Visitors to Sydney will find plenty to do between the Sydney Opera House and the Royal Botanical Gardens, plus a myriad of other local destinations. But no trip to this Australian metropolis would be complete without adding a little Sydney Tower tourism to the list.
The Sydney Tower Eye is the tallest structure in the city and the Southern Hemisphere’s second tallest observation tower. Soaring to an incredible 1,014 feet (309 meters), the tower overlooks Sydney’s central business district.
Visitors can pay for a Standard Ticket and receive admission to the tower’s internal Observation Deck and take in the free 4D Cinema pre-show. The Standard Ticket is perfect for those on a spontaneous visit who can’t schedule one of the Skywalk tours.
The 4D Cinema experience lasts 4 minutes and a new show starts every 5 to 10 minutes, and will include flashing lights and small sprays of water. 4D glasses are provided to every guest.
Visitors can stay as long as they want on the Observation Deck until closing time, but any children 16 or younger must be accompanied at all times by a ticket-holding adult.
If you want the full tower experience, you’ll want to purchase a ticket for the 45-minute Skywalk tour, led by experienced guides who offer a tour out on the Skywalk. You’ll see breathtaking 360 degree views of the city and harbor, and be able to view the city below through two glass panels in the turret floor. As with the Standard Tickets, you’ll also get to enjoy the 4D Cinema and the internal Observation Deck. The entire experience should take you about 1 to 2 hours.
It’s important to note that the Skywalk tours are only for those ages 8 and up. For school aged children, the tower offers educational materials you can download from their website.
The tower also offers a VIP Skywalk tour as well as a Private Skywalk tour. The VIP tour includes all the amenities of the regular Skywalk tour, but with a picture taken at a themed photo spot, and a personal Skywalk photo pack taken by the tour guide.
The Private Skywalk Experience includes all the same amenities of a VIP tour, except that the tour will be a private tour for two, given by your own personal tour guide. Be sure to make reservations well in advance, as the personal tours are only done at certain times, and are not scheduled during school holidays.
The Sydney Tower Eye provides extensive wheelchair access throughout the tower, including the Skywalk, to facilitate those with accessibility requirements. By giving the tower advance notice, additional staff can be provided to assist with any needs throughout a Skywalk tour.
If you plan on visiting other local attractions, you may want to consider one of the combination packages offered, where you can bundle your Sydney Tower tickets along with tickets for bus tours, the Captain Cook Cruise, the Sydney Zoo, the Manly Sea Life Sanctuary, and Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum.
For local residents or those who plan to travel throughout Australia and New Zealand, the Merlin Annual Pass gives you 12 months of unlimited access to the top 11 attractions in both countries, 5 of which are located right in Sydney.
With all those attractions available in addition to the spectacular Skywalk Experience, you’ll definitely want to take advantage of these Sydney Tower tourism opportunities.
