Sydney Tower Eye
At 309 m above the CBD, this is the highest observation deck in the Southern Hemisphere by deck elevation — clearing Auckland's Sky Tower by nearly 30 m.
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Designed by Donald Crone and opened in 1981, Sydney Tower is the tallest structure in the city and the second-tallest observation tower in the Southern Hemisphere. Its main deck sits almost 30 m higher than Auckland's Sky Tower observation level, making it the region's true high point — and for the thrill-seeking, Merlin Entertainments runs the SKYWALK, an outside walk around the tower's exterior.
What to look for
- The SKYWALK circuit on the outside of the tower — an open-air walk run by Merlin Entertainments around the observation level
- The lightning rod at the spire's tip, added in 1998, which pushed the overall height from 305 m to the current 309 m
- The base: the tower rises directly out of Westfield Sydney shopping centre, making the jump from mall to 309 m unusually abrupt
Three entry points: Pitt Street Mall, Market Street, or Castlereagh Street — all lead up through the Westfield Sydney shopping centre at the base.
Sydney Tower Eye is one of 23 sights worth the detour in Sydney, all bundled offline in Voyage GO — download the Sydney pack and it sits on your map with no signal, filling your travel passport the moment you walk past.
More to see in Sydney
- Sydney Opera HouseJørn Utzon won the design competition in 1957, directed construction, then resigned before it ever opened — Queen Elizabeth II cut the ribbon on 20 October 1973.
- Sydney Harbour BridgeWalk the arch of the world's tallest steel bridge — nicknamed "the Coathanger" — with Sydney Harbour spread out below you and the arch top rising 134 m above the water.
- Accor StadiumBuilt in 1999 for A$690 million, this was the largest Olympic stadium ever constructed — originally squeezing in 115,000 people.
- Australian MuseumThe world's fifth oldest natural history museum has been in Sydney since 1827 — older than the colony could really afford it.
- Taronga ZooFive thousand animals on the Mosman shore — and the Sydney skyline watches from across the water.
- Sydney Cricket GroundA British Army garrison pitch from February 1854, now one oval shared by two sporting codes.