Explore the Sydney Opera House Australia with @pergidulu

Nida Amalia
11 Nov 2019 - 4 min read

Let's say you've visited Sydney, but you've never been to the Sydney Opera House. Do you think people will believe that you've ever been there? They won't. At least that's what people say about this one particular icon that draws around 8 million visitors each year. You've never been to Sydney if you've never been to the Opera House.

This building is the landmark of The City of Emerald. It's a place nobody wants to miss if they're visiting Australia. That is why millions of people may have taken selfies with the Opera House in the background, but do you know that not that many people are privileged enough to have a look at the inside? Yes, you have to be one of those visitors who have purchased the official opera ticket, or at least you're one of the restaurant guests.

If you want to explore the interior design of the Sydney Opera House, you have to take an official tour organized by the officials. The tour lasts for 1 hour and is guided by a tour leader who has in-depth knowledge about the landmark in terms of history, architecture, and its facilities.

The history of the Sydney Opera House

Yes, the Sydney Opera House is the pride of the Australian people. But do you know, the building itself was a creation of a Danish architect, Jorn Utzon? The story goes back to the 1950s; the Sydneysiders needed a multi-venue performing arts centre. So they held a design competition. Out of 233 works submitted, Jorn Utzon's design with a sail-like roof won the hearts of the judges.

It was initially estimated only to take 3-4 years to build, but in reality, it was not a simple job to create a building with such unique construction. Various controversies during the creation were followed by Jorn Utzon's withdrawal from the project. After all, The Sydney Opera House finally completed after 14 years, and Queen Elizabeth II first opened the door on October 20, 1973.

Things to consider when taking a tour at the Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House is strictly guarded in terms of security. There are rules you may need to follow if you're taking a tour inside the building:

The tour will be delivered through a device so that you will listen to the whole explanation through earphones.
It is forbidden to walk alone or separate from the group because you will be lost.
You have to obey the photo rules. You may not be able to take a photo at several spots due to copyrights.

A guide to the Sydney Opera House

Sydney Opera House located in an area known as Bennelong Point. You can access this location by walk from Sydney CBD. There are transportation options available, including:

If you take a bus, train or ferry, you can stop at Circular Quay. From there only 6 minutes walk to the Sydney Opera House.
If you take a taxi, ask the driver to drop you off at the lower roundabout on Macquarie Street. It's a walking distance to the Sydney Opera House.

Perfect time to visit the Sydney Opera House

The Sydney Opera House Tour takes place every day, all year long except on Christmas and Easter. The tour starts from 9 am to 5 pm. It will take an hour for you to explore the building starting from the Welcome Center. You will end the tour at the Opera House Entry Foyer.

Both morning and evening tours are fantastic. So there is no specific time preference for your visit.

Sydney Opera House ticket prices and how to buy it

The price for the Sydney Opera House Tour is 42 AUD for adults and 22 AUD for children. You can buy Sydney Opera House Tour tickets through Traveloka Xperience.

From the main page, select Xperience then select "tours" category and type Sydney Opera House. Choose a language, number of visitors and date of visit. After that, you have to choose the available time slot. The tour must be done in the time slot that has been chosen.

After making the payment, you will get the voucher through email. And no, you don't have to print the voucher. You can show the voucher later during registration before starting the tour. On the day of the visit, please arrive 15 minutes early and wait in the designated area.

What's inside the Sydney Opera House?

Many people might think that the Sydney Opera House is one large opera house and that's it. The landmark itself is a combination of several structures resembling giant sails in which there are five opera houses inside.

Each opera house has a different character. Each building has its function. Some are designed for orchestral performances or live music performances, some are more suitable for theatre performances with unique technology to support it, and some are specific for ballet performances because of their unique characters. Several opera houses have been booked permanently by several international performers.

If you take a tour of the Sydney Opera House, the route is not always the same depending on your time of visit. The tour leaders must be good at modifying tour routes because the Sydney Opera House is an incredibly crowded building. There are around 2000 - 2500 shows taking place there. So, don't expect too much, you may only be able to visit two or three opera houses during the tour.

Tips on visiting the Sydney Opera House

Do not carry bags that are larger than A4 paper. If you do, you must store it in the locker.
Arrive early because the tour starts on time.
Wear comfortable shoes because you will go up and down the stairs during the trip.

The culinary journey at the Sydney Opera House

Sydney's reputation as a foodie capital seems to get even stronger. For culinary lovers with more budget, you won't regret splurging your money on delicious foods at the Bennelong, Australia's most celebrated chefs, Peter Gilmore's restaurant that located inside the Sydney Opera House. You can enjoy Bennelong's wild cape york barramundi while enjoying a breathtaking view of the Sydney Harbor Bridge.

Bennelong restaurant itself is a "three-hatted" restaurant that represents Australia's highest gastronomic standard. A two-course a la carte menu for lunch costs around 115 AUD per person. Bennelong restaurant is a perfect restaurant to celebrate your special moments.

For casual dining at the Sydney Opera House, visitors can choose their spot at the Opera Bar, located on the waterfront in front of the Opera House. There are semi-indoor and outdoor seats that would be perfect if you want to enjoy the view of the evening sky accompanied by the flying gulls.

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