Vivid Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales © Destination NSW
5 ways for groups to experience Vivid Sydney
Vivid Sydney is an annual festival of light, music and ideas, held in Australia’s harbour city of Sydney. From climbing to the summit of the Sydney Harbour Bridge to cruising the waters of the Harbour itself, here are five different ways for groups to experience the brilliance of Vivid Sydney.
1. From above
Vivid Climb, BridgeClimb Sydney, New South Wales © Destination NSW
Nothing beats a bird’s eye view of Vivid Sydney. Groups of up to six guests at a time can take an exclusive private night flight with Sydney Heli Tours, and admire the stellar views of the lights including the illuminated sails of the Sydney Opera House. Operating on select nights throughout Vivid Sydney, Sydney HeliTours operates a luxurious EC135 helicopter and is the only company licensed to do aerial tours at night. For an energetic experience, BridgeClimb runs an exclusive Vivid Sydney Climb. Up to 14 guests can experience a fully guided climb to the summit, where they’ll witness the moment the lights switch on to create a dazzling display of grand-scale projections beamed across Sydney’s famous landmarks. At Luna Park, the iconic Ferris Wheel is illuminated for Vivid Sydney and can suspend up to 96 guests 40 metres (131 feet) above the ground in 24 gondolas, offering a lofty vantage point from which to admire the lights. Onsite event spaces the Crystal Palace and the Palais are available for hire during Vivid Sydney for up to 1,300 and 250 guests respectively, cocktail-style, and a Ferris Wheel experience is included in the hire. For a venue that’s sure to get sky-high feedback, Bar 83 – Sydney’s highest bar – soars 83 levels above the city in the iconic Sydney Tower and can be hired exclusively during Vivid Sydney for groups of up to 110 guests, offering 260-degree views of Sydney’s glittering cityscape.
2. From the water
Illuminated boats sail across Sydney Harbour at night past the lit-up Sydney Opera House, Sydney, New South Wales. © Destination NSW
A cruise on the spectacular Sydney Harbour is an exciting way to soak up the atmosphere of Vivid Sydney. Captain Cook Cruises runs dedicated Vivid Sydney cruises for up to 700 guests at a time, ranging from short sunset cruises to seated dinner cruises. Guests will be thrilled by the onboard light installations; the official Vivid Sydney logo shines brightly on flagship MV Sydney 2000, and MV John Cadman 2 proudly displays the state’s official tourism hashtag, #ilovesydney. The new A$15-million-dollar luxury superyacht The Jackson - also operated by Captain Cook Cruises - is offering an exclusive degustation dinner cruise matched with Penfolds wines, with guaranteed window seats and spacious open leisure decks from which to admire the Vivid Sydney lights. For a unique nautical experience, charter a magnificent 1850s-style tall ship with Sydney Harbour Tall Ships. Up to 60 guests can take a step back in time as they board an illuminated tall ship, and admire the dynamic light displays projected onto the world-famous Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Journey Beyond Cruise Sydney is also offering special cruises on their luxury split-level catamaran which accommodates up to 80 guests, and cruises past major installations from Circular Quay to The Rocks, Barangaroo and Darling Harbour whilst guests indulge in a three-course dinner and drinks.
3. From a five-star hotel
Park Hyatt Sydney, New South Wales © Destination NSW
It’s even possible to experience the magic of Vivid Sydney from the luxury of a five-star hotel. There are several hotels overlooking Sydney Harbour, all of which offer a unique vantage point and a convenient base for exploring Vivid Sydney and the city of Sydney. Circular Quay boasts the 537-room Intercontinental Sydney and the 70-room Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour, both of which overlook the Vivid Sydney installations at the Royal Botanic Gardens and Circular Quay. In the historic district of The Rocks, the 564-room Shangri-La Sydney offers sweeping views of the Harbour from its rooms, its glass-walled private dining room at Altitude restaurant, and from Blu Bar on level 36, which is serving up special Vivid themed cocktails. Nearby, the 155-room Park Hyatt Sydney is an unrivalled vantage point for views of the Sydney Opera House. Crown Sydney and Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour offer front-row seats to Darling Harbour’s installations, including ‘Sydney Infinity‘ - Australia’s largest ever liquid and light show, in the waters of Cockle Bay. In 2022, Vivid Sydney is heading to Walsh Bay and the 189-room Pier One Sydney Harbour is celebrating with a special Vivid Sydney Marquee Bar available for groups of up to 100. The hotel also has event spaces for hire and harbour cruises depart from its private jetty.
4. From a venue from a view
Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA), Sydney, New South Wales © Destination NSW
The iconic Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA) in Circular Quay has long been a drawcard during Vivid Sydney, and 2022 is no exception. This year, the MCA’s six-storey façade will be transformed by a colourful projection that takes viewers on a visual journey through the artistic evolution of Australia’s leading abstractionist, Helen Eager. For the first time ever, the MCA’s Harbourside Room is available to hire during Vivid Sydney, alongside the Quayside Room, Sculpture Terrace and Foundation Hall, offering spaces suitable for 150 – 750 guests. The MCA also offers a stimulating program as part of Vivid Sydney Ideas, through hands-on workshops, performances, live music and talks. Across the Harbour in Mosman, groups can explore Taronga Zoo’s ‘Wild Lights’ which features breathtaking illuminated sculptures of different animal species, followed by a private event at the Gili Rooftop for up to 90 guests banquet-style or 150 cocktail-style. Afterwards, they can stroll back to their suite at Wildlife Retreat at Taronga, a luxury eco-retreat nestled within the grounds of the zoo itself. The ICC Sydney is at the doorstep of Vivid Sydney’s Darling Harbour activations, and its Grand Ballroom is the largest in Australia seating 2,000 guests in banquet mode, and 3,500 in cocktail mode. The Sydney Opera House offers an exciting program of events ranging from the nightly lighting of the sails to thrilling performances by Australia’s leading Indigenous contemporary performing arts company, Bangarra Dance Theatre.
5. From a waterfront restaurant
Bennelong Restaurant, Sydney Opera House, Sydney, New South Wales © Nikki To
On the water’s edge in The Rocks is Quay, one of Australia’s most celebrated restaurants. With a menu created by renowned Chef Peter Gilmore, this stylish dining institution is the perfect place for groups to dine during Vivid Sydney. It offers sensational views of both the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge and has three private and semi-private dining spaces, seating between 10 and 100 guests. On the opposite side of Circular Quay is its sister restaurant Bennelong, which is nestled beneath the spectacular sails of the Sydney Opera House. Bennelong has several semi-private dining spaces and is in the heart of the action for Vivid Sydney, with unbeatable views of the Harbour Bridge as it changes colour. A stone’s throw from Bennelong is the highly lauded Aria, led by renowned chef and restaurateur Matt Moran. Aria has collaborated with Sydney fine art floral studio Acid Flwrs to create a special visual experience for diners during Vivid Sydney 2022, featuring creative floral installations throughout the venue and limited-edition Vivid Sydney chocolate truffles. Guests can enjoy pre-dinner drinks and canapés on the Aria Terrace which boasts stunning views of Sydney Harbour, followed by dinner in the Harbour Room, Wharf Room or the Main Dining Room. At Matt Moran’s three-level Barangaroo House in Darling Harbour, groups can sip on limited-edition ‘House of Hues’ cocktails whilst admiring the in-house light installation of the same name, featuring a suspended ambient mirror surrounded by an LED net.
