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The countdown is on to one of the most anticipated days of the year, and Christmas spirit is high in the Western Bay.

Homeowners have spent weeks – even months – decorating their homes and gardens to brighten the night sky with dazzling displays of Christmas lights.

Christmas lights are adorning homes in the Western Bay - 10 Chelmsford Street in Katikati is jsut one example of lights around the region.

And Sun Media director Claire Rogers took her family along to the lights' trail this week, and says it was a spectacular sight.

'The light displays are amazing,” she says. 'Whole properties have been transformed into Christmas wonderlands.

'The amount of effort that has gone in to these displays is truly incredible, ranging from the elegant simplicityat 12 Te Ngaio Rd in Mount Maunganui, to the complex dazzling displays at 5 Monte Carlo Key and 30 Bucklands Crescent in Papamoa.

'Carol and Kevin Torr were outside welcoming people in at 131 Kaitemoko Road, Welcome Bay, and the Ohauiti Church was offering hot chocolate and Christmas cake.”

Claire suggests people grab their favourite Christmas CD, Santa hats, the kids and grandma – 'we took great-grandma too” – and enjoy a lovely family time.

See below for a list of addresses to visit along the light trail:

Pukehina

388 Pukehina Parade

Papamoa

5 Monte Carlo Key

30 Bucklands Crescent

Mount Maunganui

Apartment 20 P, The Palms, 60 Maranui Street

12 Te Ngaio Road

78 Plateau Heights

9 Prince Avenue

17 Poinsettia Place

Maungatapu

1 Plover Place

9 Plover Place

Welcome Bay

4 Eagle Street

131 Kaitemako Road

Welcome Bay Vet Clinic

58 Welcome Bay Road

Ohauiti

14 Amarillo Drive

Hairini

48 Sapphire Drive

Greerton

2 Maitland Street

Pyes Pa

208 Cheyne Road

Matua

16 Woods Avenue

Omokoroa

84 Harbour View Drive

Katikati

9 Muirfield Crescent

69B Fairview drive

123 Park Road

10 Chelmsford Street

Waihi Beach

273 Seaforth Road