- Your Hunter Valley Magazine
A Truly Remarkable Feat
CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SPECTACULAR AT HUNTER VALLEY GARDENS. If you live in the Hunter Valley, you probably already know about the yearly tradition that is the Christmas Lights spectacular at Hunter Valley Gardens (HVG). This incredible light display is the largest in the Southern Hemisphere and, this year has even more to offer regulars and new visitors alike.
A favourite of families, lovers and everyone keen to get into the Christmas spirit, this mesmerising display encompasses 5 hectares of the 14-hectare gardens and utilises over 3 million lights. It opened to the public on Friday, 5 November and will run through until Australia Day 26 January 2022, every evening from 5.30pm until 10.30pm.
Amanda Andrews, Event Manager of Hunter Valley Gardens, says, "After another difficult year for many Australians, we are thrilled to invite people back to the Christmas Lights Spectacular. It is truly the perfect escape for families and their loved ones to relax and enjoy our rides, attractions and lights as we embrace the Christmas season."
Staff at HVG work on the display year-round – planning, sourcing and installing, but with covid restrictions taking up such a significant portion of the year, this year was more challenging than most. What would typically take a team of 12 three months to install was done in just four weeks this year. It is a truly remarkable feat.
Visitors will be thrilled to see lots of old favourites such as the Lovers Tunnel, where it's pretty popular (and somewhat successful!) to pop the question and is the perfect opportunity to indulge in a romantic festive getaway. Kids will be excited to see 'Hunter', the giant illuminated teddy bear again, as well as the Giant Castle. For those that have been missing travel, the Around the World display enables you to visit famous landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, Edinburgh Castle, London's Big Ben, the Statue of Liberty, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Colosseum and the Taj Mahal as well as our own Sydney Opera House.
The team are excited by this year's new additions. One such addition is the new waterfall display that took one team member a whole week to fix 32,500 lights by hand to the framework. There are new Mega Trees along the edge of the lake with a light sequence set to music. Look out for the dancing Santa and reindeer in the trees, and don't miss the giant
Bauble Tree.
This year Santa has his very own purpose-built Santa's Cave, where he and his elves will be available for Santa photos every night until 24 December.
A visit to the Christmas Lights Spectacular would not be complete without taking a spin on one or all of the HVG rides. Be bold on the daring 35-metre-long Super Slide, which is back for the first time since 2019, get dizzy on the Swing Chairs as you fly 11 metres off the ground, or try the twisty twirly Teacups, relax on the 25-metre-high Ferris Wheel and take in the amazing views or take a charming spin on the traditional Venetian Carousel.
This year, there are more food offerings with a delicious selection of food and beverage stalls, including woodfired pizza, Mexican Cantina, German Grill Haus, and a dessert tent.
"The Hunter Valley region is known for its outstanding food, and the Christmas Lights Spectacular will be no different, with an array of delicious options that will keep your Christmas spirits up all night long," says Srinivas Gopal, General Manager of the Roche Group Hospitality and Leisure Division.
Another exciting new development this year is the combined day and evening pass so that visitors can enjoy the full garden experience during the daytime as well as the evening's Christmas Lights Spectacular. Enjoy everything the gardens have to offer during the day, exit by 4:30pm when the gardens have to be vacated, enjoy a beverage at a nearby winery or
pub, and return from 5:30pm when the light shows begin. It's the perfect day out.
There is also plenty of live entertainment to be enjoyed this year, with each month offering slightly different options, opening up the opportunity to visit the Christmas Lights Spectacular more than once during the season and enjoying new experiences each time.
Visitors will be joined by cheeky elves tumbling through the gardens, a real-life light-up fairy in the magical Fairyland, and Disney characters wandering through the Storybook Garden. To light up your Christmas spirit, you can also tune in to the sound of Christmas with roving carolers every night in December up to Christmas Eve. The Amazing Jono will thrill his audience with his magical stunts, and the one-man circus act that is the incredible Bravissimo will groove and hoop to delight everyone every Friday and Saturday during November and January.
