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australian christmas

Christmas in Sydney 2015

Christmas in Australia via christineknight.me

Christmas in the Southern Hermisphere is a funny time of year. It’s gets crazy hot, and we have wintery decorations popping up all over the place. It never feels as festive as it did when we were living in New York, but it certainly has its own charm that I love.

In Sydney, this is what Christmas looks like around the city:

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David Jones shop windows are usually a festive highlight. They were a bit of a let down this year however, so fingers crossed for a better display next time.

Christmas in Australia via christineknight.me

The Swarovski tree in the Queen Victoria Building is one of the most beautiful trees I have ever seen.


Christmas in Australia via christineknight.me Christmas in Australia via christineknight.me Christmas in Australia via christineknight.me

Post a letter to Santa on the top floor – he actually writes back, too!

Christmas in Australia via christineknight.me

The best Santa photo in Sydney in the Queen Victoria Building.

Christmas in Australia via christineknight.me

The free Christmas kick off concert in Hyde Park. The City of Sydney has a whole series of these free concerts at the beginning of the season. Despite the rain we had a wonderful time singing Christmas carols and dancing with friends.

Christmas in Australia via christineknight.meLife-sized gingerbread House at the Shangri La Hotel by master pastry chef Anna Polyviou.

Christmas in Australia via christineknight.meThe Christmas Tree in Martin Place runs digital messages all over it, so you can SMS a personal message to loved ones and see it on the tree.

Christmas in Australia via christineknight.meCircular Quay Customs House tree is a tree with an amazing view of Sydney Harbour.

Christmas in Australia via christineknight.me

Merry Christmas friends! What does Christmas look like in your city?

Christmas in Sydney 2014

This year is a special Christmas – it’s our first back in Sydney since Cheese’s first, when she was only four months old, and it’s also the first one where she’s really “gotten” Christmas and is excited by Santa, reindeers, Christmas trees and carols. We’ve had a really fun few weeks checking out all of the Christmas cheer around the city, including our favourites below.

Christmas in Sydney 2014 via christineknight.me

The Queen Victoria Building is always beautiful at Christmas. The Giant Swarovski tree in the centre is just spectacular, with 144,000 glorious Swarovski crystal ornaments and 60,000 twinkling lights. I really love that on each floor of the building you get to see a different part of the tree.

Christmas In Sydney via christineknight.me

Christmas In Sydney via christineknight.me

Christmas 2014 via christineknight.me

On the very top floor is where Santa holds court at Christmas. The QVB Santa is popular, so we got in early this year to avoid queues. He’s the happiest Santa I’ve ever seen, and I also really liked his helpers, who made Cheese laugh and feel comfortable enough to go and sit with Santa on her own for the first time since she was a tiny baby.

Christmas In Sydney via christineknight.me

The bottom of the Swarovski tree is basically made of lights. It’s a magnet for small kids and selfie-takers alike. This is actually a really sentimental spot for me and Alec from our own dating history, many Christmases ago now.

Christmas in Sydney 2014 via christineknight.me

Nearby in Pitt Street mall is the Lego Christmas tree – built entirely of Lego bricks. It features a surfing Santa, very appropriate for an Australian Christmas.

Christmas In Sydney via christineknight.me

For the first time this Christmas, I took Cheese to join friends at a Christmas evening concert in Hyde Park. I wasn’t sure how she’d go with the late night, but she had a fantastic time at the concert, watching the kids’ performers like High 5 singing Christmas songs, making a craft Christmas tree, and dancing with her little friend.

Christmas In Sydney via christineknight.me

We’ve been such Christmas nomads for the past few years, with Christmases in Hawaii and New York, that it’s really nice to be back home with our family and friends this year.