I’m a sucker for the magic of fairy lights. As I child I would sit cross-legged on the floor and gaze up at our plastic Christmas tree transfixed. These days, I bring the fairy lights out for every birthday, not just once a year. You could say I’m the perfect person to appreciate the MOTAT Christmas Lights.
I vividly remember the first time I tried to go to this Auckland institution. Five of us piled into one car, we headed over to Western Springs, keen for some Christmas joy.
We got as far as the intersection with Great North Road before I got cold feet.
“Whoa, are we really going to do this? No, seriously, do you still want to?”
The cars were backed up the street. A field of overflow parking looked like mayhem. Hapless wardens tried to organise the never-ending flow of vehicles stuffed with impatient children.
It was my idea of hell, not the heaven I’d anticipated. On some primal level, my body was screaming, ‘get us out of here’.
My understanding friends agreed to skip it and we veered away from the abyss of cars, cars, endless cars. I wasn’t keen to attempt it again, and a few Christmasses rolled by.
Roll on a new way to get to MOTAT Christmas Lights
Then 2025 came around. When I heard Bike Auckland would be providing Bike Valet at the MOTAT Christmas Lights, it sounded like the perfect solution. Exactly what the event needed. Harmony to end the chaos. Breezing up to MOTAT without the stress. Breezing out again at leisure – no waiting for a line of vehicles to manoeuvre their way out of a crowded field.
With my family, I joined a group of other revellers who rode together from the Grey Lynn Bike Hub. Bikes decorated, we took a meandering sunset ride with our guides, and rolled up to the Bike Valet, which was right by the MOTAT entrance. After some friendly chitchat with the Valet staff, we were smoothly conducted inside by some lively elves with bubbles.
And inside, it was every bit as magical as I’d hoped.
How to get to MOTAT Christmas Lights by bike
MOTAT is open for the Lights Fri-Mon each weekend until Christmas. You can find the Bike Valet on Stadium Road by the Christmas Lights entrance (Gate C) each evening of the event. Bike Valet is free to use, and secure.
Catch the MOTAT Christmas Lights by bike:
- Friday 12th – Monday 15th December
- Friday 19th – Monday 22nd December
And for some good bike routes in the Inner West, check out this Bike Auckland map.
