Here are the most festive towns in Australia

From twinkling lights and Christmas markets to carols by candlelight, these charming destinations deliver all the festive cheer you need to make the season merry and bright.

The holiday season in Australia is a different kind of magic than in the northern hemisphere. From sun-soaked beachside celebrations to country towns decked out in twinkling lights, the festive spirit is alive and well across the country.

Whether you’re after a winter wonderland vibe (minus the snow) or a beachy Christmas experience, these towns know how to deliver on festive cheer.

1. Hahndorf, SA

Step into a fairy-tale Christmas village in Hahndorf, Australia’s oldest German settlement. Come December, this charming town in the Adelaide Hills transforms into a Christmas wonderland straight out of Europe. The streets are lined with heritage buildings adorned in festive lights, and local shops offer up a treasure trove of artisan goods perfect for gift shopping.

an event in Hahndorf festooned with fairy lights — Watch live performances under twinkling fairy lights.

Don’t miss the Christkindlmarkt, a traditional German-style Christmas market where you can indulge in mulled wine, gingerbread, and bratwurst while browsing handcrafted decorations and gifts. The twinkling fairy lights, carols and festive fare will make you feel like you’ve stepped into a snow globe, even though the sun is shining.

people browsing through the stalls at the Christkindlmarkt in Hahndorf — Shop handmade decorations and gifts at the German-style Christmas market.

2. Ballarat, Vic

This Gold Rush town knows how to celebrate Christmas with old-world charm and sparkle. Sovereign Hill’s Christmas in July may get all the attention, but come December, Ballarat comes alive with festive spirit once again.

Christmas in Ballarat is a magical time of year. (Image: Meda Designs Au)

The entire town is lit up with Christmas lights and festive markets pop up in historic streets filled with local crafts, food stalls and live entertainment.

reindeers festooned with fairy lights in Ballarat — The historic streets turn into a Christmas wonderland. (Image: Meda Designs Au)

One of the highlights is the Ballarat Christmas Tree; a massive display that stands proudly in the town square alongside carol services that bring the community together in a joyful celebration.

people sitting inside a huge Christmas ball in Ballarat — Snap a selfie inside a huge Christmas bauble. (Image: Meda Designs Au)

3. Hunter Valley, NSW

The Hunter Valley is known for its world-class wineries, but come Christmas, it transforms into a festive wonderland. The Hunter Valley Gardens Christmas Lights Spectacular is the largest light display in the southern hemisphere, with over four million lights illuminating the beautiful gardens.

a family walking under a garden arch with vibrant lights in Hunter Valley — The annual Hunter Valley Gardens Christmas Lights Spectacular.

Stroll through the themed light displays, including Fairyland, Winter Wonderland and the new Candyland, while enjoying live entertainment, food stalls and family-friendly activities. New to The Hunter Valley Gardens Christmas Lights Spectacular this year are 10+ metre Christmas trees, the five-metre Teddy Bear seat and Mr and Mrs Claus.

It’s the perfect spot for a festive evening under the stars and if you’re a wine lover, it’s a win-win Christmas destination.

an epic thrill ride at the Hunter Valley Gardens — Carnival rides take the fun up another level.

4. Mandurah, WA

Mandurah transforms into a sparkling wonderland during the holiday season with its famous Mandurah Christmas Lights Trail .

the light display at Mandurah Christmas Lights Trail — Marvel at the colourful Mandurah Christmas Lights Trail.

The entire foreshore and waterways are adorned with dazzling light displays, creating a magical spectacle that attracts locals and visitors alike.

Christmas tree displays light up on the waterway, Mandurah — Dazzling Christmas trees are perched on the foreshore. (Image: West Beach Studio)

You can get up close to the illuminated houses or enjoy a stroll along the waterfront to soak in the festive atmosphere.

a vehicle decorated for Christmas in Mandurah — You’ll find Christmas displays scattered across town.

