Offering 360-degree views across the Sydney Harbour and the Blue Mountains, the Sydney Tower stands as the Southern Hemisphere’s second tallest observation tower. It rises 309 metres over Market Street in Sydney’s CBD and is visible from across the city.
The Sydney Tower journey begins in its 4D cinema, where the wind, bubble and fire special effects enhance an exploration of the city’s most iconic landmarks before guests travel up to the Observation Deck to view them first-hand using state-of-the-art binoculars and informative touchscreen panels. Daredevils can brave the glass-bottomed SkyWalk which sees them teetering 268-metres above the city below, or indulge at 360 Bar and Dining or the Sydney Tower Buffet which both offer revolving views of the surrounding skyline. The base of the Sydney Tower is connected to the shopping complex of Westfield Sydney where numerous chain stores are located and arcades spill into the exclusive shopping street of Castlereagh and bustling Pitt Street Mall.
The central location of the Sydney Tower means that it is within walking distance from most of the city’s other major landmarks and sights. Visitors can opt to travel by train, with both the Town Hall and St James stations located nearby, while the Capitol Square light rail station is found on adjacent Pitt Street. Visitors can also jump aboard any bus heading along George Street and alight at the Queen Victoria Building.
The Sydney Tower was designed by Australian architect Donald Crone in the 1960s, with the construction of the office building beginning in 1970. The tower began five years later, abiding by Sydney’s then-height limit of 279 metres. It wasn’t until 1998 that the lighting rod was added to the top of the spire, extending the tower’s height to 309 metres.