The Motat Christmas Lights were lit up for the festive period earlier this week. Photo / Connor Crawford
The Motat Christmas Lights were lit up for the festive period earlier this week. Photo / Connor Crawford
There’s a lot of Christmas spirit to go around this December - here’s how to make the most of the 12 days before it.
We have officially entered the twelve days of Christmas, which means, in the words of Bill Nighy’s character in Love Actually, Christmas is all around us. It’s time to blast the Christmas bangers, surrender to the festive spirit and enjoy all the silly season events Tāmaki Makaurau has to offer. Here’s our list of the best of Auckland’s festive events and activities you and your whānau can enjoy between now and the big day.
1) Christmas in Aotea Square - Auckland CBD
If there’s ever a time to make a trip into Auckland City, Christmas time is it. There are festive decorations aplenty, Smith & Caughey’s Christmas window display and an abundance of events and entertainment in Aotea Square. Auckland Live and Auckland Council have the square dressed up for the occasion, with The Christmas Pav and The Illuminating Light Forest by light artist Angus Muir creating the perfect locale for some festive pics to post to your socials. There’s lots of live entertainment as well, including The Maamaloa Brass Band and Chamber Choir, a fuse bucket drumming workshop and a screening of How the Grinch Stole Christmas this Saturday, and GALS Choir and Tuakoi and Brady on Sunday. Next weekend, catch soul and reggae artist Tom Knowles or, if you’ve got some talent to share, you can take to the stage for the Christmas karaoke session.
Price: Free. Visit aucklandlive.co.nz for the full schedule of events.
2) Motat Christmas Lights - Western Springs
Undoubtedly one of the most magical Christmas experiences for families is the Motat Christmas Lights. They kicked off earlier this week and will be running through until December 23. It’s a bit of a late night for the youngest family members but is well worth the sleepy amble back to the car. The whole museum is illuminated in Christmas lights, there are carol singers, Santa’s workshop where you can get photos with Mr Claus himself, outdoor games, lolly-making, food trucks and more. It’s always busy so make a transport plan and make sure you get tickets in advance, there are no door sales.
When: December 10 - 23 (not including December 14 or 19), 8pm-11pm.
Where: Motat, 805 Great North Rd, Western Springs, Auckland.
Price: Tickets $6 adult, $3 children from motat.nz. Under-5s free.
3) Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park - Parnell
Here’s a Christmas event that needs little to no introduction: Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park has been bringing the spirit through song and dance to Auckland Domain for 30 years now and it’s the largest free Christmas event in the country. This year’s line-up includes Lavina Williams, Vince Harder, Nyree Huyser, Ella Monnery, Nate Peseta, Dillon Rhodes, Pacific Network Choir, Che-Fu, Chris Melville, Paul Fagamalo, Iri Aumatangi, Verity Howells and more. As always, the concert mixes some Christmas classics with pop anthems like Beyonce’s Texas Hold ’Em, Love Shack, a boy band mashup, Somebody to Love and Uptown Funk to name a few. There are pyrotechnics and the evening concludes with a fireworks display, so leave the pooches at home. Get off your couch, put down your phone, pack a picnic blanket and some kai — it’s an alcohol-free event — and spend some quality time with loved ones at Christmas in the Park. Catch public transport if you can, looking for a park may take some of the joy out of the occasion for you.
When: December 14, 7.30pm.
Where: Auckland Domain, Park Rd, Parnell.
Price: Free.
Christmas in the Park is back this Saturday. Photo / Linton Photography Ltd
4) Snow Planet’s Winter Wonderland - Silverdale
We may not get a naturally occurring white Christmas on our side of the globe but you can get the next best thing at Snow Planet. Santa and his elves are in residence at Snow Planet’s Winter Wonderland this month. Within the enchanting wee alpine village, whānau can meet the big man and his helpers for a photo, watch an elf sort letters and see Rudolph and the sleigh parked up ready for deliveries on the big night. To get the full white Christmas experience, you could add a tobogganing or tubing session to your Santa meet-and-greet. This place is cold — minus 5 degrees — so kids are going to need more than a pretty dress and sparkly shoes for this Christmas photo, they’ll need hats, scarves, jackets, all the paraphernalia you’d need for a real-deal white Christmas. Bookings are essential.
When: Daily until December 24.
Where: Snow Planet, 91 Small Rd, Silverdale.
Price: Tickets $11-$18 per person, under 18 months free. Book at snowplanet.co.nz
Snow Planet is hosting Santa and his elves daily this December.
5) Christmas at Commercial Bay - Auckland CBD
There’s nothing worse than a mall carpark in December but you can avoid that road rage by catching a train or bus into town and heading to Commercial Bay to do your shopping. On arrival downtown, you’ll be greeted by Te Manaaki, the 18-metre Christmas tree in Te Komititanga Square. Inside the mall there’s more than just shops, there’s jubilation, merriment and Christmas spirit in bounty thanks to free entertainment. The fun includes face painting (with a free hot drink from Kōkako), a roaming Santa and his two fairy helpers, a magic mail machine for posting Santa letters, a dedicated kid-zone, a scavenger hunt, activity packs and live music. Commercial Bay is turning it on to lure shoppers into the city this Christmas and it’s working a charm on us.
