• About
    • PR Info
  • Recipe Index
  • By Course
    • Appetizer
    • Beverages
    • Bread
    • Breakfast
    • Condiments & Sauces
    • Dessert
    • Dinner
    • Sides
    • Soup
  • By Holiday
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fall
    • New Year’s Eve
    • St. Patrick’s Day
    • Summer
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • By Method
    • Air Fryer
    • Casseroles
    • Dutch Oven
    • Fried
    • Instant Pot
    • Slow Cooker
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Rebecca’s Faves
Get recipes in your inbox
sign up!
Get recipes in your inbox
sign up!

Sugar and Soul

Recipes for Busy Families and Special Occasions

  • About
    • PR Info
  • Recipe Index
  • By Course
    • Appetizer
    • Beverages
    • Bread
    • Breakfast
    • Condiments & Sauces
    • Dessert
    • Dinner
    • Sides
    • Soup
  • By Holiday
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fall
    • New Year’s Eve
    • St. Patrick’s Day
    • Summer
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • By Method
    • Air Fryer
    • Casseroles
    • Dutch Oven
    • Fried
    • Instant Pot
    • Slow Cooker
  • Appetizers
  • Breakfast
  • Beverages
    • Cocktails
    • Non-Alcoholic
    • Punch & Sangria
  • Desserts
    • Brownies
    • Cake
    • Cheesecake
    • Cookies
    • Cupcakes
    • Frosting
    • Fudge
    • Pie
  • Dinner Time
    • 30 Minute Meals
    • Beef
    • Casseroles
    • Chicken
    • Pasta
    • Pork
    • Seafood
  • Side Dishes
Home » Travel » A Tourists Guide to Vivid Sydney

A Tourists Guide to Vivid Sydney

By: Rebecca  |  Published: June 29, 2017  |  Updated: January 30, 2020  |   View Our Affiliate Disclosure Policy

Planning a trip to Sydney, Australia? Make sure to go during the winter and plan your trip around Vivid Sydney for a festival of lights that can’t be missed!

Planning a trip to Sydney, Australia? Make sure to go during the winter and plan your trip around Vivid Sydney for a festival of lights that can't be missed!

Vivid Sydney

PIN IT TO YOUR TRAVEL BOARD ON PINTEREST!
FOLLOW SUGAR & SOUL ON PINTEREST FOR MORE TRAVEL IDEAS!

I always get excited every time I get to add a new continent or country to my menu bar, and this time, I get to do both! Earlier this month I spent a couple of weeks in Sydney, Australia and I have tons of stuff to share with you from my trip! But we’re going to start things off with one of the highlights!

Now, I tend to be more of an off-season traveler. You won’t find me paying outrageous prices for flights and accommodations just to fight massive crowds, that’s just not my idea of a fun trip. My friend, Rachael, and I had talked about going to Australia earlier in the year but decided to wait until our summer, which happens to be Australia’s winter.

Planning a trip to Sydney, Australia? Make sure to go during the winter and plan your trip around Vivid Sydney for a festival of lights that can't be missed!

And boy, was I glad we waited! A few days before we got there we learned about Vivid Sydney, Sydney’s annual outdoor light festival! It was definitely a highlight of our trip and I think the only thing that could have made it better would have been doing our BridgeClimb at night while it was going on.

[su_button url=”https://amzn.to/2tu7T8i” target=”blank” background=”#708e44″ size=”5″ center=”yes” rel=”nofollow”]Buy My Favorite Travel Backpack Now![/su_button]

 

Planning a trip to Sydney, Australia? Make sure to go during the winter and plan your trip around Vivid Sydney for a festival of lights that can't be missed!

But it’s not the lights themselves that make this event so amazing, it’s what the lights do, hardly any of them are stagnant. They’re all alive and moving and creating beautiful pieces of art. Many of the precincts in Sydney, even Taronga Zoo, have their own exhibitions that are interactive and beautiful.

Planning a trip to Sydney, Australia? Make sure to go during the winter and plan your trip around Vivid Sydney for a festival of lights that can't be missed!

Many restaurants and shops will stay open later for these few colorful weeks in the middle of winter, and you’ll definitely want to sleep in a bit in the morning so you can stay out all night playing (and gawking) at the lights!

During Vivid Sydney, we took a Harbourside Cruise to take in the city from the harbour. It’s the only charter cruise that can go into Circular Quay to take in the lights other than the transport ferries and water taxis. We really loved seeing the lights from the water, and most of these images were taken on the cruise, not bad for night time on a moving boat, eh?

A couple tips before taking the cruise:

  • Get there early and be close to the front of the line to get on, there aren’t enough dining tables for everyone.
  • Take Dramamine or bring Sea-bands if you get motion sick.
  • Use a camera with a wrist or neck strap for safety, otherwise it might be a long rest of your trip without your phone.
  • Don’t wear heels, the boat will be wet, rocky, crowded, and dark.
  • Wear comfortable clothes and bring a jacket or sweatshirt.

[su_button url=”https://amzn.to/2tuceIk” target=”blank” background=”#708e44″ size=”5″ center=”yes” rel=”nofollow”]Buy My Camera Now![/su_button]

 

Planning a trip to Sydney, Australia? Make sure to go during the winter and plan your trip around Vivid Sydney for a festival of lights that can't be missed!

When Is Vivid Sydney?

Usually the last few days of May through mid-June.

What Time is Vivid Sydney?

6:00 pm to 11:00 pm every night.

Best Places to Enjoy Vivid Sydney

Circular Quay: If you’re not up for a full cruise but still want to take in the city lights at night, just use your Opal card and take the ferry across the harbour and back again. There’s also a few light installments in this area to check out and tons of restaurants between it and the Opera House to eat dinner at and take in the lights. Just keep in mind that it will likely be the first area in the city to fill up come dark.

