Darling Harbour
If you feel like some fun in Sydney, Darling Harbour is the place to go. Sitting inside Sydney Harbour, west of Sydney Harbour Bridge, it’s a one-of-a-kind destination packed with restaurants, bars, museums, boat cruises and more. It’s the only place where you can learn about Sydney’s rich maritime history, cruise through a penguin enclosure, eat fresh seafood and dance ‘til dawn at a multi-level nightclub.
Darling Harbour
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia
Families can talk to the animals at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium, with its resident dugong, sharks, rays and penguins, and WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo, home to koalas, wombats, kangaroos and crocodiles. Meet the celebrities at Madame Tussauds wax figures museum and learn about all things nautical at the Australian National Maritime Museum. Refuel at one of the more than 160 places to eat and drink around Darling Harbour, from casual cafes to fine dining restaurants and everything in between. You can spend a whole day and night here, and never run out of things to do.
Darling Harbour is also one of Sydney’s best places to stay. The waterfront is lined with hotels ranging from ultra-luxe high rises to family friendly digs and historic boutique properties. That means it’s just a short stroll home once the lights of Vivid Sydney go out.
During Vivid Sydney, the water and the buildings around it are brought to life with a kaleidoscope of coloured lights. It’s creativity, innovation and technology writ large, with a backdrop of laughter and excitement.
How to get there: Sitting just on the edge of the city, there are lots of ways to get to Darling Harbour. The light rail has four stops here: Paddy’s Market, Convention, Exhibition and Pyrmont Bay. Catch a bus to Market, Park, Druitt, Bathurst or Liverpool streets and walk down towards the water. It’s just a short stroll from both Town Hall and Wynyard stations and ferries run regularly from Circular Quay.
Light Events
Hika Rakuyo
Reflective dark water, brilliant lasers and projections, Japanese philosophy – see Cockle Bay in a new light. This spectacular artwork is a celebration...
Poem Booth
Poetry plays with language. Illuminates. It speaks to being human in a way nothing else can, but do you need to be human to write it?Prepare to engage...
Neolithic
A blaze of lights above. A reverberating beat. A structure both ancient and modern. Welcome to Neolithic. It’s time to dance to the music from nearby...
BARANI
Step back in time to Warrane, a.k.a Sydney Cove, 500 years ago. A time long before the present-day climate crisis. A time when humans and nature lived...
Neuron
Peek inside the most mysterious, powerful, and wonderous structure in the world – your very own brain.Neuron is a motion-triggered light installation...
Omnivisu
A building that looks back at you. The otherwise faceless silhouette of our city is given a human touch with this playful, interactive art installation...
Music Events
Forest Claudette + THE BLSSM | Tumbalong Nights
Two stars firmly on the rise, Forest Claudette and THE BLSSM, are set to ignite the Tumbalong Park stage with catchy beats, aerial vocals and hip-hop hooks.Forest...
grentperez + FRIDAY* | Tumbalong Nights
A night of fresh and genre-blending sounds to elevate the Saturday night of your June long weekend – the R&B and vintage bossa nova croon of grentperez...
Sounds of Afrobeats | Tumbalong Nights
A big night of rhythm, dance and colour with Sounds of Afrobeats. Get swept up in this colourful and rhythmic night of African culture and music with larger-than-life...
3% presents 'Kill the Dead' Album Launch | Tumbalong Nights
Join us for an extraordinary celebration of First Nations stories and sound, as the innovative rap powerhouse 3% takes centre stage with a live performance...
Budjerah + Jem Cassar-Daley | Tumbalong Nights
Wrapping up Tumbalong Nights at Vivid Sydney 2024, we're bringing two of Australia's most compelling voices to the stage. Experience the alt-pop magic...
Vivid Kids at Tumbalong Park
Get silly, bust a move, and feel the music – it’s all about little people and big fun at Vivid Kids at Tumbalong Park.Round up the kids and start your...
Jalbu Muna | Tumbalong Nights
Join us for Jalbu Muna, a unique night of multi-generational First Nations storytelling through music. It’s time for an unbridled and uplifting celebration...
Mallrat + Tiffi | Tumbalong Nights
Kick off Tumbalong Nights in style and immerse yourself in a night of indie-pop and intimate lyricism from internationally adored Brisbane export Mallrat...
Teenage Joans + Lola Scott | Tumbalong Nights
A riotous night of all-female punk and pop energy awaits with energetic Adelaide two-piece Teenage Joans and indie-pop Sydneysider Lola Scott.Teenage Joans...
Bare Necessities | Tumbalong Nights
It’s time for a global street party like no other with Bare Necessities, the radio show and Sydney party scene fixture. Tumbalong Park will be transformed...
Ideas Events
REMIX Summit Sydney 2024
Explore the scope and limits of human creativity at Australia's biggest creative industries summit, REMIX Summit Sydney 2024.Across two days of inspirational...
Food Events
Atelier by Sofitel – A Culinary Connection
The best seat in the house is yours. Delight in the spectacle of the Vivid Sydney Light Walk glittering across Darling Harbour and a special four-course...