Martin Place christmas tree
Photograph: Supplied | City of Sydney | Chris Southwood
Photograph: Supplied | City of Sydney | Chris Southwood

Where to find the best Christmas lights in Sydney in 2024

Go on an adventure to find the brightest Christmas lights in Sydney – from public to neighbourhood displays

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Nothing says Christmas quite like a gander of extravagant Christmas light displays. We at Time Out are certified Christmas-in-Sydney lovers. Especially our Lifestyle Writer Winnie Stubbs. She might have grown up with White Christmases in London, but she loves the Martin Place Christmas treecarols sung while sitting on the grass on a balmy summer's night, the festive-season dips, and the spectacular – sometimes silly – Christmas light displays that people put up in front of their own homes.

If you want to get out in Sydney to see the Christmas lights in 2024, we have you covered with our guide to all the best places Sydney Christmas lights – both public displays and the neighbourhood ones, from Bondi to Belrose, Bankstown, Bexley and Blaxland. Read on for a twinkly time.

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Check out the best Christmas markets in Sydney.

Pick up a gorgeous Christmas tree.

Sydney's best Christmas lights and decorations

If Sydney's largest Christmas tree wasn't already hard enough to miss, its official lighting on November 30 will be quite the spectacle complete with Santa riding through the city and a firework display. The fun doesn't end there with the Martin Place Markets and choir events on in the lead up to Chrissy. 

This whopper 800-branch tree is decorated with more than 110,000 LED lights, dressed with 15,000 buds representing nine different kinds of native Australian flowers, 330 glossy baubles, and topped with a 3.4-metre colour-changing star. Surrounding the tree, 4,104 warm white icicle fairy lights span across Martin Place. You can see the tree burst into a kaleidoscope of colour every 15 minutes between 8pm and midnight each night. While you're in the area, wander over to see the canopy of light on Pitt Street.

Darling Harbour

Break out your biggest smiles and best poses in front of larger-than-life decorations dotted around the harbour. From November 15 to December 25, you'll find firework shows on Saturdays and Sydney's first floating Christmas tree, standing 10 metres tall. If the view isn't good enough from the walkways, hop in a little boat and peddle your heart out along the harbour. Come and make a wish for a golden year to come, and have your phone handy so you can share the magical moment on the ‘gram.

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Christmas will once again take over St Mary’s Cathedral, for one of the city's most spectacular festive displays. Glowing projections and digital animations will take over the Cathedral's façade this December, and there will also be Christmas trees, food trucks, market stalls and carols. All of the trimmings! From December 12 to December 25, the Cathedral will be shining with vivid Christmas projections. The entertainment runs from 5.30 to 10.30pm each day. Expect projections inspired by St Mary's Cathedral's gorgeous stained-glass windows.

The humongous indoor tree towering over multiple floors at the QVB has always been a popular festive attraction. In the place of the old Swarovski encrusted fir, the QVB is showcasing a tree inspired by Australia's rare native Wollemi Pine, accompanied by an overlay created in collaboration with First Nations artists from Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative. Each floor of the QVB will display a different and incredible artwork by First Nations artists.

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Throughout Decemember, the Baulkham Hills Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Rose Garden will be transformed into a luminous Christmas wonderland, with thousands of lights and installations – including a dazzlingly sparkly walk-though bauble. All of this happening from December 2 right through until January 2.

The best neighbourhood Christmas lights in Greater Sydney

Christmas lights around the suburbs

Quakers Hill
Mallee Street

Known as some of the best Christmas lights Sydney, this renowned Christmas light display is now in its final year! Supporting Lights for Kids, the entire house, roof and garden are transformed into a festive snow covered Christmas village including a life-sized sleigh and reindeer. Kids can sit in the sleigh for photos, enjoy visits from Mr. and Mrs. Claus and listen to the choir — a grand farewell to a beloved and large-scale holiday tradition that has brought joy to both young and old. More details.

Mount Annan
Swansona Ave

Don't miss the spectacular holiday treat running until Boxing Day — a massive house display with rainbow-coloured lights illuminating the night from 7.30pm to 11pm. Take a stroll through enchanting arches and twinkling stars, capturing a photo beneath the iconic love heart or the dazzling 2024 sign. Also witness the only one of its kind — a colossal Santa hat proudly perched atop the roof. There are lots of other houses lighting up the street, too! More details

Pitt Town
Farmhouse Avenue 

Enjoy Christmas in Sydney 2024 with a colourful and interactive display also supporting Lights for Kids by Sydney Children's Hospital. It’s great for families of all ages with walk-in displays, bubble and snow machines, music to sing and dance to, a festively decorated roof and beloved characters like Minions and the Grinch. It takes the owners a whole month to set up so get in and enjoy some of the cheer they have created dedicated to lighting up the community. More details.