Everyone on the team at HVG is excited to be back at work and keen to see visitors streaming through the gates. With regional travel now back, visitors from further afield can take a long-awaited trip to get away and enjoy everything the Hunter Valley has to offer with the Christmas Lights Spectacular a centrepiece of the action, perfect for the festive season. HVG is just a 2-hour drive from Sydney and is ideal for a weekend break for families. Local wineries, restaurants and accommodation providers will benefit from the drawcard of the Christmas Lights Spectacular.
"We have carefully implemented COVID-safe measures to ensure everyone can attend safely and finish off the year joyfully. We look forward to inviting everyone to this magical event as we celebrate the Christmas season and a wonderful New Year," says Kim Jacob's, HVG Marketing Manager.
PLAN YOUR VISIT
NOVEMBER
Monday – Wednesday - Find a real light-up fairy in the magical Fairyland.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday - Spot the roving Christmas characters, reindeers, penguins, snowmen, elves.
Friday and Saturday - The Amazing Jono, a magic stunt clown and Bravissimo, a one-man circus act with hoops, will
entertain the crowds.
DECEMBER
1st – 24 December - Roving Carolers will ensure the festive spirit brings a warm glow to your heart.
Thursday, Friday and Saturday - Tumbling Elves will surprise and delight you with their antics.
1st – 24 December - The Countdown to Christmas includes appearances by all your favourite licensed characters, including Elmo, Care Bears, Paw Patrol, Minions, Snoopy, Trolls, Cat in the Hat, Hello Kitty, Peter Rabbit, The Gingerbread Man and more.
New Year's Eve - A sparkling fireworks display will light up the sky at 9pm.
JANUARY
Monday – Wednesday - Find a real light-up fairy in the magical Fairyland.
Thursday, Friday and Saturday - Wander through the storybook garden and find real-life Disney princesses.
Thursday, Friday and Saturday - Real life Fairies can be found in the storybook garden too!
Friday and Saturday - The Amazing Jono, a magic stunt clown, and Bravissimo, a one-man circus act with hoops, will entertain the crowds.
TICKETING
Tickets are only available online in advance of your visit. NSW Dine & Discover vouchers can only be used for purchasing ride passes and at selected food stalls. Unfortunately, NSW Dine & Discover vouchers cannot be used for online ticket purchases. HVG are following all government guidelines in relation to COVID restrictions, proof of vaccination will be required in line with these guidelines.
Gates will open at 5:30pm and will close at 10:30pm. Christmas Lights Spectacular tickets are on sale now from the HVG
website www.huntervalleygardens.com.au/events/christmaslights-spectacular and prices include:
NIGHT
Adult $32.00
Children (4-15 yrs.) $25.00
Children (3 yrs. & Under) FREE
Family (2ad+1chd) $79.00
Family (2ad+2chd) $99.00
Extra Child (with Family) $22.00
Rides tokens are $5 per ride or $25 for a Bonus Ride Pack of 6 tokens.
COMBINED DAY / NIGHT PASSES
Experience the best of both worlds with the HVG day/night pass. Beautiful Gardens by day, and as the sun goes down, enjoy the stunning Christmas Lights Spectacular. Passes are valid for one day and one night entry on the same day. Gardens are open from 9:00am - 4:30pm and Christmas Lights Spectacular from 5:30pm - 10:30pm. Visitors must exit the gardens between 4.30pm and 5.30pm.
Adult $49.00
Children (4-15 yrs.) $39.00
Children (3 yrs. & Under) FREE
Family (2ad+1chd) $119.00
Family (2ad+2chd) $149.00
Extra Child (with Family) $37.00
GROUP RATES
If you are visiting Christmas Lights Spectacular with a group of 12 adults or more, HVG offers excellent rates for social groups, schools, afterschool care. To be eligible for these rates, you must book in advance with the HVG Groups Department. Email groups@hvg.com.au for more details.
