Best Christmas lights Melbourne: Top 10 dazzling festive home displays and how to find more in Victoria

It’s the most wonderful time of the year — which means it’s time to be dazzled by houses lit up with festive cheer.

Colourful, jolly displays are already spreading joy across Melbourne neighbourhoods. But when it comes down to looking for homes decked to the nines in decorations and walk-through displays, it can be a bit tiresome if you don’t know where to go.

Thankfully, to save you from driving around in circles, the duo behind the Christmas Light Search website have made it all a little easier by putting all the holiday lights in the ‘burbs onto an interactive map — where you can search your neighbourhood and find the best spots.

Co-founders Lachlan Kennedy and his cousin, Chris, had always enjoyed getting into the festive spirit and visiting Chrissy lights when they were kids, so when they decided they wanted to develop a website, they had a light bulb moment.

The duo kicked off the Christmas Light Search directory in Melbourne in 2008 with 40 light displays, driving around and adding all the best Chrissy lights to the site manually. Until, it became so popular, people started sending in their displays, and it quickly expanded nationally.

“Once the website got going after a few years it became apparent that we had created a really useful platform for homeowners to promote their displays on and this has motivated us to keep it going ever since,” Kennedy said.

The website now boasts 2,700 confirmed Christmas light locations across Australia, with hundreds to see in Melbourne. The site is user-friendly and allows anyone to add their Christmas display to the map for free.

“Despite cost of living being the ‘theme’ this year, we haven’t noticed a drop in the number or quality of Christmas Light displays around the country,” Kennedy said, adding many owners take months to put together their magical displays.

“We are finding homeowners embrace elements like snow and bubble machines, opening up their driveways for kids to dance in (with music, lasers, and projections), giant moving LED characters and inflatables, and sit in Santa Sleigh’s for photo ops.”

Kennedy said popular trends this year were light arches and garage door projections. He added that it was always special when homeowners got involved by dressing up as Santa or other popular characters or hosting community raffles, BBQs and fundraisers.

“We find Christmas displays these days have evolved to be much more than just about the lights.”

The 10 best home Christmas light displays in Melbourne (in no particular order)

1) Aloma Avenue, Wyndham Vale

The owners at Aloma Avenue, Wyndham Vale have been lighting up their property for more than 20 years, so know a thing or two about entertaining the crowd.

The owners say the best thing about their display is “that it’s different than most”.

“Different indeed — featuring a towering five-foot Thomas the Tank Engine complete with carriages!” Kennedy said. “You won’t find anything else in Melbourne like it.

“Marvel at the different coloured lights and walk around the year to see statues and interactive displays.”

He said the owners “love putting up their Christmas lights because they like to put a smile on everyone’s face”.

2) 11 Rawdon Court, Boronia

The owners of 11 Rawdon Court, Boronia have gone all out this year, adding a heap of new lights for 2024, now totalling 85,000.

“Taking more than a month to set up, lights stream along the roof and melt down into the driveway and garden,” Kennedy said. “Visitors are able to walk around and explore too — kids will love inflatable characters like Bingo, Skye and Donald Duck and a North Pole Airways coin operated ride for the kids to enjoy.”

Kennedy said there was also a North Pole display on show with Santa along with his sleigh, a gingerbread house marquee, Buddy the Elf, the Grinch and Chase and a new snow globe photo prop, along with Bluey.

“The owners have been doing Christmas lights for over 20 years, loving the joy it brings to everyone young and old, with the public raving about the display,” he said.

Kennedy said the best thing about the display is that there is something to bring joy to everyone.

3) 11 Grevillea Road, Kings Park

Be surrounded by thousands of lights at 11 Grevillea Road, Kings Park, so many that it takes the owners a whole month just to set up.

“With walk-in displays, a snow machine setting the atmosphere each night (if busy enough) and a mini Christmas village display — you’ll love spending time exploring every inch of this display,” Kennedy said.

Visitors can also take photos with a huge candy cane, under the archway, a Christmas tree and a variety of decorations to bring home some Christmas memories.

“The owners have been doing Christmas Lights of about a decade — a hot favourite with locals.” Kennedy said.

4) 59 Viney Street, Clarinda

Sunglasses are optional but recommended for this Christmas light display at 59 Viney Street, Clarinda.

