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Last year was my first visit to the Vivid Festival with the kids. We rugged up and headed to Darling Harbour for dinner before walking up to Martin Place and on to Circular Quay. It was an amazing evening, but also quite exhausting. T said we would never do it again as we, like so many of our travel adventures, hadn’t really researched the event and ended up carrying our then 6 and 8 year old for the last 30 minutes. I don’t like the concept of never so I’ve been researching and worked out how where we need to head and what we need to do to actually get the most out of Vivid and how to enjoy it all.

Firstly, this year we are not cramming our adventures at Vivid into one visit. We need to savour our time and spread our attendance over a few seperate excursions so we aren’t exhausted and we can keep the kids happy. We’re also going to arrive a lot earlier. The notion of enjoying a lovely meal needs to be pushed aside when planning for Vivid.  It will slow you down. Next step…research! Where to go and what to see.

First off, where to eat! Head over to Little Munch for their top recommendations (they’ve tried much more than me!)

Kid Bucket List – Top 5 Picks for Vivid with Kids

Don’t Let Their Lights Go Out – Taronga Zoo

As part of Taronga Zoo’s centenary, the celebration will kick off at Vivid with an illuminated trail of ten giant animal multimedia light sculptures, representing ten critical species from Australia and Sumatra that Taronga is committed to protecting.

With my class recruited to construct a number of lanterns for the installations, I bought our tickets early so we could catch what I think will be the best view of the Sydney skyline during the Vivid Festival.

I think THIS is the TOP Vivid Sydney Experience for families. I could easily avoid all others and just go to this!

Electric Jellyfish – Museum of Sydney

Doesn’t the mere thought of electric jellyfish make you excited? When I heard about this installation I knew it needed to be on the list especially when I realised that it’s an actual domed structure that you walk inside for maximum impact. The kids are going to love it.

Electric Jellyfish is a multi-sensory experience which will tantalise the senses with visual images integrated within an ethereal soundscape. The kids are going to find the interactive elements that are activated when they  ‘pluck’, ‘bounce’ or ‘wobble’ an electric light ring that surrounds the interior of the dome the most mesmerising. I think we’ll find it difficult to move on to our next installation once they enter the dome!

Cathedral of Light – Royal Botanic Gardens

Whilst we have never visited the Royal Botanic Gardens at night as a family, my imagination has been conjuring up images of the Magic Faraway Tree when thinking about how it may look during the Vivid Festival.  Mention tunnels and my kids go nuts. They love exploring them whether by foot or a moving vehicle. The Cathedral of Light installation is a 70 metre long tunnel illuminated by tens of thousands of LED light globes. Whilst it isn’t as interactive as many of the other installations that we will be visiting, I think it’s the perfect entrance into our adventures within the garden as we explore the Sentiment Cocoon. I bet it has some stunning views as well.

Circular Quay – The Precinct 

Circular Quay is a hive of activity during Vivid with possibly the biggest crowds of year outside the New Year holiday. There are numerous installations across the precinct which I can’t wait to explore if only the crowds would dissipate when we arrive. My best bet is to arrive early. I think we’ll take the Light Walk so we can move on quickly.

Captain Starlight’s Light Rocket

I discovered Captain Starlight’s Light Rocket via the Starlight Children’s Foundation and knew I needed to find out more. You see, every day  Captain Starlight travels around Australia visiting the major Children’s Hospitals where he brings a little joy to some our most seriously ill kids during their stay. This year he has delicately docked his Light Rocket in Circular Quay so we can all share some of the amazing laughter and fun he brings with his visits.

The Light Rocket is a gigantic 15 metres tall and becomes a kaleidoscope as you enter it from the base. with Light, mirrors and sound will bombard your senses in all the rights ways, overwhelming you with excitement. I can’t wait to visit!

Have I convinced you to head to Vivid this year? Make sure you download the Vivid smartphone app and utilise the event website at  www.vividsydney.com, where you can download maps to print as well.