Perhaps one of the most iconic modern landmarks of Australia, the Sydney Opera House is a place of history and intrigue. For my first-time visiting Australia, I made it a priority to visit this famous building. This review of the experience recounts some of the pieces of the tour but also visiting this special landmark.
Booking the tour:
There are several tour options available for tourists to select when visiting the official site. This ranges from a backstage tour to a variety of language tours. They also have tours for those with limited mobility so that they too can enjoy the amazing architecture. I booked the “Tour and Dine” combination where the ticket included the tour and a meal at one of the in-house restaurants. Based on the menu, I selected the Cantina, which is the patio restaurant along the boardwalk.
Tip: If your budget allows, book a show to immediately follow your tour so that you can learn about the building and then truly enjoy it with a live performance. We selected a time slot for the tour to wrap up just in time to also attend a concert in the Opera House’s main concert hall and it was a great choice!
The tour itself:
When it is time for your tour, you show up in the lower level near the restaurant and gift shop where the tour guide will meet you. You receive a headset and are ready for the tour. Our tour guide was friendly and engaging. He has been doing this for years and has a passion for history and storytelling. It was fun and engaging to hear where different visitors were from. Seeing as we took the English language tour, there were a variety of tourists from across the globe on the tour.
The tour started out with a video on the history of the architect and the design of the building. This location is important because of its cornerstone within Sydney Harbor as well as important cultural significance to the indigenous people that inhabited the land for centuries prior. The Danish architect, Jørn Utzon, designed the opera house through an international contest. Without spoiling too much of this history, he was unable to see his design come to life with his own eyes as the construction was met with several setbacks and controversies. Nonetheless, he is still credited for the impressive design.
We continued the tour admiring the construction and beauty of the structure. No view is ever the same as the sea and the sky connect effortlessly in the spanning windows. We even ventured outside to admire the cream tiles, shimmering like scales on a fish, so smartly designed to efficiently drain rainwater in an aerodynamic fashion.
The tour lasts about an hour.
The show:
Perhaps it was coming from the high of the impressive tour itself, but we were then able to sit and enjoy some live music in the concert hall. Seeing the architecture in action was amazing. We listened to some great classical music that was a combination of old classics and some Australian selections.
The food:
Many would argue that if the view is good, the food doesn’t have to be. I often agree with that sentiment but that doesn’t mean you need to accept it. With our ticket, we got to eat at the onsite restaurant and I was hesitantly excited to try the cuisine but kept my expectations low.
We had a limited menu to choose from with our ticket but it included a main course and a beverage of choice. Once you order, you get a number and they bring the food to your table. The server asked if we wanted a food cover for the seagulls. We thought it was a joke, but the seagulls are no joke.
The verdict:
Knowing that the tour cost ranges from $45 AUD up to $80 for the meal package, this is not the cheapest experience for only an hour-long tour. That said, if you are at all interested in architecture, design, or the performing arts, I highly recommend.