14 Unique Easter Egg Hunt Format Ideas For Every Age Group
Share
Who doesn't love the thrill of an Easter Egg Hunt?! Whether you're taking part in one or watching youngsters slewth their way around finding hidden eggs, it's one of the most fun Easter traditions.
If you fancy getting creative to maximise the fun, you can choose from one of the 15 different hunt format ideas I've put together to take your hunt to the next level.
I've taken the time to come up with formats that go beyond simply suggesting hiding places or fillers, though if you are looking for something super straight-forward I do have a big cheat list of Easter Egg Hunt hiding places.
These are complete hunt formats and structures designed to thrill! I've suggested the age-groups they work best for, from toddlers to kids, teens and adults.
There's a hunt idea in here that will work beautifully for any gathering, whether it's an intimate celebration at home, a school Easter Egg hunt or a larger event with friends.
Best of all, they require minimal preparation while delivering maximum fun.
15 Fun Ideas For Setting Up A Brilliant Easter Egg Hunt
Have a browse and choose the format that works best for your next hunt.
1. Follow the Bunny Footprints
Perfect for: Ages 2-6
What you need: Paper for cutting out footprints, scissors, tape or small rocks to secure footprints outdoors, treats or eggs to hide
Transform your home or garden into a bunny trail adventure! Cut out simple bunny footprints from paper and create a path leading to hidden eggs or treats. This hunt style is ideal for toddlers and younger children who are still developing their problem-solving skills.
How to set up: Place footprints in a trail pattern, leading children from one hiding spot to the next. For extra fun, occasionally include a set of footprints that split in different directions!
Hunt tip: For outdoor hunts, secure footprints with small rocks or stakes to prevent them from blowing away.
2. Easter Riddle Hunt
Perfect for: Ages 7-12
What you need: Printed riddles, small envelopes or plastic eggs, treats, pen for writing hints on the back
Challenge young minds with age-appropriate riddles that lead to the next hiding spot. This hunt combines the thrill of the search with the satisfaction of solving puzzles.
How to set up: Hide eggs containing the next riddle along with small treats. Each solved riddle leads to the next location.
Hunt tip: Include hints on the back of riddles for younger children or if participants get stuck.
3. Glow-in-the-Dark Night Hunt
Perfect for: Ages 4+
What you need: Clear plastic eggs, mini glow sticks or glow-in-the-dark paint, torches for safety, treats to hide inside eggs
Who says Easter egg hunts have to happen in daylight? Bring the magic with a nighttime hunt using glow sticks inside plastic eggs for a glowing challenge.
This hunt style is especially appealing to older children and teens who appreciate something more dramatic.
How to set up: Place mini glow sticks inside clear plastic eggs, or use glow-in-the-dark paint to decorate eggs. Hide them after dark and provide torches for safety.
Hunt tip: For younger children, limit the hunting area and use brighter glow sticks. Consider string lights to define boundaries for safety.
4. Easter Story Hunt
Perfect for: All ages, family-oriented
What you need: 12 plastic eggs, small objects representing parts of the Easter story, printed Bible verses, basket for collecting eggs
Connect the egg hunt to the religious meaning of Easter with this meaningful hunt that follows the Easter story through Scripture verses and symbolic items.
How to set up: Create 12 eggs, each containing a small object representing part of the Easter story, along with the corresponding Bible verse.
Hunt tip: After collecting all eggs, gather together to arrange them in order and retell the Easter story as a family.
5. Colour-Coded Hunt
Perfect for: Mixed age groups (2-10)
What you need: Eggs in different colours, chart to track colours, treats or small prizes
This hunt is perfect for families with children of different ages. Assign each child specific egg colours, with appropriate difficulty levels for each age. This ensures that younger children aren't competing with older siblings for the same eggs.
How to set up: Use different coloured eggs for each child. Hide younger children's eggs in plain sight, while older kids' eggs can be in more challenging locations.
Hunt tip: Create a chart showing how many eggs of each colour are hidden to ensure everyone finds their complete set.
6. Puzzle Piece Hunt
Perfect for: Ages 6+
What you need: A jigsaw puzzle (age-appropriate), plastic eggs, treats, final prize
Each found egg contains a puzzle piece! Once all eggs are collected, children assemble the puzzle to reveal a final clue leading to a special prize or basket.
How to set up: Place puzzle pieces in eggs and hide them. The completed puzzle might show a picture of where the final prize is hidden.
