Christmas falls in the middle of summer across Australia and New Zealand, which makes the region's Christmas markets a deliberate, slightly novel adaptation of a Northern Hemisphere tradition rather than a natural fit for the season. One major city's German-style market is among the largest examples.
The destinations on this list range from city centre markets built around imported European traditions to smaller community events that blend the format with distinctly local seasonal touches. Most run in the lead-up to the holiday regardless of the warm weather.
Visiting in the evening tends to make considerably more sense here than in the Northern Hemisphere, simply to avoid the height of summer heat. Local tourism offices typically publish exact market dates each year.
