At a glance
- Dates
- Friday 30 October 2026 to Sunday 31 January 2027. Closed on 25 December, day and night
- Lights hours
- 5:30pm to 10:30pm, last entry 9:30pm. Rides 6pm to 10pm
- Where
- Hunter Valley Gardens, Broke Road, Pokolbin
- Night ticket
- Adult $42; child 4 to 15 $31; under 4 free (still needs a ticket); family passes from $97
- Parking
- Free. The closest car park fills quickly; there is more on the oval and in the Aqua Golf car park
- Bring
- Sealed bottled water only. No food, other drinks, pets, drones, bikes, scooters or eskies
- Who it’s for
- Families and groups driving to the Hunter Valley for an evening at the lights
- What to do now
- Buy a ticket for the night you want online before you leave, and check the Gardens’ Facebook page for weather closures on the day
- Last checked
- Saturday 31 October 2026, against the Hunter Valley Gardens event, FAQ and program pages
- Not yet confirmed
- Public transport and bus options are not listed on the pages checked; the program says it is subject to change
Hunter Valley Gardens has opened its Christmas Lights Spectacular for the season: it runs from Friday 30 October 2026 to Sunday 31 January 2027, with the lights open from 5:30pm to 10:30pm and last entry at 9:30pm. A night ticket is $42 for an adult and $31 for a child aged 4 to 15, and parking is free. The only day it is shut is Christmas Day. Times are New South Wales local time, which is on daylight saving.
This guide uses the Gardens’ Christmas Lights Spectacular page, its FAQs and the event program, all read on Saturday 31 October 2026.
What time does it open, and how long should I allow?
The lights open at 5:30pm and stay on until 10:30pm, with the last entry at 9:30pm. Rides run from 6pm to 10pm, the ride ticket booth closes at 9:30pm and the last ride is at 9:45pm. The Gardens recommend arriving early and allowing at least two hours to have a meal, go on the rides and see the display.
| What | Hours |
|---|---|
| Gardens by day | 9am to 4:30pm, last entry 3:30pm |
| Christmas Lights Spectacular | 5:30pm to 10:30pm, last entry 9:30pm |
| Rides | 6pm to 10pm, ticket booth closes 9:30pm, last ride 9:45pm |
| Food stalls and Evergreen Tavern | 5:30pm to 10pm |
| Santa photos | 5:30pm to 10pm nightly from 30 October to 26 December, closed 25 December |
The Gardens close at 4:30pm and the lights open at 5:30pm, and everyone has to leave in between, including holders of day-and-night tickets. You can walk around the displays more than once if time permits.
How much are tickets?
The Gardens list two kinds of ticket. A night ticket covers the lights session only. A day-and-night ticket also covers the Gardens from 9am to 4:30pm. Children aged 3 and under are free but must still have a ticket for entry.
| Ticket | Night entry | Day and night entry |
|---|---|---|
| Adult, 16 and over | $42 | $60 |
| Child, 4 to 15 | $31 | $48 |
| Family, 2 adults 2 children | $128 | $195 |
| Family, 2 adults 1 child | $104 | $161 |
| Family, 1 adult 2 children | $97 | $141 |
| Extra child, with a family pass only | $28 | $46 |
Tickets are sold online and at the gate, subject to availability, and the Gardens recommend buying online in advance. Tickets are valid only for the booked session. They can be changed to another day if you ask at least 24 hours before the booked date, depending on availability. Pensioner cards are not accepted for these activities. Group rates for 12 or more adults must be booked in advance through the Groups team, at groups@hvg.com.au.
Where do I park?
Parking is free for visitors, and there is limited disabled parking for cars displaying a disability parking permit. The Gardens say the car park closest to the entry fills quickly, but there is ample parking on the oval and in the Aqua Golf car park, a short walk from the entry. The address is Broke Road, Pokolbin NSW 2320.
What is new this year?
The Gardens name three new or expanded areas for 2026:
| Area | What the Gardens say |
|---|---|
| Celestial Snowfields | A winter realm with glowing constellations, walk-through snowy fields and celestial angels |
| Gingerbread Way | An entrance into a gingerbread house with candy canes and glowing sweets |
| Planes, Trains and Automobiles (expanded) | Illuminated boats, a plane, a train, skiing reindeer and an Aussie ute |
The Gardens also run an Ugly Christmas Outfits photo competition. It opened on Wednesday 28 October and closes on Friday 11 December 2026 at 11:59pm, with winners emailed on Tuesday 15 December and announced on social media on Friday 18 December at 12pm.
What is on each night?
