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Vivid Sydney returns from 26 May to 17 June 2023 and will be brighter than ever before.
This year's Vivid Sydney is set to be a dazzling and unique affair. On top of its famous precincts such as Taronga Zoo and Circular Quay it's opened up some new and exclusive sights of Sydney.
One in particular that has made waves through the channels is the abandoned railway tunnels beneath Wynyard Station. Coined Dark Spectrum this installation transforms these underground rooms into something akin to a dance floor, filling them with light and sound.
In total there are 12 precincts to explore, each with their own unique installations and characteristics:
Written in the Stars: This spectacular drone show is the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere and takes us on a journey through our Solar System. See it at Circular Quay at 9pm on 28 May, 31 May, 4 June, 7 June, 12 June and 14 June 2023.
Lighting of the Sails. Always a highlight, this year the Sydney Opera House sails come to life dressed in the vibrant artworks of the late John Olsen.
Dandelion: Inspired by the dandelion's strength and beauty, this installation transforms 4,000kg of steel and twists it into a larger-than-life calyx that dances as though blown in the wind. See it at Hickson Road Reserve.
Vivid House: 4 artworks converge in this 360° experience. Housed within a hidden cove you'll journey through nature from its mountain peaks to its infinite oceans. See it at The Cutaway.
Lightscape: Carving a 2.1km pathway through the The Royal Botanic Garden, Lightscape transforms the natural world into a wonderland of giant flowers, electrifying trees and glowing tunnels. This is a ticketed event that should take you 90 minutes to experience. See it at The Royal Botanic Garden.
The Last Ocean: This dynamic ice sheet shifts throughout the day, beginning as an iceberg of blue and white before being kicked up by your movements, stirring up the seas and changing its form. See it at Barangaroo.
Lightscape 2023: Is it worth it?
There's been a lot of chatter this year about Lightscape at The Royal Botanic Garden. It's the first year this precinct has been paid and the prices are eye-wateringly high: $40 per adult and $128 per family. The question is, is the cost worth the experience?
Finder's shopping editor Stephanie Yip went and this is what she thought.
I went with my family of 3 and was completely in awe by the light displays and the musical accompaniments. Flowers bloomed above my head dancing to pop-music, a whale fluke up dived in a sea of mesmerising dots and neon lights drew a tree into reality.
As suggested, it took 90-minutes to complete the walk. This included a pit-stop for food.
On top of a unique experience, I loved how quiet the walk was. I never felt rushed or that I was clambouring to get a good angle on an installation. The walk was easy and pram and mobility-aid friendly.
With a toddler this made for a relaxing Vivid night-out.
As for the $40 price-tag? Considering the exhibit was free in previous years it's a hard pill to swallow.
To its credit it does feel as though there are more installations than usual, and they are to a larger scale. Then there's the musical curation, which is absolutely flawless.
It truly is a VIP and stress-free way to enjoy Vivid, particularly considering how crowded the event has become. If that's worth $40 to you, go for it.
Personally, I feel the cost is too steep when you consider you can hop on a cruise for $25 and visit Wild Lights at Taronga Zoo for $30 a pop.
Stephanie Yip attended Lightscape as a guest of Vivid Sydney.
Vivid experiences: Things to do at Vivid Sydney 2023
Want to do more at Vivid then the typical program of light walks and talks?
There are stacks of events and experiences from cruises and helicopter rides to feasts and tower walks so you can experience Vivid from a new perspective.
Creators, public figures and industry leaders are booked to discuss ideas that matter.
To date 36 talks and workshops have been scheduled in for your pleasure.
Highlights include
Mike White and Jennifer Coolidge in Conversation. Meet the cretor, writer, director of the series The White Lotus Mike White and its star Jennifer Coolidge as they chat life in Hollywood.
New Tech: Reasons For Hope. The founders of Bardee, ULUU and Vow come together to talk food waste, plastic alternatives and meat alternatives for a more sustainable future.
Bloody Taboos. Sit down with a panel of award-winning female journalists and writers as they discuss physical, mental and social stigmas.
Queeries. More than a discussion this is a performance and celebration featuring 8 Australian LGBTQI+ writers, comedians and artists.
