The Best Christmas Lights Displays In Christchurch 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 Christchurch. All that’s left for you to do is get exploring.
Christchurch
New Zealand’s most churchy city knows how to turn it on for Christmas. Here’s the top three locations we recommend for the most eye-watering festive light displays across the city and surrounds.
650 Shands Road, Prebbleton
With over 500,000 LED lights, a star-gate that transports you to a literal walk through Christmas-themed village, animated festive displays, carnival performers, a steampunk Santa workshop and a giant gingerbread village, and (believe it or) a Dr Frankenstein lab, this is one of the biggest Christmas light shows in Christchurch city. Open no matter the weather, this epic display features a wild lineup of rock songs and a synchronized light show that has been drawing fans for 19 years now. The passionate family behind this have been building it all year long, and their incredible efforts show in full, festive force. They’re open every night from November 29 through to December 31st, with the lights switching on from 8.30pm to 10.30pm. From December 19th to 24th, the lights will run until 11.30pm. The final show is on December 31st. It’s free to enter, but donations are appreciated.
Image Credit: 650 Shand Place | Via Christchurch Christmas Lightshow Facebook
8 Dunlace Place, Hornby
This explosion of glittering rainbow lights is always next level. Famous year on year for its profusion of colourful twinkle lights that wrap every spare inch of this suburban house in Hornby, 8 Dunlace Place draws crowds every year. The owners tell you to avoid parking or driving in Dunlance Place as it gets very congested and there’s no parks, so to walk from around the corner on Parker Street instead is a better go. The light show kicks off at 8.30pm every night. From 29th November to December 18th, the lights turn off at 10.30pm, while from December 19th to December 24th they switch off at 11.30pm. From Christmas Day to NYE the lights go off at 10.30pm.
Image Credit: 8 Dunlace Pl, Horby | Via Light Up Christmas
Kinsella Crescent, Aidanfield
All along Kinsella Crescent, you’ll find at least 10 epic houses wrapped in major festive cheer, and lots and lots of lights. Wander past suburban lawns filled with inflatable Santas and oodles of dazzlers. It’s recommended to drive in from Aidanfield Drive, and as always, be mindful when it comes to hunting for a park on this busy and always bright streetscape. Lights will be switched on commonly from around 8pm, and will run to around 10pm. You can check out the full list of Kinsella addresses here.
Image Credit: Light Up Christmas
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