Mandurah also hosts family-friendly events, including carols by candlelight and a vibrant Christmas pageant that winds through the heart of the city, making it one of WA’s most festive destinations.

a huge Santa statue in Mandurah — A visit to Mandurah will have you feeling merry.

5. Launceston, Tas

When it comes to festive charm, Launceston delivers with country warmth and a sprinkling of holiday magic.

people wandering around Launceston — Launceston comes alive with festive fun during the holiday season.

The streets of Tasmania’s second city are illuminated with sparkling lights and the city hosts several Christmas events throughout December.

a crowd of people watching a live performance in Launceston — Catch live music performances in the great outdoors. (Image: Adam Gibson)

One of the standout features of the city’s Silverdome Christmas Market. It offers a great opportunity to pick up handmade gifts and seasonal treats and the City of Launceston Lions Club Christmas Parade is a beloved event where the streets come alive with festive floats, marching bands and cheerful crowds, adding to the town’s festive atmosphere.

a fireworks display in Launceston — Don’t miss the spectacular fireworks display.

6. Stanthorpe, Qld

Known for its wineries and cool climate, Stanthorpe transforms into a festive wonderland during the holiday season. Located in the Granite Belt, this charming country town goes all out with twinkling Christmas lights, community carols and festive markets.

colourful flowers at the annual Apple and Grape Festival, Stanthorpe CBD — The Apple and Grape Festival highlights the region’s produce and pretty blooms. (Image: Supplied)

A must-visit is the Granite Belt Christmas Farm , where you can pick your own real Christmas tree, wander through the festive shop filled with decorations and gifts and even meet Santa’s farm animals.

a family strolling around the Granite Belt Christmas Farm — Select your Christmas Tree from the farm. (Image: Tourism and Events Queensland)

With local wineries hosting festive-themed events, Stanthorpe offers a cosy and magical countryside Christmas experience.

Christmas decor on display at the store, Granite Belt Christmas Farm — Find every kind of Christmas decoration you could imagine inside the onsite store.

7. Lobethal, SA

The Lobethal Lights are nothing short of legendary, with this quaint town in the Adelaide Hills putting on South Australia’s largest Christmas light display. For over 60 years, the Lobethal Lights Festival has been illuminating homes, businesses and streets, drawing visitors from far and wide.

Wander through the town’s Living Nativity scenes, enjoy local markets brimming with handcrafted goods and join the community in celebrating Christmas. The lights and celebrations continue for most of December, offering plenty of time to experience the magic of Lobethal at its festive best.

8. Chiltern, Vic

Nestled in Victorian High Country, Chiltern is known for its stunning natural beauty, but it’s also a town that knows how to do Christmas right.

Christmas crochet and yarn bombs in Chiltern, Vic — Poles and bollards are dressed in crocheted characters around town.

Sharing its festive spirit by covering the street bollards with crocheted decorations, Chiltern will fill your heart with holiday joy.

a Christmas decoration on the streets of Chiltern, Vic — Not even phone booths are overlooked.

Ready to deck the halls? These festive Aussie towns are guaranteed to get you feeling merry and bright this holiday season. Pack your Santa hat and get ready to celebrate!

Just over an hour from Melbourne, spectacular walking and hiking trails encompass ancient landscapes, forested ridgelines and volcanic peaks.

Just a short drive from the city, the urban sprawl gives way to rolling hills, mineral springs, and lush forests that will have you feeling like you’re in the bucolic countryside of France. Encompassing Daylesford , the Macedon Ranges, Castlemaine and the Central Goldfields, this pocket of Victoria is a region where nature, art, and wellness intertwine. Heritage towns hum with creativity, good food and wine, and welcoming locals. While Daylesford hikes, and those nearby, offer the chance to take a pause and reconnect with nature.

1. Hanging Rock Summit Walk

Etched into folklore, few places in Australia carry as much mystique as Hanging Rock. Rising dramatically from the plains near Woodend, this volcanic mamelon offers a beautiful nature walk. The walk begins at a gentle pace, weaving through shaded woodland before it gets a little steeper as the path starts to climb and twist to the summit. From here, you’ll have views that stretch across the Macedon Ranges. The walk is roughly 1.8 kilometres return, but the real reward lies in standing among the weathered boulders, feeling the age and energy of the earth beneath your feet.