Skin Deep. Dive deeper into the cogworks of bio-hacking for the sake of beauty and self-care with a professor, a senior lecturer, author and beauty director.
Over 70 live shows are set to reach our ears for Vivid Sydney 2023.
Under Vivid Music is the original Vivid Live series. This is centred around the Sydney Opera House and is packed with stars the likes of Yaeji, Budjerah, Thundercat, Kimbra, José González, Ethel Cain and Max Richter. All tickets can be purchased through Ticketek.
The wider Vivid Music explores Sydney, cropping everywhere, including Circular Quay, The Goods Line and Timbalong Park. Events can be ticketed or free.
Other highlights of the 2023 Vivid Music line-up include:
Alfa Mist
triple j celebrates 15 Years of Unearthed High
Cornelius + Nice Biscuit
Rhys Nicholson
A Bend in the River: A Tribute to Archie Roach AC
Yothu Yindi + Ziggy Ramo
Christine Anu
Hatchie + Egoism
Vivid Sydney food
A visit to one of Australia's acclaimed festivals requires a pit stop for dining. On the plus side there's a plethora of top-notch restaurants, cafes and food trucks that pave the Vivid pathway.
Some even offer special Vivid menus and deals to make the journey that much brighter.
Our picks of food options at Vivid
Vivid Sydney food stalls: Found at the Overseas Passenger Terminal, Circular Quay and Royal Botanic Gardens, these offer an affordable meal that's easy to eat while walking and are all part of the festival experience.
The American Express Light Lounge: Every year American Express cardholders (and one of their mates) are given a VIP space at Cruise Bar on level 3 of the Overseas Passenger Terminal. On top of sweeping harbour views they're treated to free live music. Available every night from 5:30–10:30pm. Details for 2023 have yet to be confirmed.
6HEAD: Commanding one of the best harbourside views for a food outlet, this steakhouse is hosting a unique theatrical experience in 2 of its rooms. It also has a separate 7-course dinner offering which includes a bottle of champagne which can be booked through Luxury Escapes.
Sydney Harbour Cruise aboard MV Sydney 2000: While more than a handful cruises include meals the one to beat is the Penfolds Degustation dinner. Onboard you'll delight in a 6-course menu complete with Penfolds' gold collection of bin and vintage wines. Plus, you'll snag those stellar views from a premium spot. Book through RedBalloon.
Opera Bar: It's the best seat in the house, right under the lit-up sails and looks out overlooking the Harbour Bridge and Luna Park. Every year it serves up something colourful and this year is no different. For small bites pop by Bar Subterranean by The Midnight Special for Bob Dylan inspired music, mulled wine and truffled cheese toasties. Open from 6pm until late. For larger meals, visit the Taste and Sound of Sydney at Opera Bar for rock oysters, citrus and sea succulents and poached quince with pepperberry goat's cheese. Open from 11am until late.
Vivid Chef Series: Part of the new Vivid Food program, the Vivid Chef Series sees international chefs collaboate with local top chefs. The result? Unique and delicious fusion focused menus. Think baby popcorn with smoked misco and barbequed bamboo with Tascan kale. Seatings are available from 4-17 June 2023.
Golden Feast @ Sefa Kitchen: For something utterly opulant, head to Bondi first to dine at Sefa Kitchen. To celebrate its 10th birthday its hosting a 6-course degustation where gold is featured in every course. Running from 24-30 May while it's NOT part of Vivid it is timed and themed so perfectly that it may as well be. Consider heading here first then trekking into the city for the lights.
Where to stay during Vivid Sydney
Avoid the madness of Sydney transport and make the CBD your home base. There are some beautiful hotels in the city that usually have some great views of the lights too. Some, for example the Novotel Sydney Central is having a VIVID-themed package deal which includes a bottle of wine for the adults and soft drinks and glow sticks for the kids. Psst – it even has an illuminated ball pit in the lobby.
Visit early on Mondays and Tuesdays: As they're working days they tend to be the quietest and there's a greater chance you'll have that installation all to yourself.
Avoid the weekends, including Friday night: They're the peak days and are often swamped with the after-work crowds, families and visitors.
