Venue Access Guide

Sydney Opera House

Bennelong Point, Sydney NSW 2000

The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in Sydney, Australia, identified as one of the 20th century's most distinctive buildings.

Getting there

Transport

 Plan your journey – transportnsw.info/ or phone 131 500

By train, bus and ferry

 Circular Quay is a five to seven minute walk from the Sydney Opera House. You can catch buses, trains and ferries to Circular Quay.

Complimentary Shuttle Bus

 Designed for elderly and less mobile customers.  Seating is limited and available on a first come, first served basis.  The bus runs between Circular Quay near Stand E (under the Cahill Expressway) and the Vehicle Concourse. Bus starts 75 minutes before matinee and evening performances and runs continuously for 1 hour.  Bus starts 5 minutes after the performance finishes and runs continuously for 45 minutes.

Parking

 Passenger drop-off - Visitors with accessibility requirements can be dropped off by taxi or private car at a designated point near the Macquarie Street Gatehouse. Opera House staff will be on hand to arrange transfers to the building, trialling options including: Daytime wheelchair-accessible shuttle service across the Forecourt; Alternative underground drop-off and pick-up point for evening performances. The free Courtesy Bus will continue to be granted access for drop-offs and pick-ups. All other taxis and private vehicles will continue to drop-off at the Gatehouse and people leaving the precinct will be directed to the taxi rank on Macquarie Street.  Accessible parking - Parking will no longer be available on the Concourse beneath the Monumental Steps. Patrons and visitors with accessibility requirements that wish to park on site will be directed to Wilson Parking’s Sydney Opera House Car Park. Open 24 hours, 7 days a week, the public car park offers 23 accessible spaces for RTA Mobility Parking Permit holders, all with direct, undercover wheelchair access to lifts..  Sydney Opera house – 2 Macquarie Street (northern end), with vehicular access adjacent to the Sydney Opera House Forecourt. The car park is open 24 hours, 7 days a week, and has undercover access to the Sydney Opera House Lower Concourse. There are 11 accessible parking spaces on Level 1 and 12 accessible spaces on Level 6 of the car park for RMS Mobility Parking Permit holders. Car spaces on Level 6 also have direct wheelchair access to lifts. For any parking enquiries please email [email protected] or call 1800 727 5464.

Venue Accessibility

 Opening time on performance day – Monday to Saturday 9am to 8.30pm and Sunday 10am to 6pm.  Level Access to main entrance & foyer – Ground Level only.  Box Office – Level 1. Ticket purchases and collections are all available from the same location.  Concert Hall - Wheelchair Access See Opera House staff at the Information Desk in the Box Office Foyer (Level 1) for assisted lift access to the southern foyers Concert Hall.  Access toilets – Accessible toilet facilities are located: Lower Ground Level (near the Opera Kitchen) Western Theatre Foyer – one located adjacent to the Playhouse and one between The Studio and the Drama Theatre, open all day till theatres close. On Level 1 (Box Office Level)  Lifts - are located on the Harbour Bridge side of the building, the lift connects three levels, providing improved undercover access for all patrons as well as enhancing paths of travel for patrons using a wheelchair or pram or those with limited mobility.  Patrons can enter the lift via the corridor next to the existing escalators on the Lower Ground Level and also in the Western Foyer, via the corridor on the Ground Level (at the top of the existing escalators).  Escalators connect the Upper Level to the Joan Sutherland Theatre and Concert Hall Southern Foyers.  Venue Wheelchairs - A limited number of courtesy wheelchairs (standard manual wheelchairs) are available for loan one hour before performances for patrons attending events in the Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre. They are available by the entrance of the Western Foyers (at the top of the escalators). Front of House staff are happy to arrange for patrons to borrow these wheelchairs but are unable to leave their posts to assist patrons moving around the Sydney Opera House. It is therefore strongly recommended that patrons who do not normally use a wheelchair bring a friend or companion along to assist them in maneuvering the wheelchair around the House. Front of House Staff are not able to assist patrons in transferring to seats or to provide personal attendant services.  Bars and Refreshment areas available.

Inside the Hall

 Access and Wheelchair Seating - There are a number of wheelchair and companion seating locations in all theatres. Please discuss specific requirements directly with Box Office staff when booking your tickets.  Hearing assistance - FM Radio System - Receivers and headsets are free of charge and can be obtained from the nearest cloakroom prior to the performance. Customers will be required to give cloakroom staff a driver's licence, seniors card or credit card as security. These will be returned to you when the receiver is returned to the cloakroom.  The FM system is also compatible with hearing aids via an induction loop. When the hearing aid is switched to the 'T' position, the wearer will receive the program sound through the hearing aid.  Induction Loop - An induction loop is also installed at Box Office counter windows. This system offers customers using hearing aids clearer sound when booking tickets and works by amplifying Box Office staff and customers' voices.  Assistance animals are permitted entry – Yes

How to Book

All access bookings should be made directly with the box office by telephone or in person so we can provide the appropriate information for arrival and access requirements. Please note that free tickets & accessible seating options cannot be booked online.

 Venue Box office – Bennelong Point, Sydney via the main entrance.  In person –Box Office Foyer, Level 1, Monday to Saturday 9am to 8.30pm. Sunday 9am to 5pm.  Counter at wheelchair accessible height – Yes.  Online –  Phone – 9250 7777 Monday to Saturday: 9am to 8.30pm AEST Sunday: 10am to 6pm AEST  Customers who are deaf or who have a hearing impairment can call (at no cost) through the National Relay Service  TTY users phone 13 36 77 then ask for 9250 7777  Speak and Listen (speech-to-speech relay) users phone 1300 555 727 then ask for 9250 7777  Internet relay users connect to the NRS (www.relayservice.com.au) and then ask for 9250 7777  Companion Card affiliate – Yes

Further information

Phone – (02) 9250 7111 sydneyoperahouse.com/visit/accessibility_info.aspx