by TD Small

Created on: March 21, 2009   Last Updated: March 22, 2009

A trip to Sydney, Australia wouldn't be complete without getting a view of the city from the Sydney Tower. Before walking the Quay, visiting the Harbour Bridge, or setting foot in the Opera House, a visit to the Sydney Tower will help you make the most of your visit to Sydney.

Standing 305 meters above the city, the Sydney Tower is four times as high as the Opera House and double the height of the Harbour Bridge. Offering a 360 degree view of Sydney and its beautiful harbour, the Observation Deck allows visitors to acclimate themselves to all that Sydney has to offer and more.

Opened in 1981 the Tower is equal in height to the Eiffel Tower. It is ranked as one of the safest buildings in the world and not only offers viewing areas, but houses restaurants as well. Don't let the 1504 stairs to the top discourage you from visiting, since there are three high speed elevators that can make the trip to the Observation Deck in 40 seconds.

From the Observation Deck you can see Botany Bay, Darling Harbour, the aquarium, the Olympic Park, the Blue Mountains, as well as the Harbour Bridge, Circular Quay, and the Opera House. By taking just a few steps further around the deck you can also view Manly, Sydney Heads, the Botanic Gardens, Bondi, the football stadium, Hyde Park, and the airport. For a small price you can purchase a 360 degree guide of Sydney that will help you identify and pick out the above sites along with many others.

An optimum time to visit the tower is sunset, when a visitor on the Observation Deck can watch the sun set for three minutes longer than someone on the ground. While the Tower is an optimum place to take photos of the entire Sydney area, camera flashes will reflect back off of the windows and the reflection of lights from games at the back of the Observation Deck can affect photos as the sun sets and the deck becomes darker.

Also offered with the price of admission to the tower is the OzTrek, a virtual reality show that allows participants to take a ride across Australia. The OzTrek includes surround-sound and special effects in an atmosphere that allows you to visit areas of Australia you might not get to see otherwise.

For the real thrill seekers a 45 minute Skywalk is offered at the Tower. There is an additional cost for this. While the Observation Deck is enclosed with windows, the Skywalk allows the adventurer to step outside on the roof of the Sydney Tower. Participants stand on glass-floored viewing platforms. Due to wind speeds and safety issues participants are required to wear jump suits and are attached with safety harness to the external walkways. Sky guides will offer commentary and enhance your high adventure experience. If you want a true bird's eye view 260 meters above Sydney make the Skywalk part of your trip.

You can visit Sydney, Australia without visiting the Sydney Tower, but if you want to truly get a feel for the layout of the city, a visit to the Tower allows you to see all that Sydney has to offer in a unique and breathtaking way. Take the time to visit the Sydney Tower, then go out and explore up close what you've already seen from above.

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