Vivid Sydney

Dear Readers,

By far the majority of attractions in Australia are natural ones, with beaches, rock formations, forests, waterfalls, lookouts, animals, and expansive isolation at the top of the list.  The few castles are mostly quirky, parts of amusement parks, or glorified mansions and oh-so young; no centuries-old, battle-scarred fortifications here.  The old joke "What is the difference between a pot of yoghurt and Australia? Yoghurt has a living culture." notwithstanding, there are a few cultural events that are worth a detour, at least if you are already in that state or city.  

One example is Vivid Sydney, a visual-audio show held around the CBD of Sydney each southern-hemisphere winter.  The Sydney Opera House, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the old Customs House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge are the main canvases, but far from the only ones.  The show has gotten better and better, year on year, since it started 14 years ago.  There is now so much to see that you need several evenings to visit all the sites. Hubby and younger daughter went to it twice this year and still did not see everything.  You need to be prepared to walk though since many of the displays are around the harbour walk from Circular Quay to Darling Harbour and some transport modes are suspended due to the crowds.

Sails pitch or a sign?

One feature in 2023 was a drone show - the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, for what it is worth - in the harbour off Circular Quay.  Hubby and younger daughter were able to see it, but with great difficulty due to the crowds.  Ten minutes before the start they could move no further and put up with the light pollution where they were.  Their photographs from there were not great, but the experience was.  Then it was a long walk back with the crowd to the first available public transport.

It was much better in person.

Fortunately there are many dining opportunities ranging from street stalls to regular restaurants around Circular Quay, in The Rocks area, and around Darling Harbour, for when the crowds or the walking distances get to you.