There’s nothing better than having time off but one thing that’s not that great is finding things to do that won’t break the bank. One of the cheapest and healthiest ways to keep active is getting outside. Here are our 10 activities to get the most out of the easter break.

Walking

Going for a walk doesn’t seem that exciting but with a little bit of research and exploration you can turn a walk into an adventure. We’re lucky enough to be surrounded by some amazing landscapes and the National Parks and Wildlife Service has made it easy to discover the best walks around the country. Simply visit  https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do to plan your next walk.

Take some photos

These days we’re surrounded by cameras which makes it really easy to head out and take some photos. Gone are the days when you head to your local chemist and deposit your roll of film wait 5 days to receive your photos only to discover that half of them have your finger covering the lens.

Our phones can take some amazing photos, why not head out and shoot some great photos. City landscapes, bushland, beaches, birds and so on, the list is endless. This is especially great for kids. You can create a checklist of items/animals to take photos of and make a game of it. The best thing about this is you can post your great shots on social media and make your friends jealous!

Grow something

Growing your own food is a relaxing and rewarding way to gather food. Whether you’re out in the backyard or out on the balcony, there are heaps of options when it comes to growing vegetables and fruits. Lettuce, beans, peas and the like are easy to plant and look after and flourish under the cooler autumn weather.

Play outside

How long has it been since you’ve grabbed a frisbee or ball and headed down to the local park? Not only is it a great way to get some exercise but it’s also a great excuse to meet up with friends. Grab your friends, throw a frisbee around and have some laughs. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon!

Have a picnic

Picnics are a classic outdoor activity but sometimes the obvious gets overlooked. Grab a basket or cooler and fill it with some tasty cheese, crackers and drinks and head off to your local park or beach! Easy.

Catch a fish

Fishing is a great way to enjoy the day. Some of you will have an old fishing rod gathering some dust in the garage so why not dust it off and give it a crack? We’re surrounded by beautiful waterways and by dangling a line can really immerse you into nature and if you’re lucky enough you may even take home some dinner. Your local fishing shop will be more than happy to point you in the right direction to find a good fishing spot.

Tie Dyeing

Tie dyeing is the trend that’s never gone out of fashion. Not only is it cool to create your own designs but it’s also an awesome way to recycle old clothes. There are plenty of tutorials online and it’s super easy to do.

Go bug hunting

Kids love to find bugs and when you take your time and really inspect a tree it’s amazing what you may find! To make it more exciting you can make a checklist of common bugs that you need to tick off when you find them. You could also grab a bug catching book to help identify and learn about the bugs you’ve found.

Stargaze

Have you ever just stared at the stars? Yes, we know it does sound a little weird but stargazing it really interesting. It’s amazing what you can find when you stop and have a look plus you don’t need to drive off to some remote part of the country to do it. On a clear night grab a friend, a torch and some hot chocolate and sit in the backyard or walk to your local headland, nature reserve or beach and just take a seat and look up. To make it even better invest in a telescope but only if you're really keen! Also, there are some great apps out there to help identify star constellations and if you look closely enough, you’ll see satellites, shooting stars and who knows you may even see a UFO.

Have a clean-up day  

This is something that we are passionate about and we know it doesn’t sound “glamourous” but it’s a really good way to hang out with friends, get some exercise and make a real difference to your local environment. Simply grab a pair of gardening gloves and a garbage bag and head to your local park, beach or waterway and just pick up rubbish. At the end of the day, you’ll feel a good sense of accomplishment and who knows your efforts cleaning up the local area may brush off onto others to get involved doing the same thing.

In summary being out outdoors very important for our mental and physical health and if you’re having a vacation or staycation this Easter break there’s always something to do outside.  If you do try any of these suggestions, be sure to share it with us @cheeki_aus