- Sydney is starting to come alive with Christmas lights celebrating the holiday season in this great city of ours.
- Head outside of Sydney CBD to find residential streets peppered with extravagant Christmas displays.
- The famous Davidson Christmas lights are back after a four-year hiatus.
Looking for Christmas lights in Sydney? We’ve rounded up the best Xmas displays in each of Sydney’s major areas, from the giant trees of Sydney CBD to the many homes dotted around suburban highlights like Kirawee and Quakers Hill. Read on for the best Sydney Christmas lights Sydney has to offer. As you’ll see, there’s much more than just the tallest Christmas tree in NSW at Martin Place.
The Best Christmas lights in Sydney CBD
If you’re looking for Sydney Christmas lights locations, you’ll want to start in Sydney CBD at spots like Martin Place and St Mary’s Cathedral.
1. Martin Place Christmas tree
Sydney’s famous Martin Place Christmas tree is the city’s biggest display of Christmas lights, planted right in the cold hard ground of the city’s business and financial strip. Standing tall at 25 metres, its the tallest tree in NSW, with 800 branches and a suit of over 110,000 LED lights and 330 glossy baubles with a 3.4-metre star as the crown. And at it’s base, 15,000 flowers representing 9 different kinds of native Australian flowers from the banksia and bottlebrush to flannel flower and white wax flower. The giant Christmas tree lights up each day from 7pm to midnight with a regular choir singing carols at its base.
Where: Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000
When: From November 28, 2024
2. QVB Christmas tree
Although the Martin Place Christmas tree bests it in height, the QVB Christmas tree is another one of Sydney’s shining stars during the festive season. Standing at 20 metres high, the tree is found on the ground floor of the heritage-listed building, elevated by an art installation that wraps around with visions of the bush and rainforest. The work symbolises the innovation of Australia’s First Nations people, with sound recreated the many calls of endangered birds from Songs of Disappearance.
Where: Queen Victoria Building; 455 George St, Sydney NSW 2000
When: From early November 2024
3. St Mary’s Cathedral
The Christmas lights at St Mary’s Cathedral always manage to seal the show during the festive season, attracting massive crowds with its elegant, pared-down aesthetic compared to the big lights at nearby Martin Place. The surrounding cathedral square becomes a canvas each night with themed projections helping add to the festive atmosphere.
Where: St Mary’s Cathedral Square; College St, Sydney NSW 2000
When: December 14-25, 2024
4. Barangaroo
Head down to Barangaroo for a series of smaller Christmas trees scattered around in a trail, each adding to a story celebrating Australia’s Indigenous culture and the country’s many unique native plants. First Nations artist Taleena Simon has dressed each of the Native Living Christmas Trees with artwork weaving in tales of connection, community and cultural heritage.
Where: Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo, NSW 2000
When: November 15 – December 25, 2024
5. Pitt Street Mall
80,000 LED lights and 10 large stars have been suspended above Pitt Street Mall where they will remain until New Year’s Day. The lights, which change in colour and pattern, are designed to build a festive atmosphere for all the many, many shoppers that run through Sydney’s most iconic shopping strip during the holiday rush with lights from 8pm to 1pm.
Where: Pitt Street Mall, Sydney NSW 2000
When: November 28 – January 1, 2024
6. The Stand Arcade
The Strand Arcade’s special Christmas display has been commissioned to represent iconic Australian flora, looking dazzling with a spread of red flowers, golden gumnuts, green leaves and more hanging from the ceiling of the historic indoor shopping strip. Rising up from the ground floor is a four-metre gumnet sculpture with golden baubles and more than 27,500 Christmas lights and fairy lights, which extend throughout the entire arcade.
It’s a spectacular site and adds a bit of personality when you’re heading on down to for your morning hit from Gumption. You can also get some great Christmas shopping done while you’re there ahead of the holiday season.
Where: 412-414 George St, Sydney NSW 2000
When: November 18 – December 25, 2024
The Best Christmas lights in Eastern Suburbs
Some of Sydney’s most expensive suburbs always light up with impressive Christmas decorations throughout the holiday season.
7. Paddington
You don’t have to travel too far out of the city to see some of the best streets for Christmas lights. Head on over to the ritzy inner-city enclave of Paddington and shoot straight for Elizabeth Street. Many houses on this strip get involved with elaborate, entertaining displays of lights and decorations. The house at 47 Elizabeth Street is usually the star of the street.
8. Bondi
Many of the streets around Bondi and North Bondi are business as usual during Christmas but both Avoca Street and Waratah Avenue more than make up for it. Lights haven’t gone up yet, but as per previous years, you’ll want to keep an eye out for 5 Waratah Street in North Bondi. Avoca Street is typically the more festive of the two, with most of the homes getting involved.