2. Macedon Ranges Walking Trail

Macedon Ranges Walking Trail camel's hump lookout — Walk to Camel’s Hump. (Image: Clair Derwort)

The Macedon Ranges Walking Trail traverses around 19 kilometres of forest and mountain landscapes. The full trail is a six-hour circuit, with most of the walk being a grade three; however, you don’t have to tackle it all at once. There are shorter walks that will take you through the tall mountain ash forests, to tranquil picnic areas, and sweeping views from Camels Hump and the Memorial Cross. The best times of year to head out are autumn, when the mountain turns into a tapestry of crimson and gold, and spring, when wildflowers brighten the trail.

3. Mount Alexander Traverse

Towering above the goldfields near Castlemaine, Mount Alexander is a granite giant that offers some great bushwalking trails. The Mount Alexander Traverse winds along the mountain’s rocky spine through dry eucalypt forest that opens up in sections to reveal beautiful panoramas across Loddon Valley and all the way to the distant Grampians. Once a site of ancient volcanic activity (and later a gathering place for the Dja Dja Wurrung people), the mountain’s granite tors are now quiet and create a beautiful, serene atmosphere for a moment of reflection while walking.

4. Murmuring Walk

Murmuring Walk daylesford hikes — Circle the picturesque Sanatorium Lake.

Located an easy drive from Daylesford, Murmuring Walk offers something a little different. Circling Sanatorium Lake, this free audio-guided walk aims to immerse you in the rhythms of Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country by blending the sounds of nature with a multi-layered soundtrack. There are two routes to explore while you listen: a shorter loop around the lake itself and a longer circuit that extends deeper into the woodland.

5. La Gerche Forest Walk

Located in Creswick, the La Gerche Forest Walk honours the legacy of John La Gerche, a 19th-century forester who championed the regeneration of the then gold-rush-ravaged land. Today, over 100 years later, his replanting efforts have grown into a living cathedral of towering pines, oaks, and native gums. As you meander along the 2.2-kilometre circuit, you’ll find interpretive panels along the way that help tell the story of La Gerche’s vision, so you can learn as you wander.

6. Sailors Falls Loop

Just outside Daylesford, Sailors Falls tumbles through a fern-lined gorge, fed by mineral springs. Thought to be named after the sailors who jumped ship to seek gold in the area during the 1850s gold rush, the loop walk begins at the car park and descends through a cool, shaded gully to the base of the falls. From here, you’ll make the climb back via the mineral springs. It’s a short but enchanting walk – about 1.5 kilometres in total, so make a day of it by packing a picnic to sit by the springs; you’ll feel worlds away from the city.

7. Paddys Ranges Loop Walk

Further north, the Paddys Ranges State Park loop reveals a different side of Victoria’s Heartland – dry forest, golden light and hints of a gold-rush past. This protected reserve is a stronghold of box-ironbark woodland, providing vital refuge for endangered species. In spring, the forest floor is awash with the colour of over 230 species of wildflowers, so a springtime walk is a must-do. As you walk the 4.5-kilometre loop trail, keep an eye out for remnants of old mine shafts and rusted relics from the prospectors who once sought their fortunes here.

8. Mount Franklin Summit Walk

An extinct volcano turned picnic ground, Mount Franklin (known as Lalgambook to the Dja Dja Wurrung people) is one of the region’s quiet marvels. The summit walk follows a narrow, winding path through native forest to the crater’s rim, where you’ll get glimpses of farmland and forest below. It’s a moderate climb – just over an hour return, so it can easily be done if you’re camping in the surrounding reserve for a weekend nature retreat.

The trails of Victoria’s Heartland offer a chance to reconnect with the landscape, local history and yourself. Start planning your next adventure at daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au.