As promised, I’ve been guest-blogging on up-and-coming travel site Heading There. The below have been cross-posted on Heading There’s blog – the site is still being set up, but there are already some very helpful and handy tips on the blog page, with me providing highlights on the Awesome Tour of Sydney and a more regular feature on Sydney’s attractions for the remaining duration of this competition.
.

****************************

The Sydney Opera House represents Sydney and Australia the way the Eiffel Tower represents all things French & Paris as a city. So to start off our virtual tour of Australia, I thought we should start off in the world-renowned Opera House.

The Sydney Opera House was the brainchild of Danish Jørn Utzon, who participated in the international competition by the NSW Government for a design for two performance halls, one for opera and one for symphony concerts. Legend has it that Utzon’s submission was salvaged from a pile of discarded submissions, and his visionary design which complemented the magnificent backdrop of the Sydney Harbour stunned the judges. Queen Elizabeth II opened Sydney Opera House in the presence of The Duke of Edinburgh on 20 October 1973. The Opera House was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site on 28 June 2007, and it is one of the world’s most distinctive 20th century buildings.

You can go on guided tours of the Sydney Opera House. Tickets can be purchased on the day itself from the Opera House at $35 (adult admission). However, with proper preplanning, making an early start of the day and purchasing tickets online prior can bring the price down to $28, a steep discount of 20%. Online pre-purchased earlybird tickets are valid for tours starting at 9am and 9.30am – the $7 you saved can go towards breakfast!

The Asian Spotlight tour offers a cut-down version of the full fledged tour at $22 – obviously the only catch being that you would need to understand either Mandarin, Korean or Japanese! A $150 backstage tour is also available, where you would be brought to the backstage areas normally only accessible to the stars. It includes breakfast served in the Green Room.

If a guided tour is not your cup of tea, perhaps having afternoon tea in one of the world’s most iconic structure is. Relax in elegant dining room whilst admiring the breathtaking views of the Botanical Gardens and the Sydney Harbour and skyline. Not only that, you would be entertained by an opera singer to while your afternoon away – how perfect is that? The price tag of $145 might be steep for most, but “The combination of opera performance, fine cuisine and the ambience of a World Heritage listed building has created a Opera High Tea experience worthy of a standing ovation.”

However, if you are in luck, you could also catch an actual performance in the Opera House. Starting from $69, this would be an excellent way to get a feel of the Opera House the way it’s supposed to be – a place of art and perfection.

If you are not that bothered about entering the Opera House, breathtaking vistas of the Harbour with the Opera House in the backdrop can be seen from Circular Quay all the way towards the Rocks. It is spectacular from the Harbour Bridge as well, and the Botanical Gardens also offer an alternative view of the Opera House. However, my personal favourite view of the Opera House is on an open-air topped boat leaving from Circular Quay towards Darling Harbour at twilight – magnificent. The boat ride to Manly comes a very close second – you literally go around the Opera House and it gives you a different perspective from the obvious side view…from the north it looks like two very strangely stacked pyramids .

For the flush ones, you can charter a helicopter and literally fly over the Opera House – aerial views are apparently magnificent and should definitely not be missed if you can afford it (circa $580 for two). This covers views of the eastern suburbs and the Harbour Bridge as well…killing a flock of birds with one stone! Flying over Sydney at twilight is such a romantic idea, I’d imagine it as the perfect setting for a proposal. Of course, make sure you neither you nor your other half is airsick (or scared of heights)before…otherwise it would be a traumatic experience for all…including I’d imagine the pilot having to put up with green faces and terrified shrieks

Like nearly everything else, the savvy traveller would always plan ahead and scour the internet for cut prices. I managed to find a package at $189 – a saving of $100 per person. This includes the 20 minute flight, free transfers to Sydney’s Mascot airport and commentary from the pilot. Now, this is what I call doing Sydney in style!

If you can’t wait to get to Sydney, maybe Sydney can come to you instead! You can make your own Sydney Opera House – and do send us the end results! Or maybe have a go at recreating the CLugg or Singing Waves!

You might also be interested in these

• Awesome Tour of Sydney-progress so far…
• He’s back!
• Introducing my guest blogger
• Awesome tour of Sydney Challenge W.3 – Version 2
• updates to your favourite blog