Bring your own food: While the call of neon-lit specials is high, the price tag is also. Budget-savvy Vivid visitors can bring their own food to the festival.
Catch the free events: The light installations aren't the only freebies going around. There are stacks of ideas and music events strewn throughout the city that are free to attend. Tumbalong Park in particular is hosting Vivid nights throughout the show.
Frequently asked questions about Vivid Sydney 2023
Is Vivid Sydney on in 2023? When is it?
Yes. After going on hiatus for 2 years due to the pandemic Vivid Sydney is returning in 2023. The festival is running from 26 May to 17 June 2023.
Is Vivid Sydney free?
Yes, Vivid Sydney's displays are completely free to access. However, events such as Vivid Live performances, Vivid Ideas talks and Wild Lights at Taronga Zoo are paid events. Extra experiences such as cruises and bridge climbs require an admission fee, too.
Can I get a refund?
No. Refunds are not available for purchased events.
Where is Vivid Sydney?
Vivid Sydney can be found in various precincts and locations across Sydney CBD. These are:
Barangaroo
Carriageworks
Central Station and The Goods Line
Circular Quay and The Rocks
Darling Harbour
Darling Quarter
Darling Square
Royal Botanic Gardens
Sydney CBD and surrounds
Sydney Opera House
Taronga Zoo
Walsh Bay
What time does Vivid start?
The Vivid Sydney light displays turn on at 6pm each night during the festival and are turned off at midnight.
How long does Vivid last?
The festival runs for 23 days.
How does Vivid Sydney work?
Vivid Sydney is a free outdoor event held throughout the Sydney CBD. Essentially it's a giant open-air gallery. You can wander around and check out light-based displays and illuminations created by a range of artists between 6pm and midnight, when lights turn off.
There are guides available. Each attraction is signposted and explains what it is you're looking at and who created it.
Are there many road closures during Vivid?
Many roads leading towards Circular Quay and The Rocks will be closed or restricted during the event. Given those limitations and the road closures throughout the city, it's recommended to take public transport. There will be increased services available during the event and the ferries will be illuminated each night from 6pm.
Can I do a Vivid Sydney Harbour Bridge climb?
Yes. The twilight and night-time bridge climbs are available during Vivid.
Do you have any tips on how to photograph Vivid?
If night photography isn't your forte, consider joining a night photography class prior to or even during the festival to capture the best images.
Where should I park?
These are the closest parking lots to the attractions. However, public transport is advised as select roads close due to the event.
For Darling Harbour and Barangaroo access:
Secure Parking Hilton Sydney Car Park
Secure Parking Kent Street
Wilson Parking on Sussex Street
Wilson Parking on Kent Street
Secure Parking – Allianz Centre Car Park
Secure Parking on Shelley Street
Divvy Parking on Shelley Street
For Circular Quay access:
Divvy Parking on Macquarie Street
Wilson Parking 37 Pitt Street
Secure Parking – Aurora Place Car Park
Wilson Parking George Street
Secure Parking – 20 Bond Street Car Park
Wilson Parking Quay West
Are drones allowed?
The use of drones is prohibited in many areas of Sydney Harbour. There is limited information for Vivid but we imagine the rules are the same.
Available on hot air balloon flights, skydiving, lunch cruises, jet boat rides and attraction passes on Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park, SkyPoint Observation Deck, SEA LIFE Aquarium, Madame Tussauds and more. Minimum spend of $350 is required. T&Cs apply.
Use the code and get 35% off your stay at Vibe hotels like Vibe Hotel Sydney Darling Harbour, Vibe Hotel Subiaco Perth, or Vibe Hotel Canberra. T&Cs apply.
Available on select dates on destinations including Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth and Hobart. Minimum spend of $300 required. Activities include hot air balloon flights, skydives and high teas. T&Cs apply.
Available on activities like hot air balloon flights, skydiving, lunch cruises, passes to attractions including Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park, SkyPoint Observation Deck, SEA LIFE Aquarium, Madam Tussauds and more. Minimum spend of $300 is required. T&Cs apply.
Book your flights from Sydney for as low as $115 at Kayak. Sample fare is Sydney to Ballina Byron via Jetstar. Other destinations include Ballina, Launceston, Melbourne, Coolangatta, Brisbane and more.
