Grower Direct's annual Easter Egg hunt is as popular as it has ever been. It is designed to combine the usual Easter fun with autumn gardening.

So while the parents shop for plants and ideas for the garden, the kids are focussed on chocolate eggs.

Lockie, 7, and Charlotte, 3, Cairns at Grower Direct Photos: Tracy Hardy.

There is plenty to do, apart from the egg hunt, which isn't about eggs, 'because it is hot enough in the nursery to melt chocolate eggs,” says owner Paul Nielsen. Instead the kids hunt around for little decorated balls.

'They can get a couple each and exchange them for a few eggs.”

The barbeque is also running hot, providing shoppers and egg hunters with quality sausages.

The kids need to find between 400 and 500 eggs, hidden all over the nursery. In previous year, the event has been going for the past four years or so, customers scoffed at least 400 sausages during the Easter Egg Hunt.

The event is on until 2 pm at 52 Borell Rd, Tauranga.

Alivia, 8, Cooper, 5, Jenkins with their Easter eggs.

Betty and Don Wilson, and David Nielsen looking after the barbeque.

Harlan, 7, and Lleyton, 5, Reedy enjoying a sausage.

Juju Goosen, 5, Sofia Nielsen, 11, Abigail Goodsen, 8, and Nya Kirkham, 5, looking after the chutney and Easter egg stand.

Easter Bunny was spotted today at the Mount Mainstreet shops. Here are a few photos of those who were lucky enough to meet the bunny.


Alania Chettleburgh, 9, hugging her new friend the Easter Bunny.

Rani Patel, 6, and the Easter Bunny.

Dylan Blair, 4, getting a marshmallow egg from the Easter Bunny.

Jett, 15 months, and his mother Carmela Rhind meeting the Easter Bunny.

Tayha Cramond-Lysaght, 5, getting a hug from the Easter Bunny.

Even the big kids were keen to have a photo with the Easter Bunny.