The Enchanted Garden Review, Tips & Information

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Thu 21 Nov 2024 - Sat 21 Dec 2024

Attractions filled with lights have become extremely popular. One of the most popular is the annual Enchanted Garden in the Roma Street Parklands.

This event used to be free but has become ticketed, though still very cheap at $9 for an adult, simply because it is so popular. With food trucks and entertainment in the park as well, it is a nice evening out, especially for kids, but is also popular with the young at heart too.



Spoiler Alert

I am going to step you through the experience. The information at the top will be about getting there, food, entertainment, free things and tips should be of interest to everyone. Then if you don't want spoilers, please close your eyes and scroll down to the bottom of the article for an overall review and details.

Getting there

The venue is Roma Street Parklands with the entrance starting between the banyan trees beside Celebration Lawn in the park. You can easily get to the venue by public transport. You can take a train to Roma Street Station. Or you can take the bus to the Roma Street Bus Station, then walk through the station. They leave ticket gates open so you can just walk through the station. By bus, you can also get off at Normanby station and walk to the park. There is also a bus stop on Wickham Terrace.



There is plenty of paid parking around the parklands, but with an event like this, there may be limited availability of parking. You can find $10 parking in the evenings and weekends near Roma Street Station or in the city. But I would leave the car at home and use the current cheap public transportation to get there.

Food

Celebration Lawn is hosting food trucks, and there are some tables and seating around the area, but most people sit on the grass. You can bring your own food, and maybe a picnic blanket. There are also barbecues beside the lake if you want a barbecue before going to see the lights. Or you can just go there to use the food trucks whether you go to see the lights or not.



Musical Entertainment

The night I was there, there was a guy with a guitar playing. Which was a nice bit of light entertainment. I am not sure if it will be the same person every night or even all night. I don't know if they step up the musical entertainment on weekends.



Free lights

Maybe you are too cheap to pay for tickets or you couldn't get tickets. That is okay. You can eat from the food trucks, listen to music and enjoy the lights by the lake. The fountain is normally lit at night, and there are floating lights on the lake for the event along with lights in the trees.



Accessibility

There are no steps anywhere along the event. So it is suitable for wheelchairs, strollers, prams and so on. There are some benches along the path for people to rest, but for people who are ambulant but may have trouble walking and standing for 30 or 40 minutes, it may be a bit of a struggle.

Going into the event

You enter the event through between the banyan trees and proceed up the Allee Bridge where they scan your tickets for each session. There are no toilets in the event so use the toilets by the lake before going in.



Now the temptation is to rush in and queue up to get in first. But that just means you will be in a large crowd going in. It is maybe better to arrive a little late to your session so it won't be too crowded. Once in the event, you can spend as long as you want walking around.

Spectacle Garden

While not Christmas lights as such, the Spectacle Garden area is adorned with lights and reindeer lights, so it feels the most Christmassy. It is also the most crowded as it is closest to the entrance and you have to wend your way through a winding path.



Bubbles & Disco Balls

The next area is the most fun. Disco balls light up the sky, with bubbles and smoke filling the air. If you have kids they will probably want to stop to play with the bubbles. It is at this spot that people linger, so past this area, the crowd is more spread out.



Fairy Garden

Don't forget to stop at the fairy garden and make a wish. They will give you a wish token. You make your wish, remembering not to tell anyone what your wish is or it won't come true, then put it in the letterbox for the fairies.



Into the Rainforest

After passing through a forest of lights and crossing a bridge covered in lights you enter into the rainforest. By this stage, the crowds are thinning out. The rainforest is filled with a range of light patterns and shapes, creating a magical experience. It is worth exploring every corner and side path here.



Exit at the Lake

After winding your way down through the rainforest you exit at the lake and back to reality. The food trucks stay until the event closes, so you have a chance to enjoy some more food and entertainment before leaving this magical world far behind.



Overall

There is more to see in the Enchanted Garden than the photos that you see here, and overall it is a magical experience, and a lot of fun for kids or anyone who is young at heart. The negatives are that it is a bit crowded, and it is not much more than a lot of pretty lights. But once inside, everyone is friendly, nice and filled with the magic of the space. People do take a lot of photos and videos, but others just enjoy the lights and the walk. Certainly, it is good value at $9 for adults and $7 for kids, with special pricing for families of 4 and 5.


%wnBrisbane
#kids
#family
#family_friendly
#night_life
#parks
#food_trucks
#outdoors
#christmas
!date 21/11/2024 -- 21/12/2024