9. Randwick
It’s all about Frederick Street if you’re looking for Christmas lights in Randwick. The family-friendly suburb understands the value of having these dazzling displays out for all the kids to see, with many homes putting on automated lighting displays and decorations. You’ll also see great displays on Oberon Street and Dangar Street.
9. Matraville
Matraville is, surprisingly, one of the best places in the entire city to see Christmas lights. Many streets get involved during the festive season with the main ones being Franklin Street, Barwon Crescent, Cunningham Street, Blaxland Street, Knowles Avenue and Flanders Avenue.
10. Botany
Head on over of Page Street, just between Wentworth and the bridge, to see all the homes spring to life with Xmas cheer. You’ll also want to head down Woodstock Street, Fremlin Street and Myrtle Street to check out some of the best Christmas lights in the Eastern suburbs.
The Best Christmas lights in North Sydney
Head along to North Sydney and the Northern Beaches to find spectacular Christmas lights displays, including the famous immersive decorations of Davison.
11. Fairlight
If you want to see gorgeous twinkling lights and head-turning Christmas displays you’ll need to head on over to Edwin Street in Fairlight, just a short drive from the heart of Manly. Lights usually start on December 1 with numerous houses getting involved each year, stringing together a nice little Christmas walk for the kids.
12. Avalon
Most streets in Sydney have one or two houses that get involved during Christmas, but Avalon’s Elaine Avenue goes full-tilt. Just about every home on this Northern Beaches avenue helps turn this strip into twinkle town. And it’s all very high-tech too, with previous years featuring an animatronic Santa, trains, snowmen and beautiful patterns of fairy lights.
13. Davidson
It’s all about Borgnis Street when you head through to the quaint suburb of Davidson in Garigal National Park. This beautiful part of Sydney looks even better when the entire strip is lit with festive cheer, with almost all homes getting involved from the top of December to Christmas Day.
14. Willoughby
It’s all about the avenues when you head on over to the leafy suburb of Willoughby. The First, Second, Third and Fourth Avenue are ideal for a big Christmas walk during the holidays. You’ll also want to pop by Sydney Street where a few houses get in the spirit. Willoughby Council typically gets involved each year as well, helping the suburb spring to life with carols, markets and symphonies.
15. Mosman
If you really want to go big with your Christmas light-viewing, head on over to Prince Albert Avenue in Mosman. Those beautiful mansion are all adorned with Christmas lights, rounding up the whole street for a festive atmosphere that’s unlike anything else in Sydney during the holidays.
The Best Christmas lights in the Inner West
The hip crowd of inner Western Sydney aren’t as cynical about the holidays as you might think. Plenty of homes around the inner-west also get involved to spread the festive cheer.
16. Tempe
There aren’t too many homes on South Street in Tempe that get involved during Christmas, but the ones that do really go all-out. You’ll want to pay attention to what 7 South Street has planned, as this home always puts on a show with everything but the kitchen sink. We’re talking projections, lights, snow, music, lasers and a nativity scene as well as some familiar Christmas characters all popping in for an appearance. The best part: the display raises funds for Beyond Blue.
17. Ashbury
You’ll find just about every home along Second Street lit up for Christmas in Ashbury. This foodie-favourite suburb really dips into the festive spirit each holiday, with some houses also dressing their houses in the name of different charities.
18. Sydenham
You won’t find too many Christmas lights brightening up the inner-west suburb of Sydenham but there are a few homes worth popping by. Head on down to Frederick Street and you’ll find a few homes getting involved, with the best usually being 8 Frederick Street.
19. Cabarita
Cabarita is another sure-shot in the inner-west, with the tiny suburb’s Bishop Street really turning it on for Christmas. Plenty of homes along this short strip get involved in the festive cheer, with many lights synchronised to Christmas music.
The Best Christmas lights in Western Sydney
The communal spirit of Western Sydney springs to life during the holidays with epic Christmas lights and plenty of homes getting involved.
20. Greystanes
Drive on out to the friendly suburb of Greystanes, near Pemulway, to see some great Xmas lights up and down the winding stretch of Cumberland Road. Although the suburb’s highlights would be found along Ringrose Avenue and Camellia Street, with several homes
21. Jordan Springs
Delancy Circuit in the small suburb of Jordan Springs is a bit of a hidden gem in Sydney when it comes to Christmas cheer. The tiny enclave, which pokes into Wianamatta Regional Park near Penrith has in the past put on quite the show for locals. Previous years had people dressing up as the grinch while lavish Christmas lights displays are splashed all over the strip.
