Thomas Murphy_Sydney Opera House_Attractions

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- Sydney Opera House

· A shell-like sculptural structure built on the harbor, it is a world-renowned performing arts center and one of Sydney's landmark buildings.
· The Opera House appears different at various times and angles; you can see a panoramic view from the Royal Botanic Gardens observation deck.
· The Concert Hall features the world's largest mechanical tracker organ with 10,500 pipes at its front. The entire hall is constructed using Australian timber, faithfully representing Australia's unique style.
· The Opera House combines ancient and modern styles, making it one of the must-visit attractions in Sydney.

Transportation

Bus:
Take bus routes 333, 380, 389, 392, 396, 397, 399, 890, L94, or X94 to Circular Quay Stand E, then walk about 8 minutes.
Ferry:
The nearest wharf is Circular Quay, about 10 minutes' walk from the Opera House. Six ferry services stop here: No.1-5 Wharf and Harbour Master Steps. Choose different ferries based on your itinerary.

Admission

Standard tickets: Adult AUD 45 / Child (5-15 years) AUD 25 (January 1 - December 31, Monday-Sunday)
Free admission: Children under 5

Tips:

*Prices are for reference only, please check with official venue for any changes

Opening Hours

09:00-17:00 (January 1 - December 31, Monday-Sunday)

Tips:

Chinese 1-hour guided tours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday:
09:30, 11:00, 13:00, 14:30
Wednesday, Saturday:
09:30, 11:00, 14:30, 16:00
*For reference only, subject to actual booking availability

Thomas Murphy Mar 19,2025

We booked a 1:30 PM guided tour of the Opera House online in advance. I recommend booking at least a week ahead as daily spots are limited. You can pick up tickets directly at the ticket office. You can't bring bags inside the Opera House, but there's free luggage storage next to the ticket counter - just store your belongings before entering, and staff will give you a corresponding luggage tag.

When collecting tickets, staff will tell you which numbered sign to wait at for your guide. Each group has about 10+ people. Our guide was a Taiwanese lady who was quite humorous! The guide provides each person with headphones and a small MP3-like device (I'm not sure what exactly it was) - once you put on the headphones, you can hear the guide's voice.

We booked the one-hour tour, initially thinking it might be too long, but time flew by so quickly! I recommend choosing the one-hour option as it provides a more comprehensive experience.

The guide briefly explained the rules - speaking quietly, no photos inside the venues, etc. - before taking us inside. The tour route generally goes from bottom to top, covering everything from the building's history, materials, and architectural features to the characteristics of each performance hall. We entered different performance halls where we could see staff preparing for shows, experience the lighting and seating, and even watched a short documentary during the tour.