Take the grandkids to see these spectacular Christmas light displays

Whether you’re the decorator or the admirer, Christmas lights have become one of the most beloved traditions of the festive season. And, after all, what’s not to love? Bright lights, Christmas music and time with the grandkids sounds like the perfect way to spend a warm summer evening!

So rather than trawl through your local neighbourhood hoping to strike lucky, take a look at this guide to the country’s brightest ‘burbs. Or, if you’d prefer to avoid driving or are unable to do it yourself, see if any of the buses or pooling options in your state might suit you!

Queensland

A house in Paladin Place, Bald Hills has become a long-time favourite, especially thanks to its interactive factor as visitors can type their names into a tablet before it is then displayed on the roof in bright lights. And, while you’re on the north side, you better head to Banyo where 4 Huron Street recently took out the prize for the best lights in Brisbane, while other impressive surrounding houses were awarded for their efforts as well.

Meanwhile, Christmas veterans in the Brisbane area are hanging their lights up for the last time this year after 20 years of being top of their game. The house is located in Elm Drive, Murrumba Downs and the show-stopping decorations take the owners a two full months to perfect!

Brisbane City Council offers a bus service that runs from Monday 16th to Friday 20th December 2019 from 6.45pm to 9.45pm with refreshment stops included. Tickets are $11 for pensioners and children from ages 4-14, $22 for adults and free for kids under 4. You can hop on one of the five tours that leave from the city, Indooroopilly, Chermside, Carindale and Upper Mt Gravatt.

New South Wales

With ice cream trucks, sausage sizzles and enough lights to be spotted from space, Borgnis Street, Davidson is the place to be this Christmas! With every house in the street decorated to the nines, residents take advantage of the growing crowds by collecting donations for children supported by the Bear Cottage Foundation.

And when you’re in Davidson, you just can’t leave without stopping by 10 Cambage Court where approximately 85,000 LED lights, eight kilometres of cable lights, a nativity scene and winter wonderland come together to make one of the most spectacular Christmas light scenes in the country!

Finally, the Christmas Lights Spectacular is held every year in the Hunter Valley Gardens and is always a hit with the kids thanks to the inflatable zone, Santa’s workshop and heaps of live entertainment to keep them busy.

Victoria

The Boulevard, Ivanhoe is by far one of the most well-known and beloved streets in Victoria for all they do to celebrate the festive season. For almost 70 years the neighbourhood has been rapidly growing into what it is today – a spectacular show of lights, food trucks and entertainment on every corner.

And if you thought 85,000 lights was impressive, try the 100,000 that 11 Lebanon Crescent boasts! Along with the blinding number of lights, the house also comes complete with a Polar Express train that chugs its way around the house all evening.

Western Australia

Although most houses only focus on what’s going on outside, The Christmas House in Meadow Springs Drive also decks out each room in their house (even their bathrooms) with over 400 lights and 500 different trees.

Riverside Lane in Seville Grove is similarly focused on the interior with their window display being considered as one of the best in Perth. Of course, you can’t miss the singing and dancing Santa or the musical show that the lights run every 20-25 minutes.

Perth’s annual Christmas Light Trail is also a must-do for festive fans as it lays out three routes through Perth CBD, Northbridge and East Perth filled with entertainment such as animated lights, decorations and projections. Roving entertainment occurs from 6-9pm on Friday and Saturdays while Christmas Projections at St Georges Cathedral is set to start at 7.30pm.

South Australia

If you’re a fan of the Adelaide Christmas lights scene then you will already be aware of the number one place to head during Christmas, which is of course the long running Lights of Lobethal Christmas festival in the Adelaide Hills. For over 60 years residents in this area have continued to grow festivities to what they are today which now includes carols, fireworks and even a hall market.

The event is so significant that bus tours are even organised every year to take people between Adelaide and Lobethal. Tours range from 45 minutes to five and a half hours and prices for one adult varies between $12 and $45 depending on the length of the tour and where it departs from.