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Have you been asking 'Where can I find Christmas Lights near me?’ or ‘What’s the largest Christmas light display in Australia?’ Or, if you don’t want to leave the comfort of your car, have you found yourself looking for drive-through Christmas lights?
Oftentimes, it can be difficult to even begin trying to find locations. You have probably searched terms like, ‘Christmas light looking near me’ or ‘interactive holiday light experiences,’ and then scrolled through multiple pages to find the best locations, then possibly grumbled because none are all that close to you.
The Best Christmas Lights around the country
If you’ve been looking for a ‘Christmas light finder near me,’ we’ve got you covered. Just grab your phone or computer and either use the Christmas lights interactive map or find lights by city or suburb.
We have over 3,500 locations confirmed for 2023 across these areas:
- Adelaide
- Albury/Wodonga
- Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
- Ballarat
- Bendigo
- Brisbane
- Cairns
- Canberra
- Central Coast
- Darwin
- Geelong
- Gold Coast
- Hobart
- Launceston
- Mackay
- Melbourne
- New South Wales
- Newcastle
- Perth
- Queensland
- South Australia
- South West WA
- Sunshine Coast
- Sydney
- Tasmania
- Toowoomba
- Townsville
- Vasse
- Victoria
- Western Australia
- Wollongong
You can change your region to any of the above or just type in your suburb to view all the residential Christmas light decorations on offer around you.
If you only want the best of the best, to filter out the smaller displays to only see the most spectacular Christmas light installations, then the featured displays section is where you want to go. But how do you know they’re the best?
Who Can Add Displays to the Directory?
Anyone can add a display to the website; simply click the ‘Add Listing’ button in the top right corner to get started. You can add information such as photos/videos, on/off times, what’s included, any charity associations and the best part of the display to help describe your light display.
Once you’re finished, the listing gets reviewed by our team, making sure it’s in the right region, as well as a rating on how spectacular it is. The highest-rated displays get displayed on our featured lists, allowing you to have a list of the best Christmas light displays in Australia, all in one place.
What about Christmas light reviews? Sometimes a photo doesn’t do a display justice, so on some listings, you will find visitors have left reviews, which may just be that extra push you need to add the display to your list.
Speaking of lists…
Create Your Own Christmas Road Trip!
How you structure it is up to you. Only choose the locations closest to you or favourite all the featured displays in your region, but whatever you choose, you can find all of these in the ‘Your Favourites’ tab at the top of the screen.
This way, you have a clean list of all your favourites to help you get into the festive spirit. It’s like having Christmas light tours each year!
Why is Christmas Light Search so popular?
We are a community Christmas light directory, connecting display owners with the general public looking for lights. We really help people find the best displays nearby! You can search on the map, browse your suburb, check out images, videos, details – all updated daily!
With thousands of enchanting displays listed, from the golden shores of Perth to the tropical wonders of Townsville, the rugged landscapes of Darwin to the charming allure of Hobart — we've lit up the nation!
We’ve been featured across the country on TV, news and print media and always happy to discuss the best lights in an area.
To everyone who has contributed to our shining community, thank you! Here's to another 15 years of spreading joy, creating memories and lighting the holiday spirit across Australia.
About Christmas Lights in Australia
Do you have any lingering questions about your outdoor Christmas light search Australia? Here’s some information about Christmas lights and the displays that property owners set up for the festive season.
When should Christmas Lights be put up?
This depends on how large the Christmas light display is and how long it takes to set up. Smaller, less complicated or detailed displays often come up in the last week of November, and then start packing down after Christmas or New Years Eve.
Many of the large and massive displays listed on our website, such as the best-featured displays, take over a month to set up, so the owners start setting them up in October to have them running through December through to the start of January.
On average, owners start in mid-November and take a couple of weekends to get their house fully decorated into the holiday light festivals we explore throughout the Christmas period.
Further reading: Top Christmas Decorations for 2023!
What Time do Lights Turn On and Off?
While each house is different, we have generally found most houses turn their lights on between 7:30pm and 8:30pm and have the lights, inflatables and music running through to 10:30pm or 11:30pm. There are outliers, though, with some running for two hours from 7pm to 9pm, while others don’t turn off the display until midnight or 1am.
Each display listed on the website lists the dates and times they run, so if you know you’re heading out to explore some Christmas lights, make sure to check the individual properties first, and keep in mind that some turn off certain elements of the display during wet or really hot weather.
Further reading: Are Solar Christmas Lights Better?
What Makes a Christmas Light Display fun to visit?
So, have you ever wondered what makes a Christmas light display worth checking out? Well, let us tell you, it's not just about twinkling lights and festive vibes — there's a whole bunch of awesome reasons!
First off, you've got these amazing homeowners who go all out decorating their houses just to put a big smile on everyone’s faces. Some of them even use their dazzling displays to raise money for charity. How cool is that?
Now, let's talk about why you absolutely need to go on a night-time adventure in your local suburbs. You get to stroll through these jaw-dropping displays, checking out all the props and decorations up close and personal.
Brightness Wins!
And who can resist the allure of brightness? The more, the merrier, right? Bright lights are like the secret sauce to the best Christmas displays — they just make everything pop!
Musical Light Shows
But wait, there's more! Ever seen lights that groove to the beat of your favourite holiday tunes? Lights synchronised to music are a game-changer. It's like a magical dance party right on someone's front lawn, and there are plenty of properties that use this in their displays this year, with many even being tuned to radio stations you can listen to from the comfort of your car!
Interactivity
Now, let's talk interactivity. We're talking about moving, singing features, Santas doing the cha-cha, inflatables going wild — there are some absolutely gigantic Santas this year — and even miniature trains chugging along.
Some properties are themed, including Frozen and Mario displays, while others have games for you to play, such as mini golf!
Dressing up as Characters
And here's a real treat – some homeowners go the extra mile. We’re talking about folks who dive headfirst into the Christmas spirit, dressing up as Santa, offering Santa photos and even handing out sweet treats. Talk about spreading joy!
Snow and Bubbles!
The icing on the Christmas cake? Bubble and snow machines! Yes, we said that right. Imagine kids (and let's be real, adults too) joyfully dancing under a flurry of artificial snow and bubbles. We’re able to get just a glimpse of what our northern hemisphere friends experience and it’s truly magical.
Where did Christmas Light Search come from?
Picture this…two teenagers fuelled by their love for Christmas lights, dreaming of creating a free platform that would unite display enthusiasts with the shimmering beauty of festive lights.
And so, the Christmas Light Search directory was born in 2008. Our founders envisioned a world where families could easily discover and explore dazzling displays in their neighbourhoods.
As we celebrate our 15th year in 2023, the Christmas Light Search team remains a dedicated and passionate group.
We assemble this site each year in our spare time because, quite simply, we adore Christmas lights! We're immensely grateful to every display owner who shares their festive creations and to the countless families who make us a part of their holiday traditions.
Check out our About Us/FAQ page to learn more.
Merry Christmas Everyone!
We’re itching to explore the Christmas light displays around us just writing this, so hopefully we’ve answered some of your questions about this exciting part of the Christmas season and have you giddy to check out what’s left of Christmas in Australia.
Grab your family or friends and jump in the car to explore the streets around you. To get you started, check out our Christmas lights interactive map!