Touted as the biggest, brightest, and boldest of all Vivid Sydney festivals following Lights On, Vivid Sydney’s opening weekend attendance has broken all records with 435,000 festival-goers attending across the opening weekend - the largest opening weekend in the event’s history.
Vivid Sydney 2022 enjoyed eight percent more visitors across its opening weekend compared to 2019. Sunday night’s Paramount+ Drone Show, which was the largest drone show ever in the Southern Hemisphere, was a huge highlight of the weekend program and attracted thousands to the Sydney Harbour foreshore to watch 600 drones fly high above Circular Quay.
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Festival goers also relished the opportunity to experience the festival’s 8.5km Light Walk, the largest in the festival’s history, and other precincts transformed by Australia’s largest festival with the most popular locations including Circular Quay, Darling Harbour, and The Rocks. Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade, Minister for Tourism and Sport, and Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said it was fantastic to see many smiling faces out in the city, enjoying the festival and Sydney after dark.
“Record attendance over the weekend is extremely exciting and I encourage people to keep coming out to enjoy everything the program has to offer,” Mr. Ayres said.
“Sydney is back and visitors are back. Over the weekend, thousands of families were taking in the captivating light displays along the 8km Light Walk, and importantly restaurants and bars were full of patrons enjoying themselves and supporting our local businesses.”
Restaurants and bars across the CBD enjoyed roaring trade across the first weekend of the festival, with many staying at full capacity after the Vivid Sydney lights were turned off at 11pm.
“There was a real buzz right across our Harbour City over the weekend, and it’s not just the lights creating a stir. Vivid Sydney’s Ideas and Music program presents thought-provoking discussions and amazing gigs, sparking excitement across the city,” Mr. Ayres said.
“Vivid Sydney showcases our global city to the world and reinforces our position as the events capital of the Asia Pacific. It is a blockbuster event and a key supporter of the state’s visitor economy.”
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Vivid Sydney 2022 Locations:
Barangaroo
Barangaroo was once the working heart of the city, the site of a busy maritime port, wharves, and industrial warehouses. Today, it’s the place Sydney comes to play, home to the glittering Crown Sydney, dozens of waterfront restaurants, swish boutiques, and busy bars.
Carriageworks
A century ago, the Eveleigh Railway Workshop was a place of clanging hammers, sooty air, and piercing train whistles. Reborn as the Carriageworks cultural precinct in 2007, this historic site is now home to the largest and most significant multi-arts centre in Australia.
Sydney Central Station |
Central Station and The Goods Line
Trains have been pulling into Sydney’s Central Station for more than 165 years. The vast sandstone building that stands today was opened in 1906 and remains one of the city’s grandest buildings. The imposing 85m clocktower was added in 1921. More than 85 million people pass through the station each year, their footsteps echoing through the imposing Grand Concourse as they make their way into central Sydney or depart for Regional NSW.
Circular Quay |
Circular Quay and the Rocks
It’s all bustle and buzz down at Circular Quay, one of the great crossroads of the city. Ferries, trains, buses, and light rail bring people from all over Sydney to work and play. This is Sydney’s dress circle, with the Sydney Opera House, Royal Botanic Garden, and Sydney Harbour Bridge framing that iconic harbour view. Around the water’s edge are cafes, restaurants, and cocktail bars as well as luxury hotels and the striking Museum of Contemporary Art.
Darling Harbour
If you feel like some fun in Sydney, Darling Harbour is the place to go. Sitting inside Sydney Harbour, west of Sydney Harbour Bridge, it’s a one-of-a-kind destination packed with restaurants, bars, museums, boat cruises, and more. It’s the only place where you can learn about Sydney’s rich maritime history, cruise through a penguin enclosure, eat fresh seafood, and dance ‘til dawn at a multi-level nightclub.
Darling Quarter
Set just behind the bright lights of Tumbalong Park (Darling Harbour), Darling Quarter is a laid-back oasis of restaurants, bars and green spaces.
Darling Square
Darling Square is Sydney's five-star destination for fun, friends and flavour! It sits perfectly in between the city and the harbour, right next to Darling Harbour and Haymarket.
Luna Park
The smiling face of Luna Park has been looking out over Sydney Harbour since 1935. It’s the place generations of Sydneysiders have come for fun and games, thrills and spills, all perched on the edge of Sydney Harbour and in the shadow of Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Sydney CBD and Surrounds
It’s all business during the day; smartly dressed office workers bustling along the footpath and taxis zipping down one-way alleys. But at night, the soul of the city awakens and transforms the streets. Unassuming office buildings reveal hidden rooftop bars within, historic laneways pulse with live music and fine dining restaurants serve up cuisine from around the world.
