Melbourne lights up with huge Winter event

There is an event on in Melbourne right now that casts the famous Botanical Gardens in a whole new light.

Melbourne in Winter means warm coats, good coffee and staying indoors. But there are some exceptions worth braving the city’s famous cold for.

One of them is happening now at the Royal Botanical Gardens where after dark it lights up to create mesmerising scenes.

The annual Lightscape festival has been something I’ve wanted to check out for years, after it sold out in 2022 and 2023. This year, walking through the sea of installations and illuminated sculptures, I got to see for myself why it has been so popular.

When you first walk in, the word WOMINJEKA lights up beneath tall trees coloured purple and blue and pink. The Woiwurrung word spoken by the Wurundjeri people translates to “welcome” and it’s a fitting entry.

Melbournes favourite winter event, the multiple award-winning Lightscape 2025, is on until August 10. Picture: David Caird

Wominjeka at Royal Botanical Gardens for this year's Lightscape event.

For those who have visited in the past, this year’s event promised “new sights, new sounds, a whole new journey”.

“Wander through glowing floral canopies, marvel at the sparkling ‘Effervescence’, and lose yourself in a landscape reimagined with artistic lighting and immersive soundscapes,” event organisers wrote.

Highlights include Trapezoid by ArtAV, Lasers by Culture Creative, Dandelions by Fantasy Wire and Greenhouses by Dan Adams — an exhibit that will have young hearts breaking as they’re told “no, you cannot go inside there”.

Trapezoid by ArtAV. Credit: Geraint Lewis. Courtesy Culture Creative.

Dandelions by Fantasy Wire. Credit: Richard Haughton. Courtesy Sony Music.

Greenhouses by Dan Adams. Credit: Kat Gollock. Courtesy Culture Creative.

Crowne Plaza Melbourne has this year formed a partnership with Lightscape to offer guests discounted tickets and a hotel stay (breakfast buffet included).

The hotel, part of the IHG group, bills itself as the only absolute riverfront hotel in Melbourne and offers 432 gues suites and incredible views over the Yarra River.

The partnership offers overnight accommodation for two including two tickets to Lightscape as well as beanies and blankets to help stay warm.

Crowne Plaza Melbourne General Manager, Erkin Aytekin, said the partnership is designed to capture families looking for short city visits and staycations.

“Lightscape is the original immersive light experience, and it beautifully captures the magic of winter, encouraging families to explore the gardens as they have never seen before. We’re very proud to be aligning with this internationally renowned activation to showcase winter in Melbourne,” he said.

“We have some very special offers available at the hotel; the idea is providing guests with all the creature comforts they need when they get back from their Lightscape visit.”

The event runs until August 10.

For more information and to book your Crowne Plaza Melbourne X Lightscape package please visit: https://www.melbourne.crowneplaza.com/offers/winter-light-up/

The writer visited Lightscape as a guest of Crowne Plaza Melbourne