East Auckland always goes all out with Christmas lights. You will find them dangling from your neighbours' trees, hanging from the eves, and in some cases on lawns where you might get up close to Santa's reindeer or elves.
This year is no different from previous years - there's plenty of yuletide magic to be seen in the area.
Below is a rundown of some of the best displays to check out in the area. You might want to make your first port of call at these three homes in the The Professionals Howick Christmas Lights Spectacular.
- 9 Sayes Close, Dannemora
- 37 Santa Ana Drive, Dannemora
- 4 Cortabella Place, Golflands, Botany
- 37A West Fairway, Golflands, Botany
- Eastgate Christian Centre, 5 Ben Lomond Crescent, Pakuranga
- 84 The Parade, Bucklands Beach
- 19 Simon Owen Place, Golflands
- 22 Simon Owen Place, Golflands
- 24 Simon Owen Place, Golflands
- 26 Simon Owen Place, Golflands
- 4 Darnell Crescent, Flat Bush
- 44 Delmont Close, Dannemora
- 4 Darnell Crescent, East Tamaki
- 2/6 Kookaburra Place, Botany
- 9 Renway Rise, Meadowlands
- 15 Okareka Place, Pakuranga
- 6 Union Road, Howick
Some lights in South Auckland:
- 88 Glenross Dive, Mahia Park, Manurewa
- 6 Ross Place, Papakura
Other Christmas lighting displays in the area:
Lee Marsden's house - 11 Fratley Ave, Farm Cove (pictured)
This Farm Cove resident has decorated her outdoor area with an array of lights and Christmas figurines and attractions. She's gone all out this year and is also raising money for Hospice - so get along and bedazzled, all while supporting a great cause.
Santa's Snow Cave, Howick Village
You can check this Picton Street attraction out every night until December 31 from 8pm-11pm. Always a favourite with locals, the snow cave is an enchanted and magical place for people of all ages to get into the spirit of Christmas.
Stockade Hill, Howick
A tradition for many years, the Christmas lights on this tree point back to early New Zealand history. During the Land Wars, Bavarian mercenaries stationed here in 1863 erected a Christmas tree, believed to be the first tree in New Zealand, and sang carols. Today the large pohutukawa on Stockade Hill boasts coloured lights and the hill makes for a nice evening walk or picnic where you can sit and take in views out over the ocean towards Waiheke Island.
Have you seen these Christmas light displays yet?
I do this tour every year, worth the cost in petrol!
Thanks for this checked these out the other night - all good, Howick Snow Cave which never heard of before was a real highlight - thats well worth the epic drive from Mt Eden :) Sayes Close is the best of the other list.
I do the Christmas lights trail every year (and love it year in year out!) and this list came in really handy for me navigating the trail last Christmas (2011) -- thank you for publishing it :-)