MEREWETHER Beach proved a picturesque location for the Easter Bunny to leave hundreds of eggs on Sunday, when chocolate fans foraged in the sand for their morning tea.
Merewether Surf Life Saving Club invited "kids aged zero to 117" to participate in its annual Easter egg hunt plus activities and games, including tug of war and relay races.
Caitlin Munday said her four year old daughter Aurora - who hopes to join nippers next season - was one of many who relished the day.
"She loved it, she had a great time," Ms Munday said.
"There were lots of eggs and lots of kids and plenty to go around.
"We also had photos with the Easter Bunny."
Ms Munday said the Easter Bunny also visited Aurora and her older brother overnight, meaning they were enjoying many more sweet treats than on an average weekend.
"They were glad to have a run down on the sand and get all the energy out!"
Ms Munday said it was an Easter tradition for her family to participate in the hunt and then enjoy a barbecue lunch.
While some flocked to the coast for a long weekend swim in the sunshine, Newcastle Tourism Industry Group chairman Kent Warren said hotels, restaurants, pubs and cafes were also teeming with visitors.
"There are full hotel rooms and busy cafes and everything that comes with it," Mr Warren said.
"It's been a great weekend looking at the numbers coming through.
"There's plenty of people, lots of Sydneysiders and people from interstate travelling in.
"The weather obviously helps, it's fantastic this weekend... it feels like business is back to normal and normal transmission has resumed and I think that's because we had a COVID outbreak before Christmas and it seemed that every school holidays there was a COVID outbreak beforehand, but we've had 15 weeks of sustained growth and with that comes momentum and confidence.
"The stars have aligned for this Easter break where we've had rain and pretty ordinary weather and COVID and now with Easter there is no restrictions and no rain, so it's fantastic."
However he said businesses were still being impacted by staff needing to isolate.
"We hope everyone understands that and is patient with us and thinks about the positive side of things [that businesses are open]."
Mr Warren said in the past, 87 per cent of visitors to the Hunter were from Sydney, but this was now 75 per cent as the number of interstate visitors continued to grow.
He said the region was primed for a string of busy months.
"I think we'll continue to see conferences and events coming back into Newcastle and organisers getting a bit more confident putting events on because there is a consistent level of management from the government about the COVID situation."