Where: Commercial Bay, 7 Queen St, Auckland Central.
Price: Free.
The Christmas festivities are ramping up at Commercial Bay.
6) Handel’s Messiah - Auckland CBD
Though not originally written as a Christmas oratorio, Handel’s Messiah - with its biblical narrative and all those hallelujas - has become as synonymous with Christmas as Mariah Carey. Auckland Choral is performing the rousing masterpiece on Sunday and Monday at the Auckland Town Hall. Hearing it live is a festive tradition that Auckland Choral has been making possible for more than 150 years, which means it’s one of Tāmaki Makaurau’s most enduring traditions. This year, exceptionally talented brothers Albert and Jordan Fonoti-Fuimaono will be performing solos, as will mezzo-soprano Allison Harker and soprano Felicity Tomkins. Whether classical music is your cup of tea or not, there’s something deeply stirring about listening to a 300-year-old composition being performed live - everyone should experience it at least once in their lifetime.
Where: Auckland Town Hall, Queen St, Auckland Central.
Price: Tickets $38–$83 Adults, $10–$15 children, $15–$20 students from ticketmaster.co.nz
Auckland Choral is putting on two performances of Handel's Messiah at the Auckland Town Hall.
7) Christmas at SkyCity - Auckland CBD
SkyCity goes all-out for Christmas - its giant Christmas tree is a spectacle unto itself — and this year it might even be your cheapest option for a Santa photo, which you can get — printed or digital — for a gold-coin donation, with all proceeds going to charity. As has become tradition, SkyCity is once again staging Scotty’s Christmas Spectacular Show on weekends at 4pm, 5pm and 6pm daily featuring dancing gingerbread among other characters and festive bops aplenty. Until Monday, visitors can also partake in a scavenger hunt that when completed gets them into a draw to win a stay at the SkyCity Hotel, a family pass to the Sky Tower and a gift card.
When: December 6-22.
Where: Sky City, Federal St, Auckland Central.
Price: Entertainment is free; usual entry fees apply for Sky Tower viewing.
SkyCity is going all out for Christmas. Photo / Frances Oliver Photography Ltd
8) Franklin Rd Christmas Lights - Ponsonby
Residents of Franklin Rd really take on a lot at Christmas time and whether it’s a burden or a joy for them we don’t know but it certainly brings a lot of joy to Aucklanders and for that we’re truly grateful. The houses are absolutely dazzling and certainly radiate Christmas spirit. While you can take a slow drive down the street, able-bodied visitors will get much more out of meandering on foot. There are carolers and live music of various kinds and you can commune with your fellow Christmas light enthusiasts as you soak up the festive energy.
When: Nightly until December 24, 7.30pm-11pm.
Where: Franklin Rd, Ponsonby, Auckland.
Price: Free.
9) Christmas markets aplenty - various locations
While some of the bigger Christmas markets have been and gone, there are still lots of little local Christmas markets you can pop into this weekend or next to pick up a handmade Christmas decoration or unique gift. Some of the markets on our radar include the Italian Christmas Market or Mercatino di Natale at the Freemans Bay Community Centre; Puhoi Village Twilight Christmas Market and Mt Eden Village Craft Market all this Saturday; and on Sunday you can catch the Helensville Santa Parade and Market. For those who like to leave it till the last minute, the Birkenhead Market and the Christmas Craft Harvest Market at Parnell Community Centre are Christmas-themed both this weekend and next for your final dose of Christmas market festivities.
Details about all mentioned markets can be found on their respective Facebook pages.
There are several Christmas markets dotted around the city. Photo / 123rf
10) Vector Lights - Auckland Harbour Bridge
Another excellent option for free Christmas entertainment is to take a picnic blanket, a thermos of hot chocolate or whatever festive treats your heart desires and set yourselves up with a view of the Harbour Bridge for the Vector Lights show. Some top viewing spots include Little Shoal Bay, Westhaven Marina, Maungawhau Mt Eden and Silo Park. This year’s Christmas light show is based on the storybook We Wish You a Kiwi Christmas. While you watch the Harbour Bridge dance, you can log on to Vector’s website and listen live to Pio Terei singing in both English and te reo Māori.
When: Nightly, 9pm-midnight until December 25 (shows every 15 minutes).
Where: Harbour Bridge, Auckland. Visit vector.co.nz/lights for live audio record
Price: Free.
Auckland Harbour Bridge is the setting for the Vector Lights show 9pm-midnight each night until December 25, with shows every 15 minutes. Photo / Brett Phibbs / PhibbsVisuals
