A Grandparent’s Guide to Melbourne’s Christmas Wonderland 2026 at Caulfield Racecourse
Melbourne’s Christmas Wonderland returns to Caulfield Racecourse from 25 November to 24 December 2026, with PAW Patrol joining Santa under the Big Top.
Ask a four-year-old to name their favourite rescue crew and you won’t wait long for an answer. This year Marshall and Skye are roaming the Christmas Wonderland Big Top, and there’s a PAW Patrol playland and scooter track to keep the grandkids busy. Each session runs for three hours, so you can take it at your own pace. Below you’ll find the 2026 dates, ticket prices, what’s on offer and how to get there, plus what our team learned on a visit last year.
Christmas Wonderland 2026: Dates and Tickets
- Dates: Wednesday 25 November to Thursday 24 December 2026 (Christmas Eve)
- Where: Caulfield Racecourse, Station Street, Caulfield. Enter via Gate 21.
- Session length: about three hours
- Single ticket: from $42.50 (plus booking fee)
- Family ticket: $130 for four tickets, with at least one adult (plus booking fee)
- VIP ticket: $75 (plus booking fee), which includes priority access, VIP seating at the Christmas show, a VIP lanyard and gift bag, and a food voucher. Everyone in your group needs a VIP ticket to get the perks.
- Book online here via Ticketmaster, or phone Melbourne’s Christmas Wonderland on 0400 881 007
Adults and children pay the same price. Children under 2 are free
Limited tickets may be sold at the door, but the organisers expect most sessions to sell out, so book ahead.
Session times
Session times vary by day. Most weekends offer 10am, 2pm and 6pm sessions, and weekday options are fewer. A few examples from the official timetable:
- Opening night, Wednesday 25 November, has a 7pm session only
- Christmas Eve, Thursday 24 December, has a 10am session only
- Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 December have 10am sessions only
Check Ticketmaster for the session you want, as availability changes.
Special event sessions
Three themed sessions have their own tickets, each with a sweet treat and a souvenir:
- The Grinch Christmas Celebration: 9 and 11 December, with a Grinch meet and greet
- Frosty’s Frozen Party: 14 December, with Frosty greeting guests on arrival
- Rudolph’s Birthday Party: 15 December, with a Rudolph meet and greet and reindeer ears to take home
What to Expect Inside the Big Top
Christmas Wonderland is held under The Grand Big Top, which means everything is indoors, weather-proof and close together. You’ll move through themed areas filled with lights, activities and gentle entertainment.
Some of the key experiences include:
- Rudolph’s Barnyard, with an animatronic reindeer for selfies
- including Marshall, Skye and Rudolph
- PAW Patrol’s Christmas Playland, with a PAW Patrol Bus for selfies, mini golf, a DIY craft and a drawing lesson for budding artists
- PAW Patrol’s Scooter Track, where children ride a themed vesper or scooter around a track with character moments and Christmas touches
- Santa meet and greet, with a free gift for children
- North Pole Post Office, where letter-writing elves help with letters to Santa
- A 45-minute live show with Mrs Claus and her elves, described as “where Christmas meets circus”
- Mrs Claus’ Bakery, where children decorate a shortbread treat
- Three Christmas and candy themed jumping castles
- Junior rides: teacups, a small carousel and a mini train
- Elves Christmas Craft Village, where children paint a wooden Christmas tree or snowman stand
Extras that cost more: photos with Santa, photos with the Grinch at Grinch Land, carnival games, merchandise, and food and drink.
It’s colourful and lively — think the energy of a school fete, only wrapped in tinsel. The sessions run for a generous three hours, so there’s plenty of time to move at your own pace.
On food, our team found the options very basic last year, mostly pies and chips. We visit for an afternoon session so we don’t need a meal, and just pick up popcorn and fairy floss for the kids. If you’d like a proper sit-down meal, the organisers point to the Glasshouse, which is open for lunch and dinner.
What’s new this year
PAW Patrol is the big change for 2026. Children can climb aboard the PAW Patrol Bus for a selfie, try a round of mini golf and learn to draw their favourite pups in PAW Patrol’s Christmas Playland. Over at PAW Patrol’s Scooter Track, they can scoot around a themed circuit with Christmas touches along the way.
If your grandchildren are devoted to the show, it’s a good excuse to book. If they’ve moved on to other favourites, the rest of the Big Top still works well for younger children.
Diane’s review: 29 November 2025 visit
Christmas Wonderland with the Grandchildren. That’s exactly what it was!
After an easy train ride to Caulfield — a highlight in itself for the out-of-town grandkids — we started what turned out to be a wonderful day. It’s just a short walk across the road from the station to the Caulfield Racecourse, where an enormous Circus Royale Big Top tent was waiting for us.
Once inside, you’re immediately entranced by the beautiful decorations, lights, trees and all the little touches that make it feel magical. Roaming characters greeted the children — Mrs Claus, the Grinch, Rudolph and the Care Bears — all very happy to stop for photos.
There were so many activities included at no extra cost: a Christmas craft village where the kids could decorate their own stocking, a factory to create a foam gingerbread house, plaster figures to paint… the list goes on. The jumping castles, especially the giant snowman, were a big hit, as was the Cup and Saucer ride.
We all enjoyed the live show featuring the Care Bears, Santa, Mrs Claus and several international circus acts. Our last stop was the roller-skating rink. I can’t say I enjoyed watching the grandkids attempt to navigate themselves around it — I was too busy hoping they’d all come home in one piece!
We spent a delightful three hours at Christmas Wonderland and would definitely recommend a visit with young children — and the big kids (adults) too!
Grandi,
Diane
Practical Tips for a Smooth Visit
1. Use the toilets before entering
The toilets are outside the main entrance. Once you’re inside, it’s a bit of a hassle to duck in and out again, especially with little ones in tow.
2. The craft areas are calm zones
Christmas Wonderland is highly stimulating — lots of sound, movement and excited children. The various craft areas allow kids and grown-ups to sit down and relax with an activity.
3. It’s not very pram-friendly
The space gets busy, and some corners are tight. If possible, leave the pram in the car, use a carrier, or have one adult stay with the pram in quieter areas.
4. Parking and public transport
- Parking costs $10, and spaces can fill quickly.
- Caulfield Station is right across the road, making the train an excellent alternative.
For many families — especially those avoiding the parking shuffle — public transport is the easier option.
5. Choose the right session time
Earlier sessions tend to be calmer and cooler, which many families prefer. Evening sessions can feel more energetic, but the lights are lovely.
6. Plenty of time to see everything
Each session runs for three hours, so there’s no need to rush. Take breaks, sit when you need to, and let the kids burn their energy while you enjoy the atmosphere.
Who Will Enjoy Christmas Wonderland Most?
The event is mostly geared towards children under 10, but the magic rubs off on adults too — especially those who enjoy watching the joy on their grandkids’ faces.
Parents and grandparents often say that having multiple generations together makes it a far richer experience. There’s something about the mix of lights, music and craft tables that brings out a bit of nostalgia.
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The Seniors in Melbourne team was hosted by Melbourne’s Christmas Wonderland in 2025. All opinions are the writer’s own.
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