Sydney Opera House: This place any time of year is a sight to see, but when its sails light up for Vivid Sydney, it’s even more of a stunner! The opera house usually hosts three shows a night throughout the year and

The Royal Botanic Gardens: Just the other side of the Opera House you find the gardens. They’re gorgeous during the day (even in winter), the installments here are quite fun and perfect for an evening stroll among the lights.

Darling Harbor: This might be the area where there’s the most to do, if the Magicians of the Mist exhibit comes back next year, please go! Darling Harbor is filled with activity on an ordinary day so expect it to fill up fast with other light gawkers.

Barangaroo: Sydney’s newest area joined in the Vivid festivities for the first time in 2017 and it was probably our favorite. There are tons of great restaurants along the waterfront and several activities. And keep an eye out for the men down under (pictured above).

The Rocks: The Glenmore’s rooftop barThis historic district is considered the birthplace of modern Sydney and there’s plenty to do there during Vivid. I would recommend grabbing a drink at to take in the lights.

Milson’s Point: There really isn’t much going on in Milson’s Point for Vivid Sydney, but I dare say it’s Bradfield Park is the best spot to photograph the Sydney skyline in all its glory. The Sydney Harbour Bridge crosses from The Rocks into Milson’s Point, so you’ll have a bit of a panoramic view of the gorgeous glow of the city.

I think if I ever go back to Australia, I’ll definitely be going in the winter just so I can take in the magic of the city during Vivid Sydney again! Looking for more travel inspiration? Check out my favorite travel quotes and other great destinations!

Planning a trip to Sydney, Australia? Make sure to go during the winter and plan your trip around Vivid Sydney for a festival of lights that can't be missed!

Pin
Share
Email
Print
Bookmark
22Shares

Travel

About Rebecca Hubbell

I love sharing mouthwatering and fun recipes with all of you! My recipes are inspired by classic comfort food, the places I travel, and pop culture! I have a serious sweet tooth and love a good cocktail and pancakes and bacon are definitely my weakness! So stick around a discover something delicious!

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

I'm Rebecca!

I love sharing sweet and savory recipes that are tested and perfected in my kitchen so they'll be an instant favorite in yours!

Read More

What's Trending!

  • These Brownie Cookies are made from an adapted brownie box mix and are loaded with chocolate chips! They have a crisp outer edge and chewy fudge center just like a classic brownie! Brownie Cookies
  • American Chop Suey is a delicious and easy dinner recipe made with ground beef, tomato, onion, green pepper, macaroni, and spices. Pure comfort food made on the stovetop in just 30 minutes and makes a great weeknight dinner! American Chop Suey
  • Lactation Brownies are an easy dessert that helps increase milk production with added ingredients like coconut milk, Brewer's yeast, and oatmeal! Lactation Brownies
  • Lactation Cookies are an easy dessert recipe that helps increase milk production with added ingredients like coconut milk, Brewer’s yeast, and oatmeal! Lactation Cookies
  • This Fish Taco Sauce is the ultimate topping for fish tacos. It's a creamy a delicious blend of sour cream, mayonnaise, lime juice, sriracha, garlic, and cumin. Fish Taco Sauce
  • Multi colored jello shots in a white bowl. How To Make Jello Shots

get the latest recipes

Subscribe for all the recipes in your inbox!

Thank you!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

.

Delicious Dinners!

Close up photo of a chicken pot pie with a slice missing out of it.

Classic Chicken Pot Pie Recipe

Chop sticks taking a piece of Mongolian beef out of a bowl.

Mongolian Beef – P.F. Chang’s Copycat Recipe

Close up photo of a bbq chicken sandwich with coleslaw and pickles with an instant pot in the background.

Instant Pot Pulled BBQ Chicken

Close up photo of mini pizza on wood plate.

Air Fryer Pizzas (Made With Biscuits)

Close up photo of Nashville hot chicken with pickles and fries.

Air Fryer Nashville Hot Chicken

Close up photo of a pizza roll being pulled apart by a woman's hands.

Easy Stuffed Pizza Rolls Recipe

Close up photo of chicken wings coated in a sticky sauce and topped with scallions.
Two pieces of Baklava stacked on top of each other.
This Slow Cooker Italian Beef is an easy dinner recipe inspired by the Chicago staple that has so much flavor it will literally melt in your mouth!
This Fish Taco Sauce is the ultimate topping for fish tacos. It's a creamy a delicious blend of sour cream, mayonnaise, lime juice, sriracha, garlic, and cumin.
These Brownie Cookies are made from an adapted brownie box mix and are loaded with chocolate chips! They have a crisp outer edge and chewy fudge center just like a classic brownie!
American Chop Suey is a delicious and easy dinner recipe made with ground beef, tomato, onion, green pepper, macaroni, and spices. Pure comfort food made on the stovetop in just 30 minutes and makes a great weeknight dinner!
Featured logo
Featured logo
Featured logo
Featured logo
Featured logo
Featured logo
Featured logo
Featured logo

Footer

Sugar and Soul

Sugar & Soul is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

About

  • Home
  • About
  • PR Info
  • Disclosure Policy

Browse Recipes

  • Air Fryer
  • Appetizer
  • Beverages
  • Breakfast
  • Dessert
  • Dinner
  • Instant Pot
  • Pasta
  • Sides
  • Slow Cooker
  • Soup
  • Vegetarian
Copyright ©2021, Sugar and Soul | Privacy Policy | Design by Pixel Me Designs