Many bought fresh seafood at the new Sydney Fish Market, while others flocked to the Stations of the Cross re-enactment procession at Australia's largest Catholic parish.
Thousands lined the streets of Punchbowl, in Sydney's west, outside St Charbel's Parish for the annual re-enactment to mark one of the most important days on the church calendar.
The vivid scenes saw an actor portray the role of Jesus Christ, lugging a cross down the street before a recreation of the crucifixion.
It represents the final hours of Jesus as told in the Bible.Â
In another part of Sydney, punters hit the $800 million Sydney Fish Market for the first Good Friday since the facility opened in January.
Waiting for two mates with oysters, scallops and prawns in-hand, Anthony Brown delivered a resounding verdict on the new fish market compared with the old.
"It shits all over it," he told AAP.
"It's cleaner, more open, just nicer, you really can't complain ... I'm here with a couple of mates, we'll take the seafood home and cook it for the family."
The fish market boasts more than 100 types of seafood for sale, with some top-end species like live king crabs and southern rock lobster going for $250 per item.
Seafood aficionado Brendan Foxlee was one shopper tempted by the more pricey items, splashing $120 on a gorgeous cobia fish.
"I caught one of these in my childhood," he said.
"We'll get three or four meals out of this ... I'm here every week and it's sensational."
GetFish manager Carmelo Lombardo said business continued to thrive at the new site.
"Only a traditional fishmonger like myself can talk through options with customers and make sure they get the seafood they will enjoy the most," he said.
The scenes came amid fears rising fuel prices would prompt many to stay closer to home at Easter.
More than 40 per cent of Australians had already cancelled or scaled back their Easter travel plans, data from the Tourism and Transport Forum for late March showed.
Cutting back on travel was natural as rising fuel costs directly hit the hip pocket, said Amanda Craft, from Western Sydney University Business School.
But rather than abandon Easter plans entirely, many will simply look less further afield, she says.
"Easter holidays have been planned probably months in advance, they coincide with school holidays, and people see their families," Dr Craft said.
"It's not something people are going to want to give up completely, but they're going to try to minimise the costs as much as possible."
Aussies are, on average, set to spend more this Easter than in previous years.
The 56 per cent of Australians who said they will spend money this Easter will fork out around $2019, compared to $1556 the year before, research by consumer group Finder suggested.
Travel makes up the bulk of that expected spend at $1488, compared to $1005 the previous Easter.
But prioritising family and enjoyment doesn't have to mean spending big, with financial planning academic Michelle Cull from Western Sydney University urging a more "old-fashioned" approach.
"Picnics are great if you're getting together with extended family - maybe you even have games and things you could set up," she said.
Foodbank chief executive Kylea Tink urged those anxious about putting food on the table this Easter to reach out, even if they think there are others more in need.
"Services like Foodbank are here to help make sure people don't have to be brought to their knees to be able to continue to do what they want to do within their family," she said.
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