Since becoming an aunty to my three amazing nieces, I've taken some tasks incredibly seriously. School assemblies. Special days out. And, sitting comfortably at the top of the list, the annual Easter egg hunt.

In our family, Easter means we go camping. There's something very wholesome about the ritual of waking up in a tent, the smell of damp grass and sunscreen in the air, knowing that the Easter bunny has somehow navigated bush tracks and caravans to deliver the all-important chocolate.

But here's the secret no one tells you: the minute you're the one holding the bunny ears, you realise the magic is in the details. It's about more than just scattering chocolate — it's about becoming the architect of a core memory. You're not just managing a hunt, but setting the stage for that wide-eyed "how did he find us?!" look that lights up your whole morning.

So, whether you're taking your Easter hunt on the road, into a backyard, or even just your living room, consider this your guide to keeping the wonder high and the stress low. Because when you tap into your own inner child, the planning feels less like a chore and more like a game. With a little prep and some smart shortcuts, you can keep the baskets fair, and the magic well and truly alive.

1. Get the good eggs

Let's be honest. The children are not the only ones invested in this hunt. Aside from the special memories of excited kiddies dashing about looking for eggs, you will undoubtedly be dipping into their baskets after they've gone to bed. It is basically your aunty/uncle/mum/dad tax.

So my one non-negotiable tip is this: get the really yummy eggs.

You truly cannot go wrong with Cadbury at any time of the year, but at Easter it just hits differently. My pick for the hunt is Cadbury Hollow Hunting Easter Eggs. They have that smooth, creamy chocolate taste that feels nostalgic and elite all at once, and they also come in packs of 10 or (my preference) the box of 15. That means there are plenty for the kids to discover and plenty left over for your post-dinner sweet treat once the campsite has gone quiet.

2. Hiding spots are key

This is obviously dependent on age, but please do not just gently scatter the eggs in plain sight and call it a day. We are here to create theatre. Suspense. Mild competition.

Make the hunt a little bit tricky. It keeps it exciting for the older kids and, crucially, it keeps them entertained for longer. Growing up, we had hiding places that required climbing, digging and scrambling. Eggs tucked into tree forks. Buried lightly in sand. Balanced on fence rails. We always went for those first because the harder it looked, the more convinced we were it would be worth it.

When we're camping, I use the natural environment. Tucked under a camp chair. Behind the ropes of a tent. Nestled near a tree root. Just make sure you keep a mental note of where everything is though to collect at the end!

If you have a mix of ages, create zones. A "little kids" area with easier finds and a "big kids" zone that requires a bit of strategy. It saves tears and prevents the oldest from sweeping through like a chocolate vacuum cleaner.

3. Don't forget the Easter baskets

As well as the hunt itself, I've made it a family tradition to gift my nieces their Easter baskets the night before. There is something so special about handing over an empty basket and watching their minds race about what might be inside it the next morning.

It builds the anticipation beautifully. They place the baskets carefully beside their beds or near the tent door, whispering about whether the Easter bunny prefers carrots or chocolate. It stretches the magic out just that little bit longer.

And practically speaking, it makes for the most gorgeous photo. Three small humans in pyjamas, hair wild from camping, clutching their baskets and squinting in the morning light. It is chaotic and adorable, and worth every second of preparation.

4. Encourage teams

I grew up with two big brothers and I used to very strategically partner with my oldest brother during the hunt. I could squeeze into the tiny hiding spots. He could lift me up to reach the ones slightly out of grasp. We were unstoppable.

I now feel mildly bad for my middle brother, but not bad enough that I ever shared the prime finds.

5. Add the 'tiny traditions'

The part I didn't appreciate as a kid? It's not the complexity that makes the hunt, it's the consistency.

So, pick a few small things you'll do every year, and stick by them. Maybe it's a silly rhyme that leads egg hunters to their final hiding spot. Maybe it's the mandatory all-in photo before anyone's allowed to eat anything. Maybe (definitely) it's stuffing toasted hot cross buns with a few chocolate eggs so they're deliciously melt-y for breakfast.

For us post-hunt, we tip out everyone's findings, sort into colour or flavour piles, and divide them up evenly amongst the kids — ready for them to trade with each other the rest of the day for more of the flavours they love. And this is where the egg bags really shine.

The Cadbury Dairy Milk Easter Chocolate Eggs Bag are perfect for the main stash — gorgeously creamy crowd-pleasers any kid is happy to score. To mix things up, the Cadbury Caramello Easter Chocolate Eggs Bag adds that gooey caramel moment (highly strategic for bargaining power between siblings), and the Cadbury Oreo Easter Chocolate Eggs Bag is ideal if you've got cookies-and-cream loyalists in the family.

The takeaway: the magic isn't in reinventing the wheel every year. It's in hearing them say, "Who gets to read out the rhyme?" or "Are we taking the photo now?" and knowing you've accidentally created a tradition.

Keep it simple. Repeat it next year. That's the stuff they remember.

6. Have a hero item

The smaller eggs create momentum, but a hero item creates legend status.

Include one or two bigger "prizes" for the kids to find. It makes the hunt doubly exciting because they know there's something substantial out there. A final goal. A golden moment.

The Cadbury Chocolate Easter Bunny is perfect for this. It feels significant. It looks impressive.

Hot tip on the bigger bunnies: pop a label on each one with the child's name from the Easter bunny. Nothing derails a wholesome morning faster than the quickest child ending up with all three hero prizes while the others stare in disbelief. We are creating magic, not lifelong sibling rivalry.

For me, it's a tradition that, if you're lucky, they'll talk about when they're older, and you'll remember the squeals when someone spots that iconic shiny, colourful foil. The teamwork. The gentle chaos, for a long time. 

And if you happen to sneak a couple of eggs once they're asleep, just know you've earned them.

Shop Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate Easter bunnies and eggs from Coles.

Featured image: Getty.

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH Cadbury

The hunt starts here!

Organising a long weekend family barbeque, camping trip or catch-up with friends? Hide, share and decorate with CADBURY DAIRY MILK milk chocolate Easter eggs and be sure to bring out everyone's inner child this Easter.