Available when you spend a minimum of $250 on activities such as hot air balloon flights, rally driving, skydives, high teas and more. Destinations include Sydney, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth and Hobart. T&Cs apply.
Available on activities including skydives, whale watching cruises, day tours and getaways. Must purchase 2 or more vouchers. Destinations include Gold Coast, Cairns, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. T&Cs apply.
Available on selected accommodations in Cairns, Port Douglas, Gold Coast, Whitsundays, Darwin, Melbourne, Sydney, Queenstown, Adelaide and Dubbo. Limited time offer. T&Cs, exclusions apply.
Deal
Australia flights starts at $45 one way on Jetstar
Save on your Cairns relocation campervan rental when you book at JUCY for as low as $1 per day. Destinations include Brisbane and Sydney through JUCY Crib+. T&Cs apply.
Available on activities including skydives, jet ski rides, whale watching cruises, day tours, rally driving and scenic helicopter flights. Minimum spend of $250 required. Destinations include Cairns, Sydney and Adelaide. T&Cs apply.
Available on select dates until 15 December 2023 when you book your hotel and flights together. Destinations include Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, and Gold Coast. T&Cs apply.
Available on select travel dates across Brisbane, Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast and more. Activities include day tours, zoo and animal interactions, tandem skydives, hot air balloon flights and jet boat rides.
Available on select stay dates in Adelaide, Sydney, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Melbourne and more. Sample stay is for a studio apartment in Mornington Peninsula. T&Cs apply.
Book a flight to the USA available for travel on select dates at Air New Zealand. Destinations include Los Angeles, New York, Hawaii, Houston, San Francisco, and Chicago. Sample fare departs from Sydney to Honolulu. Fares are subject to change without prior notice. T&Cs apply.
Deal
Sydney: Up to 12% off Thrilling Flyboard Sessions in Penrith or Kariong
Available for booking until 28 March 2024. It includes five minutes of flyboard air time wetsuits, a life jacket and helmet, and a bottle of water. T&Cs apply.
Deal
Sydney: Up to 10% off stays using members only rate booking
Available on select stay dates until December 2023 in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Darwin, Canberra and more. Sample rate is for a stay at Gilligan's Backpackers Hotel & Resort in Cairns.
Sign up for Expedia Rewards to become a member and get exclusive discounts on hotel stays. Destinations include Sydney, Cairns, Canberra, Sunshine Coast and Hobart. T&Cs apply.
Available on select travel dates until 2023, including Easter and school holidays. Activities include whale- and dolphin-watching and lunch and sunset cruises in Sydney, Cairns, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Perth and Melbourne.
Get up to 30% off on flights + up to 45kg baggage with Malaysia Airlines and Firefly flights. Domestic destinations include Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Darwin and Adelaide. International destination includes Malaysia, Japan, Singapore, and more. T&Cs apply.
Grab the Cirque du Soleil Crystal with Premium Fan Experience tickets at Luxury Escapes for only $269 per person. Available in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.
Available on select dates at select KINTO locations around Australia including Melbourne, Adelaide, Cairns, Sydney, Hobart, Darwin and more. Distance fees apply.
Available on select dates in 2023 in locations across Australia such as Canberra, Sydney, Perth, Melbourne and more. Sample price is for an introductory virtual cocktail-making class in Brisbane.
Sign up with your email address and unlock Sneaky Saver deals. Activities include day tours, attraction passes and hop-on hop-off bus tours. Destinations include Sydney, Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Melbourne. T&Cs apply.
Save more and get access to 2, 3, or 4 activities with this one pass. Sydney Zoo Admission Ticket, Taronga Zoo Sydney General Entry Ticket, Sydney Harbour Jet Boat Adventure, SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium Ticket and more. T&Cs apply.
Available on activities in 2023 including hop-on hop-off tours, wine tours, sightseeing cruises, zoo and animal interactions, hot air balloon flights and more. Sample rate is a general entry to the Chinese Garden of Friendship.
Plus 10% off if you sign up for Oaks DISCOVERY loyalty program on select dates for a stay duration of 7 nights or more. Destinations include Broome, Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, Queenstown and more.
