We went looking for Christmas lights a week before Christmas and ended up finding some lovely lights so here’s what we found in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs…

Bellbird Court, Wantirna

A few houses there have decorations. The first house has a beautiful tree covered in lights and another had fewer lights but was beautiful in its simplicity with white reindeer forming a path to the front door.

2.5 Santas for this group, but well worth it if you’re in the area

Beddoe Rd & Allison Ct, Vermont

We found  a number of houses on Beddoe Road (starting at the corner of Cosgrove St) with lights – one or two had a lot of lights – which was nice but only about 2 Santas. We turned into Luck Drive and found one lit up house on our right.

Then we  turned into Allison Court. Most homes in this street have some lights set up while a few have a lot of lights. Altogether it is a good street to slowly drive through – but a walk along would be even better (our kids were too tired by this stage so we drove!)

Put all 3 streets together (and you could walk between them) and this is definitely worth 3 santas.

 Morack Rd, Vermont South

We only saw these lights while driving past on Burwood Highway but I think there are a few places and they were certainly lit up!

Narracan St, Vermont

This one is a mixed review. The house has quite a few lights on the house, in the garden and inside the windows – you can walk through the garden, too. It stands out and is worth a bit of a drive.

However, if you have been there in the past (as we had), this is not the display it once was. it used to be covered in lights, have a snow machine and create traffic chaos in the side streets! A few neighbouring houses were also decorated (but not this year). The owners have sold off many of their lights and decorations but hopefully will retain some lights for Christmas 2012.

Surrounding streets  (such as Hartland Rd) have a few dispersed homes with nice lights, too, so driving through these streets can be rewarding.

Read more about Victorian Christmas lights or share other lights in the Vermont/Wantirna area for others to enjoy…

We drove down Burwood Highway in Burwood last night expecting to see some great lights.

We could see the lights from a distance so easily found 378 Burwood Highway (not too far from Middleborough Rd) which has various lights up high on a garage roof and the roof of the house.

From the sign out the front, we realised we had missed seeing Santa there by about an hour. However, there were other elves wandering around inside and a couple of fairies even did a dance routine a bit later!

Inside their yard, there are not as many lights and decorations as we expected BUT there were  so many Santa on display! Along one wall were man-sized Santas (and a couple of other characters in Christmas garb). Along the second area was an incredible display of Santas – on trains, in parachutes, sitting, standing, with presents or without, with sleighs and reindeer (didn’t notice any with boomers unfortunately) and even some in snow globes for the white Christmas feel. You could spend ages there looking at each one in detail…

The elves are happy to pose for photos with people, and with the huge throne in a corner, I assume photos with Santa are also welcomed when he visits.

If you’re in Melbourne, I’d definitely say visit Burwood for a Santa display like no other! 4 Santas for this spot

Find out about other Victorian Christmas lights

There are 2 sets of lights worth seeing in Ashwood, Victoria now…

Arthur St (don’t know the number but on your left coming from Huntingdale Rd, about 400 m form the corner) has a huge Santa out the front and some nice lights.

Corner of Ashwood Drive and Baryn St has lots of lights including reindeer leaping along the roof, blue archways and Santa parachuting.

Being close together (and not far from lights in High St, Highbury Rd and Burwood Hwy), I’d say 3 santas and well worth a look (they’re also not well-known yet so traffic isn’t a problem!)

Last year we were in Bendigo leading up to Christmas and saw some awesome lights. Not only did they look good – they actually danced in time to music on the radio!

Good enough that we’re planning to drive to Bendigo specifically to see these lights this year!

Address was 11 Greenfield Drive Epsom (north of city centre from memory).

For lights in Sydney, I recommend First, Second and Third Streets in Ashbury. Our kids enjoyed them – and so did we to be  honest!

We travelled through Bundaberg, Qld and they have some cool lights on display.

Driving through Branyan, Svensson, Avoca, Thabeban and Gin Gin was lovely with all that Christmas cheer and colour.

Maybe 3.5 Santas unless you live near Bundy then definitely 4 Santas!

We walk over to Kings Langley on Christmas Eve every year especially to see Baron Close’s Christmas lights and decorations.

We check out Ashbury when we visit family over that way too.

Boronia Crescent in Karabar has some nice Christmas lights if Queanbeyan is near you or on your way somewhere. 3 Santas I think.

Here are some of the places we’ll be visiting in Sydney this December…

Churchill St, Bardwell Park

Sydney Rd, Hornsby Heights

Tea Tree Place, Kirrawee

Second St, Ashbury

Lots of streets in Newcastle have Christmas lights so it’s worth a visit but my fav spot is Elanet Ave in Cameron Park, NSW - bewdiful!

4 Santas no question!

Should be starting up soon – can’t wait!

We’re going to be staying with friends of friends in Acacia Ridge (Brisbane, Queensland) in December.  Does anyone know of some Christmas lights in that area we could see while we’re there? Or other Christmas related treats?

I just found this blog and even though it seems like a million years ’til Christmas, I know it will come soon enough and I may forget to come back in time anyway. So here are some places we go every year in Canberra – hope it helps others find Christmas cheer in the ACT!

Gymkhana Rd, Duntroon we see more than once usually as it’s close to home

Slavin Place or Parade in Gordon

Carina St, Ngunnawal