easter Monday, but with some exceptions. Night Network trains will not operate on Easter Sunday or Easter Monday.
For bus timetables please check with relevant operators.
Ticketing:
Fares will be capped at $6.30 (full fare) and $3.15 (concession) every day during the four-day weekend in Zones 1 and 2.
Network disruptions:
Bus and coach replacements will operate on some lines due to essential upgrades to the network.
You can check the PTV website for latest service information here.
V/Line:
V/Line trains will operate on a Sunday timetable on Good Friday. Most V/Line trains will operate on a Saturday timetable on Easter Monday. Some routes will have supplementary services or deviations to arrival and departure times on these days.
Trams:
Trams will operate on a Sunday frequency on Good Friday. The first tram will be around two hours earlier than the normal Sunday service. Night Network trams will operate as normal.
Route 30 and City Circle trams will not operate.
GPs
Home Doctor Service: 137 425 or (03) 9429 5677.
Medical at Home: (03) 8341 1888
Mill Park Super Clinic: Open 24/7, 250 Childs Road, Mill Park, (03) 9436 4155
Medical One, Elwood: Sunday, Monday: 9am-6pm, 61 Brighton Road, Elwood, (03) 9531 9811
Medical One, Frankston: Sunday and Monday: 9am-2pm , 47 Davey Street, Frankston, (03)9781 3966
Medical One, Sunshine: Sunday and Monday: 9am-2pm, 324 Hampshire Road, Sunshine, (03) 9310 2947
Medical One, Moonee Ponds: Open all weekend 8am-1pm, 14 Pascoe Vale Road, Moonee Ponds, (03) 8325 1111
Medical One, QV Melbourne: Open all weekend 9am-1pm, Level 3, 23 QV Terrace, 292 Swanston Street, Melbourne, (03) 8663 7000
Geelong GP Super Clinic (Kardinia Health): Closed on Good Friday, open Holy Saturday 9am-1pm, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday 10am-12pm, 2-18 Colac Road, Belmont, (03) 5202 9333
Chelsea Heights Medical Centre (bulk billing): Open all weekend, 8am-midnight, 205 Thames Promenade, Chelsea Heights, (03) 8785 9900
Hastings Family Medical Centre (bulk billing): Open all weekend, 8am-midnight, 9 Queen St, Hastings, (03) 5972 8000
Pharmacies
Chemist Warehouse in St Albans is open on Easter Monday.
Photo: Jesse MarlowCasey Super Clinic Pharmacy: Open 24/7, 50 Kangan Drive, Berwick, (03) 9769 9824
Mill Park Super Clinic Pharmacy: Open 24/7, 250 Childs Road, Mill Park, (03) 9437 7437
Mulqueeny Midnight Pharmacy: 9am-midnight, corner Williams Road and High Street, Prahran, (03) 9510 3977
Tambassis Pharmacy: 8am-midnight, corner Sydney and Brunswick roads, Brunswick, (03) 9387 8830
Chapel Gate Pharmacy: 9am-9pm, corner Carlisle and Chapel streets, Balaclava, (03) 9531 1396
Slade Pharmacy: 8am-10pm, ground floor, 89 Bridge Road, Richmond, (03) 8420 0700
Chemist Warehouse St Albans: Easter Monday 8:30-9pm, 327 Main Road East, St Albans, (03) 9366 3545
Footscray Pharmacy: 11am-5pm all weekend, 2/76 Nicholson Street, Footscray, (03) 9396 1223
Pet services
24-hour Vet: Centre for Animal Referral and Emergency (CARE), 5 Hood Street, Collingwood, (03) 9417 6417
Lort Smith Animal Hospital North Melbourne: 8.30am - 5pm for routine consults and emergencies, 5pm-midnight for emergencies only. 24 Villiers Street, North Melbourne, (03) 9328 3021
Lost Dogs Home North Melbourne: Closed on Good Friday, open other days per schedule. 2 Gracie Street, North Melbourne, (03) 9329 2755
Melbourne attractions
Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium: 9.30am to 6pm daily. Last admission 5pm. 1800 026 576.
Crown Entertainment Complex: Casino open on Good Friday 12pm onward, open regular hours on other days, (03) 9292 8888.
Eureka Skydeck 88: 10am-10pm daily, (03) 9693 8888
O'Brien Group Arena (formerly Medibank Icehouse): Open 9am-11pm on Good Friday and Holy Saturday, 9am-9pm on Easter Sunday, and 0am-10pm on Easter Monday, 1300 756 699.
Lion cubs eye off some Easter treats at Melbourne Zoo last year.
Photo: Pat ScalaMelbourne Zoo, Werribee Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary: Open all weekend 9am-5pm, 1300 (03) 966 784.
Royal Botanic Gardens: Melbourne open 7.30am to sunset, Cranbourne open 9am to 5pm, (03) 9252 2300.
Wonderland Fun Park Docklands: Open all weekend, 11am-5pm, (03) 9602 1311.
IMAX Melbourne Museum: Open all weekend, 9663 5454, find session times here
Fitzroy Gardens Visitor Centre and Cook's Cottage: Open all weekend 9am-5pm, (03) 9658 9658
Melbourne Museum: Closed on Good Friday, open other days 10am-5pm, 131 102
National Gallery of Victoria: Open all weekend 10am-5pm, (03) 8662 1555
The first train on Easer Sunday leaves Belgrave at 10.30am.
Photo: Jason ReedPuffing Billy Railway: Open, trains leave Belgrave at 10.30am, 11.10am, 12.30pm, 1:15pm and 2.30pm, (03) 9757 0700
Cinema Nova: Open regular hours all weekend, (03) 9347 5331
City sightseeing Melbourne: Closed on Good Friday, open other days, (03) 8353 2578. More information here.
National Sports Museum and MCG tour: Closed on Good Friday, open regular hours on other days.
Libraries
Melbourne Library Service: Closed all weekend.
Airport transfers
Melbourne Airport: Skybus operates to normal schedule (24 hours), 1300 759 287. Starbus operates to normal schedule: from CBD 5am-7pm, (03) 8378 8700.
Avalon Airport: Skybus operates to normal schedule. You can find the timetable here, 1300 759 287.
Visitor information services
Melbourne Visitor Centre: Open all weekend 9am-6pm, (03) 9658 9658.
Melbourne Visitor Booth: Closed on Good Friday, open other days 9am-5pm.
City Ambassadors: Not available on Good Friday. Available from 10am to 4pm on Holy Saturday and Easter Monday, and Sunday noon to 3pm.
Melbourne Greeter Service: Not available on Good Friday. Available other days, walks leave at 9.30am, (03) 9658 9658.
Melbourne Town Hall Tours: Not available all weekend.