The Opera House

One of Australia’s most famous icons, The Opera House, is just a short stroll from Circular Quay, along the edge of the harbour at Bennelong Point. Designed by the son of a yacht designer, the building’s signature white sail shaped roof shimmers in the sunlight.

One of the busiest performing arts centres in the world, the building boasts five performance venues, two restaurants and a number of bars and cafes. The centre also features and Aboriginal Art Gallery and several souvenir and gift stores.

The building was designed to act as home for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and was designed around a massive concert hall specially built to host performances. Smaller theatres act as the base for Opera Australia, the Australian Ballet and the Sydney Dance Company.

The best way to appreciate the building is to attend an evening performance, when the building takes on an ethereal quality, lit by floodlights, and the huge windows come to life with reflections of the city.

If you can’t attend a performance, guided tours are available to give visitors a more intimate look at the site. Front of House and Backstage tours run most days, and give visitors an overview of the site, and the unique architectural features.