Lights On! Vivid Sydney Has Returned! (Best Tips)
Sydney kicked off its iconic festival of lights, music and ideas last Friday, and what an opening weekend we had! It’s been two years since the last Vivid Sydney thanks to the pandemic but now, Sydneysiders finally get rewarded with a massive roster of events and attractions. If you're looking for a Sydney road trip, there’s no better time than now, with the festival doing its magic to the city until June 18th.
Due to the grandness of the festival you might be a bit overwhelmed at first, but the more you plan, the better. To make the most of this year’s festival, planning is key. Read along for the best tips.
Vivid Sydney Cruises
The harbour will be swarming with hundreds and thousands by the time the lights go off at 6pm as it houses some of the main draw cards for the event, the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, among others. The ideal way for you to escape the crowds and capture some excellent photos for your social feed is to get a seat on the popular Vivid Cruises. These high-demand cruises let you explore the waterways of the harbour on an unforgettable journey that will showcase some of the brilliant foreshore installations. Even better, hop on the multi-million dollar catamaran with three expansive outer decks and get captivated by the Lighting of the Sails, the grinning moonface of Luna Park, Circular Quay, Barangaroo and much more! What makes a Sydney Vivid Cruise so special is the fact that after taking in the views, you can head inside for a delicious feast, featuring freshly prepared dishes and fine wines.
Free Light Walk and Other Events
With a massive amount of events, 200 to be precise, the organisers have urged the revellers to create a MyVivid profile and split their Vivid schedule over days or weeks. Spanning all corners of the Central Business District (CBD), the Light Walk leads the list of free things for this year’s Vivid. And since it’s 8kms long (longest ever), it is an easy three nights spent. The walk has also expanded its footprint to two new locations–Central Station and The Goods Line–with the latter housing the biggest ever laser installation in the festival history. This year's Light Walk will kick things up a notch with an added music element. Tumbalong Park will be housing free concerts every Wednesday to Saturday, which adds to the DJ performances every night at The Goods Line and epic roster of live bands at Central Stations’s Grand Concourse.
Enjoy Vivid Ideas
Beyond the light installations and displays, the seats are disappearing fast for the free Vivid Ideas talks. With most free events filling fast it’s best to check the official website for the programs and dates. For those ready to splurge out, the program includes a star-studded lineup with the tickets ranging from $40 to $50. Some showstoppers tipped to sell out, include live discussions with singer-songwriter Troye Sivan, Australian filmmaker Baz Luhrmann and an exclusive album showcase by musician Marcia Hines.
Better Use That Coupons Now
Do you have those magic vouchers to use up before June 30? These venues near the vivid precincts shall do the trick:
Discover–Taronga Zoo’s Wild Nights is back with a spectacular array of light installations and projections and nighttime safaris.
Sea Life Sydney Aquarium is also accepting Discover vouchers. Experience an after-dark marine encounter! Glow-in-the-dark face paints, activity sheets and others will keep the little ones engaged.
Dine–Circular Quay is one of the go-to destinations for visitors and Zini Contemporary Gelato, with their zero-additive gelatos, will be putting out a new Vivid installation every night!
Go peak Vivid at O Bar and Dining who will be offering festival-themed glowing cocktails.