22. Quakers Hill
Quakers Hill is another one of those suburbs out west you wouldn’t expect to rise above the occasion when it comes to Sydney’s best Christmas lights displays. 11 Chaplin Crescent took out third place in the annual Black City Christmas Lights competition so they’ll likely have something on. You’ll also want to check out the tiny cul-de-sac of Errol Place and the houses at 2 Keon Place and 7 Mallee Street, both of which had incredible light displays last year.
23. Mount Annan
Head to the beautiful Mount Annan between Camden and Campbelltown and you’ll find quite a few streets decked out in Christmas cheer. Caley Way is always a big one, but there’s also Lochview Crescent, Swansona Avenue and The Rapids, which runs along Thornleigh Gully just off The Cascades.
24. Rooty Hill
There’s plenty of homes around Rooty Hill with Christmas light displays, but you’ll want to pay particular attention to 39 Alice Street. The yearly displays at this home as so popular that the home even has its own Facebook page which posts of photos each year showing the decoration process. With 1200 subscribers, it’s surely one of the more popular hidden gems of Christmas and worth the trip out west for visitors.
25. Moorebank
You’ll want to head down Nuwarra Road when hit Moorebank, where you’ll spot a row of six townhouses working together to spread the Christmas cheer. All of these tiny homes are plastered in Christmas lights and decorations, making for such a popular site that last year the complex raised over $25,000 for Sydney Children’s Hospital.
The Best Christmas lights in South Sydney
South Sydney has some of the best Christmas lights and decorations in Sydney with most of the city’s must-see displays clustered around suburbs like Padstow Heights and Ramsgate Beach.
26. South Hurstville
If you’re heading on down to South Sydney pop by South Hurstville where you’ll find some great, dramatic Christmas lights on Grosvenor Road. Many houses here often get involved, building up a sense of community while also raising money for charities like Starlight. In previous years, some homes have also hosted weekend movies nights from 7pm-10pm so people have more to do than just walk around and admire the effort.
27. Carlton
Carlton’s Christmas cheer is almost entirely concentrated on Jubilee Avenue, with in previous years has had some playful displays like a Santa with kangaroos and other Australian references to localise a bit of that festive fun.
28. Padstow Heights
If previous years are anything to go by, you’ll want to see what Chamberlain Road has planned. You’ll usually find gigantic blow-up Santa Claus balloons, LED candy canes and fairy lights all strewn across various homes up and down the street. Look out for the most elaborate of them all, as this home always raises a great amount of funds of Cure Brain Cancer foundation.
29. Mortdale
Kemp Street is the place to be in Mortdale, consistently covered with Christmas cheer each year with a number of homes getting involved with glittering displays.
30. Kirrawee
Kirrawee, which sits at the edge of Royal National Park, is the best places in South Sydney for Christmas lights. There are four main streets to get involved: Forest Road, Bilga Street, Orana Avenue and Hotham Road. Hotham Road is typically the best of them, with a row of six townhouses all lit up.
31. Miranda
Miranda’s Kareena Road turns into a bit of a street party each night during the holidays, with gorgeous displays covering entire homes and giant Christmas statues with Christmas carols playing in the evening.
32. Ramsgate Beach
Christmas lights can get same-same after awhile, but Ramsgate Beach has very special house that’s does them a bit differently each year. Head down Alfred Street and you’ll spot some festive Christmas lights displays themed towards the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Better known as the Harry Potter Christmas Lights, the popular display pops up each year with incredible details like patronus animals, floating candles, golden Snitches and even thestrals (instead of elves) pulling a sleigh on the roof. Make sure to look out for the Dobbys that are hidden in the scene.
33. Oran Park
Head along to Oran Park’s South Circuit for find a bunch of homes getting involved with Christmas decorations and festive lights. You’ll find an ice cream van parked up on weekends, nodding to the family-friendly atmosphere that’s perfect for kids. For over 10 years, the street has been a hub of Christmas lights Sydney locals can’t seem to get enough of, so expect a few thick crowds as well as these homes come together to support Light For Kids.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the Christmas lights start in Sydney?
The Christmas lights and activations around Sydney CBD generally start in mid-to-late November and run up until New Year’s Day. Outside of the city, residential Christmas lights typically begin in the first week of December, but dates may vary.
What are the best Sydney suburbs for Christmas lights?
The best suburbs for seeing Christmas lights around Sydney are typically Greystanes, Mount Annan, Rooty Hills, Davidson and Kirrawee.
Do lights stay up after Christmas?
Most homes don’t take their Christmas displays down straight away so you’ll still catch most of Sydney’s best Christmas displays in the stretch from Christmas to New Year’s Day.
Read More
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