Whenever I ask family and friends travelling to Sydney for the first time what they want to see, the Sydney Opera House never fails to be at the very top of the list. It is by far the most recognisable Australian building which also happens to sit right on the most beautiful harbour in the world. I’m starting to realise that while most tourists skim around the outside of its beautiful sails, many never step foot inside. This year, I’m on a mission to change that. This year I hope to convince all of you visiting Sydney to take a deep breath and walk through the doors of the Sydney Opera House.
For the family, a Sydney Opera House adventure should really start with a Day Pack. It is the ultimate VIP experience. Earlier this week, we were invited back to experience the summer itinerary which included a Junior Lunch at Opera Kitchen, a behind the scenes adventure of the house on the Junior Adventure, and, tickets to the 52-Storey Treehouse (the kids favourite book series brought to life through the magic of theatre).
Miss N is already a junior expert having experienced the Junior Tour last year. The trip was Master R’s and T’s very first tour of the Sydney Opera House. We were all in for a treat! While all tours start at the Welcome Centre, they are all quite different and totally led by the personality of the tour guide.
Chris was our tour guide. On meeting him, the kids quickly dubbed him “the Stampy Long Nose” of Sydney Opera House tour guides. They did mean this as a compliment, as anyone who knows Minecraft would be aware that Stampy knows everything about the game and is the one you want to watch on YouTube. We found Chris extremely patient, incredibly knowledgeable and very, very funny.
Before our tour, we enjoyed lunch at the Opera Kitchen. This is part of the Day Pack and, although the menu is fairly limited, so very yummy. From the adult menu I chose a Quinoa, Beetroot, Feta & Macadamia Salad and T chose a Yellow Thai Chicken Curry. House beer, wine or a soft drink were our drink options. From the Junior Lunch Menu the kids chose The Junior Fish and Chips and The Junior Chicken Burger. They were both impressed that their Junior Lunch also included a small soft drink and ice cream. While we waited for our meals, the kids were occupied by the provided colouring pages while us adults enjoyed the stunning harbour view. What a life!
After our scrumptious lunch, Chris appeared to whisk us away for our tour. It started with a quick photoshoot which would be used for the souvenir images we would receive at the end of the tour (included in the Day Pack). We then headed to the top terrace. This is where the tour really started.
Over the next hour, Chris weaved us through different parts of the Sydney Opera House. Many are closed to the public. He sprinkled little bites of information about the site throughout our adventure. We learned that Jørn Utzon, the Danish architect who designed the House was inspired by orange segments. We had an opportunity to touch the tiles that make up the sails and for the very first time see the “snow and ice” pattern. Chris inspired the kids to be observers and used inquiry based questioning so each child could explore more, learn more and develop real insights about the building. I was so impressed.
It’s not typical to enter any of the theatres when there are no shows to be watched. The tour flips this. You get to see the theatres when no one else is in there. First up for our experience was the Studio. It is currently ready for the Blanc de Blanc show which includes the introduction of a full size jacuzzi to the theatre. Chris told us it sprays out huge big bubbles which excited the kids although, thankfully, he declined to turn it on. The Studio is the most versatile of all the theatres in the Sydney Opera House and can be booked to show off almost any type of show unlike other theatres at the House which are reserved for music and dance – although Chris did confirm that this was unlikely to extend to a Demolition Derby as suggested by one participant.
We exited the theatre and followed Chris outside and up, up, up. A couple of official red ropes were pulled aside for us which made us feel very special indeed. I found that the tour draws attention to parts of the Sydney Opera House that one usually takes for granted. The windows for instance. Have you ever really thought about the windows of this great icon before? Can’t say I have. Chris had both the kids and the adults gazing at them in both amazement and tenderness. Yes, they evoked that response. You see Jørn Utzon was a true genius, designing windows that would offer stunning views of our spectacular harbour even when your back is to it. Even when you are looking up! Amazing.
Time for dress ups. We entered a little amphitheatre where props, costumes and scenery lay awaiting our arrival. The kids made a bee line for the costumes and props that most appeared to them. Miss N’s current fascination with I Dream of Jeanie was obvious when she discovered an old lamp and tried her luck at rubbing it to see if a genie would pop out. Oh Chris, you never knew what you were going to release! For the next 10 or so minutes we watched the kids become gladiators, ballerinas, french revolutionaries and so on while us adults enjoyed the comfort of the chairs that once graced the stage of some very well known operas.
Chris brought us back together and we set off again on our adventure of discovery. We promised Chris that we would be super quiet for our next theatre experience. He slowly unlocked a big door and took us through a winding stair case and into the Concert Hall. Exhale! It is phenomenal. While we looked on, the set was constructed and the sound tested. We sat in awe until Chris prompted us outside.
The construction of the Concert Hall was described to the kids who were asked to think of the ridges at the top of their mouth and compare it to the ceiling of the hall. One of the kids asked why there was a net over the pit. Of course us adults thought we were all rather smart, to ensure no one is hurt if they fall in. Hmm….actually, no. It’s to prevent animals from falling in and goes right back to a show called the Elixir of Life which featured farm animals. It was a chicken that brought to life the idea of a net over the pit!
My oh my, so much to see! Chris took us out to the top of the external stairs so we could touch the tiles before leading us to the Playhouse to pick up our photos and prepare us for our viewing of The 52-Storey Treehouse.
You want to go now, right? Currently the Day Pack is $108.65 for adults and $83.65 for chidden. It includes:
15% discount on an A reserve show ticket to The 52-Storey Treehouse
Explore inside the Sydney Opera House on the Junior Adventure
A souvenir photo from your Junior Adventure
A delicious Junior Lunch and drink at one of our harbourside, family friendly restaurants.
For full details, head to the Sydney Opera House Day Pack information page.
A huge thank you to the Sydney Opera House for invited us to review the Day Pack. We were astonished by how much we enjoyed our day and highly recommend the experience. All opinions are our own.