Hunt tip: For younger children, use puzzles with larger, fewer pieces. For older kids, consider creating your own puzzle with a photo relevant to your family.
7. Close Up Photo Scavenger Hunt
Perfect for: Ages 5+
What you need: Printed photos of close-up objects/locations, eggs or treats to hide, optional: clipboards and pencils
Instead of written clues, use close-up photos of objects around your home or garden. Hunters must identify the location from the detail photo to find the next egg. This visual hunt is excellent for children who are visual learners.
How to set up: Take close-up photos of locations where eggs are hidden. Print photos and number them in sequence.
Hunt tip: For younger children, make the photos more obvious; for older kids, use more abstract or zoomed-in images for a greater challenge.
8. Bunny's Treasure Map
Perfect for: Ages 4-8
What you need: Paper for creating a map, colouring supplies, optional: tea bags to age the paper, eggs or treats to hide
Create a simple treasure map where X marks the spot for each hidden egg. This hunt combines the challenge of following a map with the thrill of discovery—perfect for adventurous young children.
How to set up: Draw a basic map of your hunt area with landmarks and X's marking hiding spots. For younger children, use pictures instead of words.
Hunt tip: Consider "ageing" your map with tea-stained paper for an authentic treasure map feel.
9. Easter Alphabet Hunt
Perfect for: Ages 2-6
What you need: 26 eggs (or fewer for younger children), alphabet letter stickers or markers, clues, treats
Challenge kids to find eggs in alphabetical order, with each egg containing a clue that starts with the next letter of the alphabet. This educational hunt is great for children who are learning their letters or practising reading skills.
How to set up: Label eggs with letters A-Z (or fewer for younger children). Each egg contains a clue to the next letter's location.
Hunt tip: For younger children, use fewer letters and more obvious locations. For older kids, include small alphabet-themed prizes in each egg.
10. Easter Maths Hunt
Perfect for: Ages 6-12
What you need: Printed maths problems, plastic eggs, treats, optional: small calculator for complex problems
Combine learning with fun! Children solve simple age-appropriate maths problems to determine where to look next. This educational hunt is ideal for school-aged children who enjoy puzzles and challenges.
How to set up: Create maths problems where the answers correspond to locations or items around your home.
Hunt tip: Adjust maths difficulty based on age and skill level. Include a small calculator for older kids with more complex problems.
11. Sensory Clue Hunt
Perfect for: Ages 3-8
What you need: Materials for sensory stations (scented items, textured objects, sound makers), containers, eggs or treats
Engage all five senses with clues that require listening, smelling, touching, or observing to find the next egg. This multisensory approach is excellent for younger children and those with different learning styles.
How to set up: Create stations with different sensory experiences that lead to the next clue.
Hunt tip: This hunt works wonderfully for children with different abilities and learning styles, as it engages multiple senses.
12. Easter Charades Hunt
Perfect for: Ages 6+
What you need: Cards with charade prompts, plastic eggs, treats, open space for acting
Get moving with this active hunt! Each found egg contains a charade card. One person acts out the clue while others guess the next hiding spot.
Perfect for energetic children and families who enjoy performance.
How to set up: Create simple charade cards suggesting locations where the next egg is hidden.
Hunt tip: For non-readers, include simple pictures alongside words on the charade cards.
13. QR Code Hunt
Perfect for: Ages 8+ and teens
What you need: Smartphone or tablet with QR reader, printed QR codes, eggs or treats, reliable wifi
A tech-savvy hunt for the digital generation! Each egg contains a QR code that, when scanned, reveals a video, audio clue, or text hint to the next location. This modern approach is particularly appealing to older children and teenagers who enjoy using technology.
How to set up: Create QR codes using free online generators (this one works well: QR Code Generator), linking to videos, audio files, or text clues you've prepared.
Hunt tip: Test all QR codes before the hunt and ensure your hunting area has good wifi or mobile service.
15. Golden Egg Challenge
Perfect for: All ages
What you need: One special "golden" egg (painted or purchased), a grand prize or basket, regular eggs for main hunt.
Cap off any Easter egg hunt with a special challenge for a grand prize! The golden egg contains a special reward and can be the exciting finale to any of the hunt styles above.
This is a great way to give an extra layer of competition to an Easter Egg hunt
How to set up: Create or purchase a distinctive "golden egg" and fill it with clues to a larger prize or Easter basket.
Hunt tip: Make finding the golden egg a cooperative final challenge that brings everyone together after their individual hunts.
Before you go, you might also like...
