The Best Christmas Lights Displays In Auckland In 2025
It’s no secret that NZ knows how to light it up for Christmas. With every corner of Aotearoa illuminating with festive sparkles over the festive period, it’s a veritable paradise for the Christmas light-seekers who descend hungrily on suburban streets across the nation every year, eager to feast their eyes on the wild twinkly displays their neighbours and cities manage to conjure up, with the help of some mysterious festive magic and the power section at Bunnings Warehouse.
On that, it can be tricky to know where exactly to look to ensure that you get the most spectacular bang for your buck when it comes to finding the best Christmas light displays across the city in 2025. We’ve done the hard part and found the most magical Christmas lights popping off in Auckland in 2025. All that’s left for you to do is get exploring.
Auckland
Our passionate Auckland editors have hit the streets and put together an extensive list of the absolute best Christmas lights on offer in Tāmaki Makaurau in 2025, but here’s some honourable mentions that should be top of your Auckland Christmas list for 2025.
Image credit: Franklin Road Christmas Lights / Supplied
Franklin Road, Ponsonby
Considered by many to be Auckland's best Christmas light display, you'll be hard-pressed to find a house that doesn't join in the celebrations; which spill onto the surrounding streets and even include local businesses (who else remembers the orthodontist's giant Santa, complete with light-up braces?). Make the pilgrimage on foot and you'll also be rewarded with gardens covered in baubles, carollers singing from front doors, and even the odd bit of (fake) snow. The Franklin Road Christmas lights will be switched on every night from the 1st of December between 7:30 and 10 pm, ending Christmas Eve.
Image credit: Glenbrook Vintage Railway / Jo Brightwell Photography
Glenbrook Vintage Railway
135 Glenbrook Station Road, Waiuku, Auckland
Polar Express fans, eat your heart out because Glenbrook Vintage Railway is getting fully lit this Christmas, and yes—that includes their beautiful heritage trains. Part of their award-winning Counties Energy Christmas Lights—Trains At Night event, they'll also be decking out the train station and surrounding buildings in full festive dress and putting on Christmas night markets complete with food trucks, free pics with Santa, and more between 5-7 and 11-23 December, from 6-11 pm (last entry is at 10.25 pm). A sensory friendly/accessible event is being held on 10 December.
MOTAT Museum Of Transport And Technology
805 Great North Road, Western Springs, Auckland
MOTAT is moving into full holiday mode come December, transforming into a magical, light-filled wonderland for 11 incredible nights in the lead-up to Christmas (5-8, 12-15, 19-22 December, 8-11pm). Its heritage buildings always look extra pretty covered in Christmas lights, as do its iconic trams. Live music—including legit Christmas carollers—and entertainment like outdoor games and a visit from Santa will add to the festivities along with a fleet of food trucks slinging delicious kai. Please note that tickets for this event, which come in at a very merry $5-10, must be purchased online.
Why not make a weekend of it? These epic events are taking over our city to wave goodbye to 2025.
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