7 best places to see Sydney Vivid in 2023

One of the best things about winters in Sydney is the Sydney Vivid festival. It is a festival where all locals and tourists come together to celebrate and enjoy the light and music shows. In this post, I will list the top 7 places to see Sydney Vivid festival.

This article may contain affiliate links. For full information, please see our affiliate disclaimer here.

About Sydney Vivid Festival

Held from end of May till mid of June, Sydney Vivid festival is an annual festival in which the light projections meet the art and technology.

The projections are mainly in the Sydney Central Business District (CBD), especially on the Sydney Opera House, the Harbour Bridge, Custom House and Darling Harbour. It features many of the World’s creative minds and industry forums.

Also read | For all the Sydney annual festival details, read What's on Sydney?

The festival goes on for 23 days. And watching these light projections are absolutely Free unless you want to enjoy the special events and musical shows.

Best places to view the Sydney Vivid

There are plenty of places where you can view the vivid lights in Sydney Central Business District (CBD). However, the best views of the Sydney Opera House is from the below places:

1. Circular Quay – Overseas Terminal.
2. Circular Quay – Royal Botanical Gardens.
3. The Rocks.
4. Pylon Lookout on Sydney Harbour Bridge.
5. Cruise (not FREE).
6. Luna Park, Milsons Point.
7. Darling Harbour.

Circular Quay – Overseas Terminal

Circular Quay is a harbour area located in Sydney. It is the hub to the ferry transport of the Sydney harbour. The quay has an international shipping port and is a tourism hub in Sydney. It is also the home to the World famous Sydney Opera House. Read 5 things to do in Circular Quay for more information.

Officially known as the Sydney Cove Passenger Terminal, it is a great place to view the spectacular lights.

• Cost: FREE.
• Nearest train station: Circular Quay.
• Beware there will be lots of photographers with their tripods.
• If there is no access to the Overseas Terminal, then visit the Cruise Bar to see the lights from opposite to Sydney Opera House.

Royal Botanical Garden

Established in 1816, Royal Botanical Garden is a collection of many gardens and plants from all around the World. It is a huge garden in the middle of Sydney CBD. The garden has many exhibits during the vivid festival.

• Cost: FREE.
• Nearest train station: Circular Quay.

The Rocks

The Rocks is adjacent to Circular Quay and is a neighbourhood of historical laneways. Famous for its Rocks Market over the weekend, the Rocks also has plenty of restaurants and pubs.

• Cost: FREE.
• Nearest train station: Circular Quay.

Pylon Lookout

The lookout from the Harbour bridge is the Pylon lookout. It is a great spot to see the Sydney Opera House from up above and is a popular spot for viewing vivid.

• Cost: AUD 19 per adult.
• This is also a viewpoint on the Sydney Harbour Bridge near Pylon lookout which is FREE.
• Nearest train station: Circular Quay.

On a Vivid Cruise

The best way to see vivid from the water is by taking a Vivid cruise. There are many private and tour boats that go around the harbour to see vivid.

• Cost: From AUD 29 per person.
• Watch out for deals on Groupon website which is the cheapest way to get a ticket for vivid cruise.
• Nearest train station(s): Circular Quay or Town Hall depending on the place where the cruise departs.

Luna Park, Milsons Point

The Luna Park at Milsons Point is a heritage listed amusement park in Sydney. The views from outside of the Luna Park are great to see vivid.

• Cost: FREE from the outside.
• Nearest train station: Milsons Point.

Darling Harbour

Darling Harbour is a harbour in Sydney CBD. It is a very lively place in Sydney where the locals party every weekend. Darling Harbour is famous for its restaurants and cafes along the harbour. For top things to do in Darling Harbour, refer my post 10 things to do in Darling Harbour.

• Cost: FREE.
• Nearest train station: Town Hall.

Closing Notes

Sydney Vivid is definitely a beautiful time to visit Sydney where the city is colourful and shining with lights and music. It is also a great opportunity for photographers to capture these wonderful city lights.

Are you aware of any other spots that are great to see Sydney Vivid? Let me know in the comments below.