Nobody could accuse the Hurn family of hiding their light under a bushel.

They are one of dozens of households that have turned The Lakes suburb into a Christmas wonderland this year.

And the trend appears to be escalating.

Luke Hurn has been staying with his parents Mick and Shirley Hurn recently, and has helped take their light display to a new level.

In fact, they are the winners of The Weekend Sun's Christmas Lights Drive which features 75 properties festooned with Christmas lights.

Since last Friday, public interest has gone through the roof with hundreds of people pouring through the suburb to check out the neighbourhood lights.

Luke says the interest from families is what makes it all worthwhile but there is no denying the competitive edge amongst the leading lights in the neighbourhood.

In fact, since The Weekend Sun picked its winner, the neighbours have upped their game and the Hurns were sitting third in a separate – suburb-specific contest.

'We are going to have to go bigger next year because our neighbours were putting up more (lights) yesterday,” Luke says, with a hint of exhaustion in his voice.

The display needs to be seen to be believed and comes complete with live Christmas trees and a larger than life, illuminated Santa in the front yard.

Luke was all set to bring a 5-metre-tall Santa down from Auckland but they thought it might be a bit over the top.

So what is the secret to success?

Well, the shine has gone off solar-powered Christmas lights, with the advent of low wattage LED's which shine brighter and last longer.

The Hurns have the whole thing set to a timer that comes on at 8pm and goes off at midnight.

But the lights haven't been spared the impact of COVID as they seem to have sold out in most stores much earlier than usual.

To see the full list of Christmas lights below:

Hairini

48 Sapphire Drive

Katikati

75A Wills Road

185 Henry Road

Mount Maunganui

44 Ascot Road

55 Russley Drive

41 Bayfair Drive

9 Ulster Street

78 Plateau Heights

Paengaroa

2 Tutea Place

11 Tutea Place

Papamoa

1 Kamahi Crescent

116 Wairakei Ave

117 Wairakai Ave

118 Wairakei Ave

123 Wairakei Avenue

124 Wairakei Avenue

132 Wairakei Ave

193A Parton Road

25 Montego Drive

5 Monte Carlo Key

30 Bucklands Crescent

54 Sandhurst Drive

97 Blake Boulevard

1 Fontana Street

4 Te Wharo Drive

1269 Papamoa Beach Road

44 Oreti Crescent

46 Oreti Crescent

Evans Road Community Church - 30 Evans Road

1 Kamahi Crescent

Matua

37 Woods Ave

Maungatapu

5 Tutauanui Crescent

5 Plover Place

14 Plover Place

16 Plover Place

22 Plover Place

Poike

31 Lagoon Place

Ohauiti

1 Riddington Rise

Otumoetai

13A Tupaea Place

4 Ashwood Place

Brookfield

122C Darraghs Road

Pyes Pa

31A Mortlake Heights

44 Kereru Place

24 Mortlake Heights

Mortlake Heights - The Whole Street

Matepu Crescent - The Whole Street

Tauranga

Baycourt - 38 Durham Street

Red Square Devonport Road Downtown

53 Ninth Ave

Welcome Bay

26 Estuary View Road

51 Discovery Avenue

1 Highlander Place

58 Welcome Bay Road

Te Puke

15 Sunset Drive

32 Beatty Ave

212 Benner Road

47 Valley Road

Waihi Beach

126 Seaforth Road

Waihi

23 Mataura Road