Asquith
Lockwood Street

Support the Daniel Morcombe Foundation by driving down Lockwood Street for a mesmerising light show. Tune into 98.4FM where the music is synced to the lights. Keep an eye out for singing lightbulbs and three Lego men, explore the reindeer stables and be wowed by the 5-metre mega tree with 4,000 lights crafting stunning patterns. With a show just over an hour long, consider multiple visits to enjoy the full playlist. You can drop by from 7pm to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, and 7.30pm to 11.pm on Sunday to Thursday. More details.

Hornsby Heights Park
Ryna Avenue

Head up and enjoy this light display in Hornsby Heights, featuring the spectacle of santa flying around the roof on his sled. You can catch Father Christmas flying at 9pm, 9.30pm and 10.30pm. Be sure to catch this dazzling display, and donate to the Shirley Cuff Cancer research Foundation that they're fundraising for. Witness the magic of numerous light decorations, Christmas statues and a towering four metre white Christmas tree. More details.

North Bondi
Waratah Street

Celebrating 22 years of Christmas magic, this year's display unveils an enchanting English Village showcased within two room windows. Follow the candy canes, icicles and fairy lights along the pathway leading to a Christmas tree adorned with presents. Bring the kids to meet the snowman family, a towering gingerbread man, a reindeer and sleigh, and a trio of festive reindeer families. Running until December 28th. Oh, and there are sausage dogs, too. That’s got the be the best part, right? More details.

Belrose
Childs Circuit

Light the night while supporting the Alannah and Madeline Foundation. Watch the synchronised light display featuring 95,000 LED pixels music all night long. Dance under the laser lights on the driveway from 8pm, running until January 4thIf you can't make it in person, tune into 99.5FM where the Christmas music all syncs up. The owners love to see all the smiles on the children’s and grown ups’ faces. More details

Bankstown
Hixson Street

This one's truly for the night owls. With light displays on 'til 1am, there's Christmas cheer to be experienced all night long. From 8pm to 1am, the owners spread joy and raise funds for Sydney Children's Hospital's Lights for Kids charity. The vibrant roof lights, hangings and front yard decorations are sure to dazzle and delight. More details.

Mosman
Magic Grove

If you’re looking for the best Christmas lights Sydney 2023, this has got to be up there. Spread the joy by supporting Randwick and Westmead Children's Hospitals at this festive display! The highlight is a towering Giant Santa, weather permitting, and inflatables for the little ones to enjoy all day. As dusk falls, witness magic with lights and music from 7pm to 10:30pm. Running for over five years, the owners love seeing the smiles and laughter their display brings to the street. More details.

Tempe
South Street

Explore this stunning collection of not only lights, but rows upon rows of nativity scenes and statues as well. This year, all donations will go to Maggie's Rescue, and there will be plenty of opportunities to grab photos including a santa chair and displays. Play amongst bubbles, smoke and snow that will start up on December 20 from 8pm to 10pm. More details.

Bexley
Dunmore Street North

This vibrant display block display evokes an old English or German Christmas setting. The thoughtfully crafted setup has grown year by year, now presenting its most striking Christmas light spectacle, complete with reindeer galloping on the lawn and a towering inflatable Santa. Beyond the dazzling lights, the true magic lies in bringing the community, friends and family together during this beautiful time of the year — all while supporting the wonderful cause of Lights for Kids at the Sydney Children’s Hospital. More details.

Blaxland
Billagal Place

Immerse yourself in an Australian, Santa, and elves-themed Christmas light extravaganza, all in support of the Beyond Blue. Running through to Christmas Day from 8pm to 11pm, this massive display transforms the entire house and front yard. Whether you're captivated by the twinkling chair photo op or exploring the intricate setup that took a month to create, the best part is for you to judge. More details. 

Special thanks to the team at Christmas Lights Search for helping us put together this suburban list. If you're keen to make a night of exploring Christmas light displays, be sure to check out their Sydney Christmas Lights map.

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