The program lists a Nutcracker Story Time Experience at 6pm, 7pm and 8pm, and roving entertainment between 6pm and 9pm. It names these acts on particular nights, and says the program is subject to change.
| Act | Nights listed |
|---|---|
| Nutcracker Story Time Experience, 6pm, 7pm and 8pm | 31 October, 1 November, 7 and 8 November, 13 and 14 November, 20 and 21 November, 27 and 28 November, 4 and 5 December, 11 and 12 December, 18, 19 and 20 December |
| Bizarre Haus, 6pm to 9pm | 30 October, 6 November, 13 November, 20 to 22 November, 27 to 29 November, 4 to 6 December, 11 to 13 December, 17 to 24 December, 26 to 31 December, and Saturdays 2, 9, 16 and 23 January |
| Christmas House Band, 6pm to 9pm | 28 November, 5 December, 12 December, 22 December, 26 December |
| Summer Sunset DJ Sessions, 6pm to 9pm | Saturdays 2, 9, 16 and 23 January |
On Thursday 31 December the program lists Bizarre Haus and the house band from 6pm to 9pm, with fireworks at 9pm.
Can I bring my own food and drinks?
No. Food, picnics and drinks cannot be brought into the Gardens, except sealed bottled water. Alcohol and soft drinks are not permitted. If you want to bring your own food, the FAQs suggest buying from a shop in the Hunter Valley Shopping Village or having a packed meal or barbecue in the park near the Shopping Village, and say re-entry passes are available on the same day if you ask staff at the entry gate.
Inside, the Garden Terrace Café is open from 9am to 3pm according to the FAQ, while the event page says 9am to 4pm. The event food stalls are open daily from 5:30pm to 10pm, though one FAQ answer gives 6pm. The program lists loaded fries, burgers, kids’ meals, woodfired pizza, Mexican, dumplings, gelato, assorted desserts and coffee. The Evergreen Tavern, a bar inside the Gardens marquee, serves wine, beer and soft drinks from 5:30pm to 10pm. In December the program adds food trucks.
What do the rides cost, and who can go on them?
Rides are user-pay: $6 per ride, or a bonus pack of six for $30, bought at the ride ticket booth in the event area. Height and age restrictions apply, and operators check heights at each ride. The Superslide takes two rides per ticket, and a parent riding with a child of 110cm to 120cm does not need a ticket.
| Ride | Rule from the Gardens |
|---|---|
| Ferris Wheel, 25 metres high | Children below 120cm must ride with an adult. A wheelchair-accessible gondola takes one wheelchair user and a carer |
| Swing Chair, 11 metres high | 110cm to 120cm with an adult; 120cm and above may ride alone |
| Superslide, 12 metres high and 35 metres long | 110cm to 120cm with an adult; 120cm and above may ride alone |
| Carousel | For children under 16. Below 105cm must ride with an adult standing next to the child |
| Tea Cups | 95cm to 120cm with an adult; 120cm and above may ride alone |
Rides do not operate in adverse weather, as decided by the manager on site. Babies aged 18 months and under can ride the Ferris Wheel free with an adult, but need a ticket for the Carousel. Carers presenting a Companion Card at the rides booth get the same pass as the person they care for, free.
What happens if it rains?
Activities continue in rain and are only cancelled if management considers conditions dangerous. The Gardens recommend bringing your own wet-weather gear, and umbrellas are accepted. If the event closes because of severe weather, ticket holders are offered a change of date, subject to availability, or a gift card. Updates and cancellations are posted on the Gardens’ Facebook page, and the Gardens say a cancellation may come at short notice.
Is it accessible, and what is not allowed?
The Christmas Lights FAQ describes a 14-hectare site with over 8km of crushed granite paths (the Gardens’ general FAQ says 25 hectares), which the Gardens say makes most areas accessible for wheelchairs. Some lookouts and areas, including the Italian Grotto and the Waterfall Lookout, have stairs, and the paths can be uneven or steep. There are no wheelchairs for hire. Companion Cards are accepted, and a companion ticket can be booked online. The Gardens do not run guided tours.
Prohibited items include drones, ride-on toys, bikes, scooters, roller skates, skateboards and eskies. Pets are not allowed, except registered guide dogs and companion dogs, which need documentation at entry. Smoking and vaping are not allowed. Lost property can be collected from Garden Entry or by calling (02) 4998 4000.
Later in the season, the Boyz II Men concert at Bimbadgen on Saturday 5 December and the Ford NSW Open at The Vintage from 12 to 15 November are also in Pokolbin.
Sources
- Hunter Valley Gardens — Christmas Lights Spectacular (dates, hours, new areas, competition; checked 31 October 2026)
- Hunter Valley Gardens — Christmas Lights Spectacular FAQs (tickets, parking, rides, food, weather, entry conditions; checked 31 October 2026)
- Hunter Valley Gardens — Christmas Lights event program (entertainment calendar, food list; checked 31 October 2026)
Featured image: Entrance to Hunter Valley Gardens, Pokolbin, photographed in 2018 (photo: CassieShepherd / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Hunter Valley Gardens. Prices, hours and the entertainment program can change; check the Gardens’ pages before you go.