This April school holidays, a beautiful autumn experience awaits at Lightfall: Nature After Dark in the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne. This is a new, world-first event for Melbourne’s south-east, brought to life by the team behind the award-winning Lightscape.
Lightfall is a smaller, more intimate light trail. It winds through the stunning Australian Garden, with a 1km path full of glowing landscapes, large-scale installations, lakeside reflections, and immersive soundscapes. It’s a magical night out under an expansive autumn sky.
I visited on a classic Melbourne evening: sunshine, showers, and everything in between. Bring a jumper and an umbrella just in case. It’s an easy drive southeast, but make sure to put Donnelly’s Garden Supplies into your GPS for the right entrance. Rangers are stationed around the edges of the park to guide you if needed.
Once you arrive, signage and staff make everything simple. Parking is easy, though there was a short queue; bring snacks and drinks for the wait. Families were out in full force the night I went. Despite a little rain, spirits were high.
The atmosphere hits you right from the entrance. The lighting across the gardens is breathtaking. Installations transform the trees into something from Narnia. The footpaths glow with colour and feeling. It’s like slipping into a fairytale—think Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland with a modern twist.
Each section of the trail has its own mood. Expect giant illuminated flowers, fiery landscapes, floating moons, glowing bars, and jaw-dropping projections.
Culture Creative have done wonders in the Red Sand Garden with their Electric Fire Field. Their Moon and Stars installation features a stunning 10 metre wide glowing moon. Over at the Lily Pond, Jigantics (home to the largest collection of illuminated flowers in the world) have placed their blooms elegantly across the water.
Artwork by Stacey Edwards brings the space to life with traditional designs. There’s also a towering Big Bandicoot sculpture, crafted by Darryl Cordell, Vanessa Ellis, Trina Gaskell, and Cliff Dolliver, an artistic call to build more bandicoot-friendly communities.
There’s a lovely selection of food trucks serving snacks and drinks to keep you fuelled as you explore. The trail takes about 45 minutes to walk. I recommend grabbing some chips and enjoying them as you wander along the glowing boardwalk, surrounded by native wildlife sounds and soft lights. It’s a special kind of peace.
Kudos to the organisers for managing the crowd flow. Timed entry means you won’t be swamped with people, which keeps the experience calm and enjoyable. Staff were mostly friendly and helpful, though a few could have used gentler tones, especially when speaking to kids. At a family event, that warm touch really counts.
It’s the artistry that makes Lightfall shine. The installations are gorgeous and the mood is joyful. Watching kids spin and dance under glowing light is a memory worth keeping.
Lightfall runs exclusively in the Melbourne school holidays until 20 April. West Entrance, Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, 1000 Ballarto Road, Cranbourne Vic 3977.
Tickets: https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/Show.aspx?sh=LFTOURS25
Website: https://www.lightfallcranbourne.com.au/
Socials: https://www.facebook.com/lightfallau and https://www.instagram.com/lightfallau/
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