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a World Heritage-listed masterpiece of human creative genius that belongs to all Australians.
Taronga Zoo
A slice of the wilderness in the middle of Sydney, Taronga Zoo is home to thousands of native and exotic animals from more than 350 species.
University of Technology, Sydney (UTS)
Look closely in Sydney’s buzzing creative district and you may discover you’re actually within a university campus. Over the past decade, more than $1 billion has been invested in the University of Technology Sydney, making it the home of some of the world’s most innovative ideas.
Walsh Bay
Located within the traditional lands of the Gadigal people, Walsh Bay has been a place of gathering for thousands of years. Tucked beneath the western edge of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, it is now home to the city’s most dramatic district. The famous timber-clad wharves were built between 1913 and 1920, housing cargo sheds and maritime warehouses. The wharves were revitalised in the 1980s with the arrival of the Sydney Theatre Company and the area has just undergone another major revamp to create Walsh Bay Arts Precinct. Australia’s latest arts destination, Walsh Bay Arts Precinct is home to nine of the nation’s foremost performing arts companies including Sydney Dance Company, Bangarra Dance Theatre, Bell Shakespeare, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs and more.
HOW TO GET THERE
Plan your trip to Vivid Sydney 2022
Vivid Sydney returns to light up the city and the best way to get there is by public transport.
Vivid Sydney locations are within short walking distance of major transport hubs in the Sydney CBD and Lower North Shore.
With road closures and parking restrictions in place each night, visitors are encouraged to leave the car at home and plan your trip by public transport instead.
You can use an Opal Card or if you have an American Express, Mastercard or Visa credit or debit card or a linked device, you can use it to pay for your travel by tapping on and tapping off at Opal readers.
For all the details you need to plan your Vivid Sydney experience by transport visit transportnsw.info and start planning your trip.
Remember it’s mandatory to wear a face mask on public transport.
You can also see the Transport for NSW Vivid Sydney transport map to help you find your way.
ACCESSIBILITY
Vivid Sydney is committed to delivering an accessible and inclusive event for all visitors.
The information available at vividsydney.com/accessibility will assist you to plan your ‘door-to-door’ Vivid Sydney experience with accessible transport options, services and features.
You can also download an Access and Inclusion map (PDF coming soon) or scan the QR code on any smart device from our Information Kiosks located across the footprint for step-free routes and pathways, viewing areas and other accessible amenities.
The Vivid Sydney website also includes audio description videos of the Vivid Sydney Light Walk installations and projections.
TRAVELLING WITH KIDS
Please keep in mind that the event’s busiest times are expected to be each Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
Lights On! occurs at 6pm and concludes at 11pm.
Kids will be captivated by the Vivid Sydney Light Walk which features amazing interactive projections and light art installations. Don’t forget to head out early with the kids, travel during the week so there’s more room to move around and plan to eat earlier too.
REAL-TIME UPDATES
The real-time trip planner at transportnsw.info helps you plan your travel by public transport and on foot using the most up-to-date service information.
Download the Opal travel app and other real-time transport apps to help you get around at transportnsw.info/apps.
Vivid Sydney is an accessible and inclusive event and is owned, managed and produced by Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency.
Vivid Sydney runs until Saturday 18 June, and guests can enjoy the Light Walk each night from 6pm to 11pm. To plan your trip to Vivid Sydney or to buy tickets to the many Music and Ideas events go to www.vividsydney.com
*All images and videos are credited to Vivid Sydney and Destination NSW
After 2 years, Vivid Sydney is back to gave a lot of people a wonderful experience and great memories! Ang ganda Naman po dyan and isa din ito sa mga dream destination ko 😍 thanks for sharing this sure na very enjoy talaga ❤️🥰
ReplyDeleteSobrang ganda lalo na libre!
DeleteWow! That's a really massive festival of lights! Our family will surely be mesmerized if we ever witness this. Is 5 hours enough to see all the sites you listed?
ReplyDelete5 hours isn't enough! Kaya mas maganda kung gabi-gabi 1 location para sulit.
Deleteawww! i bet this is super fun and exciting especially the fact that its been 2 years since right? Im happy we are all almost there, to our freedom! i hope you had a blast, well im sure you did!
ReplyDeleteaside from the magnificent lights, there seem to be a lot of cultural shows involved, too. i would love to witness that personally if I get the chance.
ReplyDeleteYou will definitely enjoy the festival!
DeleteThat looks so magical! <3 Kung sakaling gusto ko to ma experience one day, is a week enough para mapuntahan mga locations?
ReplyDeleteSpending a week will be enough for the festival only, however, you need at least 3 months to enjoy around NSW.
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