Lightscape is set to brighten Melbourne’s winter once again, returning to the Royal Botanic Gardens for its fifth season from Friday June 12 to Sunday August 2. The after-dark experience has become a staple of the colder months, inviting visitors to wander through the gardens on a 2.1 kilometre illuminated trail filled with light, colour and sound.
Since making its Melbourne debut in 2022, after successful runs in the UK and US, Lightscape has quickly earned a reputation as one of the city’s must-do winter events. Its blend of large-scale installations and atmospheric soundscapes has twice taken out Gold at the Victorian Tourism Awards, and this year’s edition builds on that momentum with a mix of new works and returning favourites.
Among the highlights is the Australian premiere of Bifröst by French studio Pitaya, a striking tunnel made up of 20 arches of cascading light. Firefly Field by Dutch studio TOER also makes an impression, with 200 glowing points of light drifting and darting across the grass. Returning crowd favourites include the 30 metre Winter Cathedral and a reimagined Fire Garden, now arranged as a circular spiral of 150 candles.
The experience is designed to be unhurried. Most visitors will want to allow around 90 minutes to take it all in, moving at their own pace and stopping to linger where it feels right. This year also introduces adults-only evenings, offering a more relaxed setting for date nights, alongside dedicated relaxed sessions designed for visitors who may benefit from a more supported environment.
Getting there is easier than ever thanks to the new ANZAC Station on the Metro Tunnel, making the gardens more accessible for a wider audience.
With crisp air, glowing installations and plenty to discover, Lightscape once again offers a simple but memorable way to embrace winter in Melbourne.
