Waterways: The Oysters & Pearls by Seaplane experience takes you via a scenic flight to Broken Bay Pearl Farm on the Hawkesbury River. Photos: Supplied.
Three varied vacation choices in NSW require careful consideration. While a range of choices is available, several elements should be considered to ensure holidays are filled with exciting new experiences, relaxation and lots of fun!
Having choices is a privilege. An icon is reborn with Sydney Tower Eye launching its new look; the Oysters & Pearls by Seaplane experience offers a scenic flight to Broken Bay Pearl Farm on the Hawkesbury River; and Elements of Byron has launched a new bird trail.
Uncover a new outlook on the Harbour City’s most iconic view — it’s elevated and breathtaking! Sydney Tower Eye has unveiled its all-new observation deck, 250 metres above street level, offering panoramic, 360-degree vistas stretching 80 kilometres, including iconic landmarks such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Hyde Park, sparkling waterfronts, vibrant city precincts and the Blue Mountains in the distance.
Standing 309 metres above the city, the Sydney Tower Eye has been an integral part of the skyline for 44 years. Thoughtful attention has gone into the re-envisioned deck as a modern, premium space. Four times the height of the Sydney Opera House, the revitalised attraction features a new cafe and interiors inspired by the natural world, blending sandstone tones with ocean-inspired hues, and comfortable seating zones.
The tower also offers interactive screens, access to the highest bar in Sydney, and the unique perspectives of the city at sunrise, sunset and after dark.
To celebrate the relaunch, visitors can take advantage of a limited-time offer with $29 tickets to experience the transformed space. Save up to 60 per cent when booking your top Sydney attraction tickets with a combo pass!
Picturesque: Sydney’s most iconic view has been given a refined new perspective, with the Sydney Tower Eye unveiling its reimagined observation deck. Enjoy 360-degree panoramic views of Sydney and beyond!
Feeling adventurous? Step out into the open air on the tallest building in Sydney for a breathtaking, 60-minute Skywalk tour. It’s an exhilarating open-air experience where you’ll walk on two glass platforms 268 m above ground. Knowledgeable guides point out iconic landmarks and share fascinating insights about the city below.
The Sydney Tower Eye is the second-tallest structure in Australia, after the Q1 on the Gold Coast, which is 322 m. It is four times the height of the Sydney Opera House and more than twice the height of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Sydney Tower is nine metres taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, which is 300 metres. On overcast days, the observation deck can sit above the clouds.
Merlin Entertainments ANZ vice-president Ian Wood said: “The Sydney Tower Eye has always been the ultimate place to take in the city’s most breathtaking views. With the reimagined observation deck, we’ve created a space that feels contemporary and welcoming — designed to elevate the experience and give guests a new way to connect with Sydney.”
Merlin Entertainments is a global leader in location-based, family entertainment. It has 10 attractions in Australia, including Legoland Discovery Centre Melbourne; Wild Life Sydney Zoo; Madame Tussauds, Sydney; the Sydney Tower Eye; Sea Life Sydney Aquarium, Sea Life Melbourne Aquarium; and Sea Life Sunshine Coast, Queensland.
Indulgent: It’s a welcome retreat from the urban hustle as you step inside Byron Bay’s award-winning nature-based, beachfront resort. Elements of Byron has launched a new bird trail.
Soar through the skies and discover a world of pearls on the new Oysters & Pearls by Seaplane tour, a collaboration between Broken Bay Pearl Farm and Sydney Seaplanes.
Departing from Rose Bay, a 20-minute drive from Sydney/Warrane’s city centre, the small-group tour takes guests via a scenic flight to Broken Bay Pearl Farm on the Hawkesbury River. The tour then cruises through waterways, home to a thriving oyster and pearl aquaculture industry, before heading to Broken Bay Pearl Farm’s Shellar Door. Here, you discover the history of Australian pearls, get hands-on with pearl grading and enjoy a riverside lunch of cured meats, cheese and local oysters. The tour concludes with either a car transfer to hotels in Sydney’s city centre or a return seaplane flight to Rose Bay, offering views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House.
A third option is a welcome retreat from the urban hustle. Step inside Byron Bay’s award-winning, nature-based beachfront resort. Elements of Byron has launched a new bird trail, inviting tourists to spot more than 250 species on the resort’s 20-hectare (50-acre) site, 30 minutes’ drive from Ballina Airport.
The resort is nestled amid one of Australia’s most ecologically diverse regions, the Northern Rivers. Illustrated maps and interpretive signage guide you through rainforest, wetlands, eucalypt forest and coastal dunes, home to glossy black cockatoos, rainbow bee-eaters, eastern whipbirds and sea eagles. A sanctuary. Witness the incredible biodiversity fostered on site.
In-house naturalist and bird trail developer Alastair Oakman also runs complimentary guided walks every Saturday morning.
