Stock up: Most supermarkets are closed Good Friday, and many on Easter Sunday. Picture: ThinkstockSource:News Corp Australia
EASTER offers the longer of the Aussie long weekends and retail trading restrictions mean making sure you’re fed and watered over the four-day break requires a bit of knowledge and preparation.
With many shops, shopping centres and bottle shops closing their doors on various days, and pubs closing at 10pm Friday in some states (there’s a reason it’s called Good DryDay) thanks to restrictions on retail trading, here’s our guide to where and how to get a drink, last minute choccies, fuel, bread and milk during the Easter break.
Major cinemas will operate as normal.
Good Friday and Easter Saturday, Sunday and Monday are all public holidays in most states.
Most shops will be closed on Good Friday, open Saturday, and many will close Sunday, but every state’s trading hours differ.
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Public transport will operate, but to weekend or public holiday timetables.
No takeaways: Bottle shops are closed on Good Friday. Picture: ThinkstockSource:istock
GOOD FRIDAY
Pretty much everything is closed: it’s right up there with Christmas Day in terms of restrictions on retail trading.
In major cities, Coles, Aldis and Woolworths will be closed. However Coles Express sites will be open.
Ditto Westfield shopping centres, so no Myer, DJs, or big fashion retailers.
Small grocery chains, convenience or corner stores, petrol stations and chemists can open at their discretion. With 7-Eleven’s open Australia-wide for the whole weekend, you won’t be caught short if you want a Slurpee, fuel, ice or refreshments.
Takeaway alcohol is much harder to find, with takeaway sales banned across NSW on Good Friday. Bottle shops including Dan Murphy’s, BWS and Liquorland will be closed.
Pubs, hotels, bars and clubs (not small bars) can open until 10pm in NSW Good Friday, but that doesn’t mean they all do. And if they are open, they’re not allowed to sell takeaway liquor (except from breweries), so no roadies.
Crown Casino Trading Hours Good Friday Hours
Want to drink in a licensed venue after 10pm on Good Friday in Sydney? Go to the Star casino.
Crown Casino Trading Hours Good Friday Time
In Melbourne, pubs can open at noon, and Crown Casino is closed from 4am to noon.
EASTER SATURDAY
Retail will trade pretty much as it does on a standard Saturday across Australia, with shopping centres, supermarkets, and licensed venues like pubs and clubs and bottle shops open and trading as normal.
EASTER SUNDAY
A restricted, trading day again, so some supermarkets will be closed. Most Coles supermarkets will be open and customers can check opening hours of local stores on their website.
In NSW, most bottle shops are closed, but you can go in for a drink at licensed venues as normal.
In WA, Queensland and Victoria, most Dan Murphy bottle shops intend to open.
EASTER MONDAY
It’s a public holiday Australia wide, but retail will pretty much trade as normal, with major shopping centres, supermarkets and retail chains open.
Except in South Australia, where only some supermarkets intend to open their doors.
There are no additional restrictions on licensed venue opening hours and bottle shops are open.
How much exercise is needed to burn off the Easter calories?
How much exercise is needed to burn off the Easter calories?