GETTING HIGH IN SYDNEY
Shannan Ponton goes to great heights to see his hometown of Sydney from some new angles that are available to everyone. He climbs up to a crows nest of a tall ship to see the harbour from a bird's eye view, before heading into the gantry of the ANZ Stadium in Homebush where birds and cameraman go to watch the footy. Finally Shannan heads up to do the downward dog at the highest point of the city, Sydney Tower, for some morning yoga and 360º views.
ABOUT SYDNEY HARBOUR TALL SHIPS
Sydney Harbour Tall Ships run daily cruises with a difference on Sydney’s spectacular harbour. Their entire fleet is made up of historically significant boats and ships, including a restored ferry and the eponymous tall ships, of which they own three. Guests can choose between a variety of cruises and tours to fit their interests and budget – from a simple sightseeing jaunt, to a twilight dinner cruise, to a champagne brunch cruise. The team even offers overnight and extended charters.
For those looking for a little more excitement on the water, Sydney Harbour Tall Ships offer guests the opportunity to scale the mast of one of their authentic vessels. Previously only something available to qualified crew, the team have developed safety measures to open this experience up to anyone joining their daily cruises aboard the Southern Swan or the Søren Larsen. Game and willing guests are sent up the rope ladders on either side of the mast to take in the salt air and swell of the ocean just as the sailors of yore would have – with the addition of safety harnesses and guide ropes that is. At 15 metres high, climbers get to see the harbour from a perspective that even the most jaded locals will find spectacular. http://www.sydneytallships.com.au/mast-climb.html
A family owned and operated business, Sydney Harbour Tall Ships is dedicated to Australian maritime history and sharing the joy of sailing these traditional vessels from a past era. They purchased their first vessel, the Southern Swan in 2007, fearing the ship might be sold overseas or allowed to slowly rot away like so many similar ships before it. Owner and captain Marty Woods and his team are determined to keep this part of history alive to be experienced and enjoyed by generations to come.
ABOUT ANZ STADIUM AND THE GANTRY TOUR
Purpose built for the Sydney 2000 Olympics Games, ANZ Stadium at Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush has seen 24.5 million fans walk through its turnstiles since the venue opened in March 1999. Today ANZ Stadium hosts between 40 to 50 major events per year; attracting more than 1.5 million patrons annually.
The ANZ Stadium Gantry Tour takes visitors 45 metres above the hallowed arena, to weave their way through the intricate steel pathway just below the iconic Akubra-shaped roof of the Stadium. Usually only open to engineers, camera and lighting operators, the tour offers guests a bird's eye view of the stage that has played host to countless sporting and entertainment greats.
Whilst visitors enjoy the view, experienced and knowledgeable guides, like Carol Whitaker who has worked at the Stadium since it opened, share facts and figures about the construction and history of the Stadium, and the events it has played host to. Visitors are treated to a behind-the-scenes look at the state-of-the-art equipment that takes the ANZ Stadium event experience to a new level - the venue’s extensive lighting installations and sound system.
Not only will do guests discover the spaces and facts that the thousands of spectators that sit below often miss, the tour also includes visits to the players' change rooms, players’ tunnel and photo opportunities on the original Sydney Olympic medal dais.
Gantry Tours operate at 9am each day with the exception of Thursdays, public holidays and selected event days. ANZ Stadium also has other behind-the-scene tours on offer. Bookings must be made 24 hours in advance. http://www.anzstadium.com.au/the-stadium/stadium-tours/gantry-tour/ ABOUT SYDNEY TOWER EYE, YOGA FROM THE SKY, SKYWALK EXPERIENCE
A local landmark, Sydney Tower has been an integral feature of the famous Sydney skyline for the past 30 years and is still is the second-highest observation tower in the Southern Hemisphere. The iconic golden turret is home to the Sydney Tower Eye Observation Deck and Skywalk Experience and has a capacity of 960 persons, contains two levels of restaurants, a coffee lounge, as well as two telecommunication transmission levels and three plant levels. At 309 metres from the bottom to the very tip of the spire, Sydney Tower of 360º views of up to 80km in any direction; it is the first location to see the Sydney dawn, and the last to see its final dusk. Ranked as one of the safest buildings in the world, the striking design has made the tower capable of withstanding earthquakes and extreme wind conditions. The 56 cables that stabilise the tower would reach from Sydney to New Zealand if separated and laid end to end. The entry to Sydney Tower Eye is on Level 5 of the Westfield Shopping Centre, at the corner of Pitt and Market Streets in the heart of Sydney's retail precinct. The Sydney Tower Eye Observation Deck is open from 9am to 10pm (last entry is at 9pm), with patrons advised to book online in advance to avoid lengthy waiting times.
Yoga From the Sky is a series of yoga classes held on the observation deck of Sydney Tower Eye on Wednesday mornings. Participants can enjoy breathtaking 360º views of the city during a 1-hour Hatha Yoga class with experienced instructors. Offered to both locals and visitors to the city, this is a class beginners can enjoy, as well as those more experienced at yoga. Yoga mats are provided and participants will also leave with a delicious and healthy breakfast snack.
https://www.sydneytowereye.com.au/events/yoga-from-the-sky/
The Skywalk Experience sees participants walking on air 268 metres above stunning Sydney, with the city streets directly beneath their feet. Guests are led on a 45 minute guided tour of an external walkway around the turret of Sydney Tower, that includes two spectacular glass-floor viewing platforms from which visitors can peer down through for a bird's-eye perspective of the bustling city below. At exactly twice the height of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Skywalk is Sydney's highest viewing experience, offering uninterrupted views of Sydney for up to 80kms in all directions. Skywalk runs between 10am and 7pm to 8pm depending on the time of year. The experience is not open to children under 8 years. Children aged 8 to 16 require a guardian to participate, while 17 year olds require written parental consent to participate without a guardian. https://www.sydneytowereye.com.au/skywalk/
WEBLINKS
For further information on these experiences check out the following links:
Sydney Harbour Tall Ships http://www.sydneytallships.com.au/index.html ANZ Stadium http://www.anzstadium.com.au/the-stadium/stadium-tours/
Sydney Tower Eye https://www.sydneytowereye.com.au