Lightscape, at Royal Botanic Gardens

Lightscape, the highly creative, after dark, lighting cavalcade at Royal Botanic Gardens, complete with a most appealing soundtrack, is a sensory sensation.

It started in 2022 and the "exhibits" this year are the best yet.

Following a curved two-kilometre trail, the installations have been created by leading artists from Australia and around the world.

For those who have seen Lightscape before, there is so much this year that is fresh, while those who haven’t are in for an eye-opener.

Under foot, spread out on the lawns, in the trees and above our heads is the extraordinary handiwork of creatives par excellence. 

Vivid imagination, a rich colour palette and emotive music make for an awe-inspiring experience.

Layers of Country by Wurundjeri artist Mandy Nicholson illuminates the ground with black and white sketches drawn from beneath the waters to high in the sky.

gulig (orchid season) is a long trail of these pretty flowers in glorious, blooming pink. 

Opposite a building lit up by floral arrangements is a vast lawn, resplendent with hundreds of small white glowing lights, seemingly on the move.

Firefly Field is the creation of multidisciplinary Dutch design studio Toer.

The Wilderness Within sees 40 lanterns, made from recycled tubes, suspended along the path. 

By media artist Dr Betty Sergeant, her practice operates at the intersection of art, biology and technology.

An installation that is most fun is Light Orchestra by British artisans Culture Creative and Filament.

A colourful array of lights on "stalks" brightens as the music changes tempo. 

Sixty vertical batons of light in the ground strike a chord as you make your way to the Neon String Tunnel.

Here, Culture Creative is at it again, this time with Melbourne-based Above & Beyond Production Services.

Bold line patterns in orange and green form a tunnel along the natural curve of the path. 

A kaleidoscope of colour – red, blue, yellow and green – in the trees is a spectacular sight – a photographer and videographer’s dream.

wiinj (fire) brings hundreds of burning torches to life beneath spot-lit trees.

French creative studio Pitaya presents Bifröst, a 40-metre-long immersive tunnel of light, formed from 20 arches, soaring to nine metres at its highest point.

Next, you can catch sight of arguably the finest ground exhibition of light ever seen.

Custom Fibre Optics showcases colour changing clusters of mushrooms with an installation that hugs the ground and reaches far and wide.

Mycelium Network, as it is called, is simply astounding. 

On the lake at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Oracle Liquid and Twenty20 Creative provide a mesmerising water fountain show to a popular music bed.

That is also where you can stop for a snack at one of several food stations serving savoury and sweet dishes.

I should add that along the walkway there are several small pop-up outlets with wine, cocktails, beer, soft drinks, water and crisps.

Chicago artist Michael Young draws attention with his series of dragonfly sculptures in brightly coloured hues.

Time lapse photography by Stephen Axford and Catherine Marciniak is involved in biik-ut barring (growth coming from below the ground), highlighting fungi.

iilk (eel) is a massive orange, pink, light blue and white inflatable from artist Jarra Karalinar Steel and there are more colourful projections on the walking surface.

These include Jarra’s personal icons.

Look overhead and UK’s Pyrite Creative has crafted an array of large, illuminated stark white feathers, which leave a lasting impression.

A cornucopia of white light in Cathedral staging is positively ethereal and makes for more stunning photos and video. 

Night Parrots is an award-winning projection sculpture of a parrot sheltering another with its wing. By Chalk River Labs, it features vibrant kaleidoscopic animation.

The immersive experience ends with the playing of the iconic song Treaty as we head to the exit past a black and white projection of a map of Victoria.

The artwork was created by five traditional owner artists from the First People’s Assembly of Victoria to celebrate the historic passing of Treaty.

Lightscape is an enriching two hours of stimulating entertainment that takes you on a magical, not to be forgotten, journey.

It is on at the Royal Botanic Gardens until 2^nd August, 2026.

For more information and tickets, go to https://www.lightscape.com/melbourne