Christmas in July is a crazy one! It feels like Christmas, it looks like Christmas, but it’s not actually Christmas. We of course embrace any opportunity to celebrate Christmas twice a year, so we whizzed out to Sovereign Hill to experience the famous Winter Wonderlights.

You all know we love Sovereign Hill. The authentic streets, the horse and cart rides, the trips deep into the mines, panning for gold; it all goes toward making their Gold Rush experience second to none. Monty of course mostly loves the horse poo scattered about the road, and especially on Monday as it had been raining, making it far more sludgy and spectacular.

The Winter Wonderlights was by far one of our top experiences in Oz so far. We arrived early so as the children could have another search for some gold, take part in the craft activities and watch a couple of shows in the Victoria Theatre. We bought hot chocolates with fudge and freshly baked sausage rolls to munch on, we kept warm by the crackling fires along the streets, and mummy drank mulled wine! (I wasn’t planning on driving home). It was completely Christmassy with the snow falling around us, and then the Carol singers started. Well, I was catapulted back to my childhood, I could almost smell the mince pies and pine needles.

We waited eagerly in the cold (and I mean brrrrrr cold) for the lights to be switched on, gobbling the most wonderful gingerbread men. I was so glad I’d ignored the “why on earth are you taking hats and scarves to Australia?” when we packed our lives up in 2015. I’d forced the kids into their jumpers and insisted on them wearing coats. Even though I carried Monty’s most of the day, he was pleased to have it by 5pm as his body was going blue.

The carol singers came to an end at about 5:45, and the huge chimney lit up with the tale of the “Gingerbread Man”.  The magic had begun! The street came alive with music and lights and there was a loud “ooooooooh”… This was definitely worth the chilly wait. It was spectacular. All the building’s on the main street were glowing perfectly with Christmas themed lights projected onto their facades. It was really beautiful. The children were thrilled to be chasing the gingerbread man who kept popping up all over the place. The music, the lights, the children’s laughter, the entire atmosphere, all went toward making this a truly unforgettable evening for our family, and all the others around us. If only we had known about the overnight 4 star accomodation we could have avoided a tantrum, two overtired kids in the back of the car and a tense diversion through the McDonalds drive through!! The Wilson’s need in on the 2 days for 1 next year!!!

Sovereign Hill does it again!!!! Awesome in every way!

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 Opening hours

Sovereign Hill- 1st July – 30th July 10am-7pm

Gold Museum– 9:30-5:30

Sovereign Hill Entry, including Gold Museum and Wonderlights