“You just couldn’t pack any more lights into this double story mega display, which stretches out onto the front driveway and fence,” Kennedy said.

“It’s easy to see why it takes the owners over a month to set this display up, with light decorations covering the windows, hanging over the eaves, on the front stones and covering the garage.

You won’t find giant inflatables here, Kennedy said “this is a true classic and bright Christmas lights display”.

But you will have to wait till it gets dark, the magic starts at 8.30pm nightly.

“We think this is the brightest display in Melbourne,” Kennedy said.

“The owners love putting up their Christmas lights because it brings joy, happiness and Christmas spirit.”

5) 5 Molesworth Street, Coburg

This Christmas lights display at 5 Molesworth Street, Coburg has music to enjoy, plus tens of thousands of lights, towering up the double story façade and propagating across the windows and eaves.

“It really is a sight to stand back and behold!” Kennedy said.

There’s other goodies to see here too like inflatable snowmen on the balcony, a shooting star, reindeer, a huge inflatable Santa and a Christmas tree.

Kennedy said the best thing about the display is “definitely the nativity scene inside the cave — nothing like it in Melbourne!”

“We love putting up our Christmas lights because it puts a smile on so many people’s faces,” the owners said.

6) 71 Dunnings Road, Point Cook

“Every year for as long as we can remember, the owners at 71 Dunnings Road, Point Cook spend months to set up this lovely fully walk-in and interactive display,” Kennedy said.

“We asked them to tell us the best thing but they could only answer, ‘all of it’.

“Well, we don’t disagree! Not only will you find the usual lights and inflatables, and music to sing and dance along to — these guys have gone all out with their front window displays and Christmas Villages. “

This display runs right through to the end of December and supports Starlight Foundation.

“The owners love putting up their Christmas display as it brings a little joy to the community,” Kennedy said.

7) 1 Wilson Crescent, Hoppers Crossing

Needing almost no introduction, this local crowd favourite at 1 Wilson Crescent, Hoppers Crossing has been rocking Christmas nearly every year for the past two decades, Kennedy said.

“With giant inflatable Christmas trees and gingerbread houses, reindeer, penguins and even Olaf — kids and adults alike will enjoy walking up the driveway to explore all the goodies the owners have on display,” Kennedy said.

8) 29 Shaftsbury Street, Coburg

At Shaftsbury Lights you’ll find a “heartwarming display crafted by a welcoming owner dedicated to bringing joy to local kids”.

Kennedy said the display has grown over the years, with an ever-expanding collection of Christmas treasures.

“There’s always something fresh to discover!” he said.

“Highlights include Santa’s mailbox, glowing rings and reindeer, a giant teddy, and an enchanting train set, creating a wonderland that delights visitors of all ages.”

Open nightly until 11:30 pm (weather permitting), it’s a fantastic destination for families to soak in the Christmas spirit.

“The best thing about the display is that it’s interactive for the children and that is has something for everyone of all ages,” Kennedy said.

9) Pushkin Court, Doncaster East

This Christmas light display at Pushkin Court, Doncaster East decorates the façade, inside windows and front lawn.

“Colourful lights drop from the eaves while a nativity scene and many sculptures stand up and face you on the lawn in a display that’s well thought out for the space,” Kennedy said.

“Come see Santa riding a bike, the many inflatable snowmen lining the path and penguins, big and small, all dressed up for Christmas!”

Donation go towards supporting SES Manningham.

10) 27 Glencairn Drive, Greenvale

This large display in Melbourne’s northwest is a large display with the lot: music, Christmas statues, a nativity scene, lights and multiple window displays.

“The six window displays at this 27 Glencairn Drive, Greenvale, home are something the owners think is the best part of their whole display — think of the Myer Christmas Windows,” Kennedy explained, adding there was “Nothing else like it”.

“Walk up the driveway to view the windows and enjoy the lights,” the owners said, talking of their windows decorated in different Christmas scenes.

Kennedy said the owners love putting up their Christmas lights as it bring joy to their community.

Not only that, but any donations go to supporting the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal.

These are just a few of the best Christmas lights Melbourne 2024.

To see hundreds more and of the best Christmas lights around the suburbs of Melbourne, check out the Melbourne Christmas Lights Map to make the most of Christmas in Melbourne 2024.