Sydney’s cosmopolitan flair and water-fringed setting are just part of its allure. Visitors can wander World Heritage Sites, climb the famed Sydney Harbour Bridge, spy surfers at renowned Bondi Beach, stroll through the stately Royal Botanical Gardens, or sift through treasures at myriad outdoor markets.
The city is also flush with a variety of venues catering to groups. Here are five of the most iconic options Down Under.
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is the city’s quintessential venue for groups. Of its various theaters and rooms, the standout is the Concert Hall, home to the Sydney Symphony and Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, while the Joan Sutherland Theatre is host to Opera Australia and The Australia Ballet.
“In its short lifetime, the Sydney Opera House has earned a reputation as a world-class performing arts center and become a symbol of both Sydney and the Australian nation,” says Paul Haseler, manager of venue and event sales for the Sydney Opera House.
The Concert Hall is available to groups for performances, while the Concert Hall Northern Foyer can be used for cocktail parties of up to 800.
Other venue options include the Joan Sutherland Northern Foyer, the Utzon Room and the Opera Point Marquee. Late next year, the outdoor Forecourt is scheduled to reopen following an extensive renovation.
Sydney Tower
Perched 1,000 feet above Sydney’s Central Business District, Sky Venue, located at the top of Sydney Tower, touts itself as the highest event space in the Southern Hemisphere.
Catering to anything from cocktail events to formal dinners, Sky Venue can also serve as a blank canvas for themed events.
“We had a corporate event recently themed ‘highest peaks’ to celebrate the company’s high achievers,” says Angela Thompson, marketing and communications manager for Trippas White Group, a catering company that works with Sky Venue. “The event was themed with a fake snow machine, and a green screen was set up with guests photographed and superimposed onto a backdrop of Mount Everest and winter scenes.”
Sky Venue can also host corporate events with Sydney Tower Dining’s team at restaurant 360 Bar and Dining. The head chef can lead a pasta-making class and demonstration, and wine tastings can be arranged. PageBreak
Sydney Olympic Park
Officially a suburb of Sydney that was redeveloped for the 2000 Olympics, Sydney Olympic Park is a sprawling sporting, cultural and leisure complex with 10 main facilities and 100 function spaces for groups.
Options include Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre and The Stables at Sydney Showground.
“Our clients are impressed by the diversity of the venue, transforming the competition pool into a stage for spectacular water entertainment,” says Josie Casal, marketing and programs manager for the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.
The Dome, the centerpiece of Sydney Showground, is also flexible, says Jimmy Busteed, senior manager of business development for Sydney Showground.
“The facility has previously been transformed into an Aussie beach fantasy, with acrobats, musicians and giant sea creatures floating from its towering ceiling,” he says.
Luna Park Sydney
Stretching across five acres along the Sydney Harbour waterfront, Luna Park Sydney has seen a handful of renovations and reincarnations since the amusement park first opened in 1935. For groups, there are more than a dozen venue options, including the recently upgraded Crystal Palace. The total park has a capacity of 10,000 guests.
“The entire Luna Park can also be hired exclusively for large indoor and outdoor experiences, including rides, entertainment, games, catering and all the indoor and outdoor spaces,” says James Granter, general manager of sales for Luna Park Venues.
The park’s indoor rooms cater to small groups or up to 3,000 cocktail-style.
“Our outdoor spaces are right on the water and can be completely tailored for an event, including use of our entertainment, such as clowns, jugglers, bands, stilt-walkers, characters in costume and dancers,” Granter says.
Hyde Park Barracks Museum
Hyde Park Barracks Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, traces its own history. Originally built in 1819 to house convict men and boys, the barracks later took in female immigrants and in the 1860s became Hyde Park Asylum.
The venue features unique spaces for groups, including the Southern Courtyard, with views of Sydney’s skyline. Groups can host cocktail receptions and dinners for up to 1,500.
Another option is the Silhouette Gallery, hosting up to 150 for cocktails. Groups can also use the Hyde Park Barracks Cafe.
Marlene Goldman is a self-professed Sydney-phile, having lived there for a year and having finagled many return visits. Her favorite pastimes include the coastal walk from Bondi Beach to Coogee and a climb up the Sydney Harbour Bridge followed by a pint at the Lord Nelson Brewery Hotel.