Available on select dates on hot air balloon flights and scenic flights. Destinations include Melbourne, Hunter Valley, Byron Bay, Sydney, Whitsundays, Gold Coast and more.
Available on purchases such as getaways, dining experiences, attraction passes, sightseeing cruise, cinema tickets and day tours. Destinations include Sydney, Perth, Canberra and Brisbane.
Available on select stay dates across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Hobart, Cairns, Adelaide and more. Sample fare is for a stay at The Hive Hostel. T&Cs apply.
Available on select stay dates with Express Deals. Destinations include Sydney, Adelaide, Byron Bay, Thredbo Village, Sunshine Coast, Jindabyne, Perth, the Gold Coast and more.
Available on select dates in 2023 on sports activities such as racing, football and more. Sample price is for the netball division. Destinations include Adelaide, Hobart, Sydney and Perth.
Available on select dates until 2023 on activities such as sightseeing tours, whale-watching cruises, helicopter tours, cruises, wine tours and more. Sample rate is for an audio walking tour.
Stephanie Yip was the shopping editor at Finder. Previously she was Finder’s travel editor and before that was our lifestyle writer. She has been writing in the travel, shopping and lifestyle space for over 15 years. During her time at Finder she was featured in a number of publications including The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian Australia, Travel Weekly, Escape and KarryOn. Before joining Finder, her previous jobs include editor for kids' magazine DMAG and writer for Thomas Cook and Wizz Air's in-flight magazine. Stephanie previously studied a Bachelor of Communications from the University of Technology Sydney, Australia.
See all that South Africa has to offer with a combination of thrilling and relaxing experience we have listed in this list of things to do while you're there.
Thanks for getting in touch! As of this time, our page doesn’t show parking spaces for the Darling Harbour view. You can definitely find information on this by searching “parking spaces for Darling Harbor view” on your preferred search engines.
The dates for Vivid Sydney 2019 have not been released as of this writing. You may visit Vivid Sydney’s official page and sign up to My Vivid to get more info on this.
I hope this helps.
Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any other enquiries.
Has the date been set for this years vivid event? I am trying to plan a visit to Sydney in May and keen to know the dates so I can book flights from NZ.
The dates for Vivid Sydney 2019 have not been released as of this writing. Vivid Sydney was held on 25 May 2018 – 16 Jun 2018 and on 26 May 2017 – 17 June 2017.
You may visit Vivid Sydney’s official page and sign up to My Vivid to get more info on this.
I hope this helps.
Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any other enquiries.
You’ll definitely be updated when you sign up for Finder’s newsletter. You’ll be notified via email the latest deals across shopping, money, tech and more.
Trains on most lines to city circle stations run frequently on weekdays and every 10 to 15 minutes on weekends.
Extra services will run on the weekends to help large crowds get to and from the city and between the Vivid Sydney precincts.
On Fridays, additional late-night trains will run on the T2 Inner West & Leppington Line. On weekends, additional services will run on the T2 Inner West & Leppington Line and the T8 Airport & South Line.
best parking for Darling Harbour view?
Hi Christine,
Thanks for getting in touch! As of this time, our page doesn’t show parking spaces for the Darling Harbour view. You can definitely find information on this by searching “parking spaces for Darling Harbor view” on your preferred search engines.
Hope this clarifies.
Best,
Nikki
Do we have dates yet for 2019 vivid. Any idea if the event is happening or not or when the dates will be out?
Hi Irizum,
Thank you for getting in touch with finder.
The dates for Vivid Sydney 2019 have not been released as of this writing. You may visit Vivid Sydney’s official page and sign up to My Vivid to get more info on this.
I hope this helps.
Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any other enquiries.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Jeni
Has the date been set for this years vivid event? I am trying to plan a visit to Sydney in May and keen to know the dates so I can book flights from NZ.
Hi Mary,
Thank you for getting in touch with finder.
The dates for Vivid Sydney 2019 have not been released as of this writing. Vivid Sydney was held on 25 May 2018 – 16 Jun 2018 and on 26 May 2017 – 17 June 2017.
You may visit Vivid Sydney’s official page and sign up to My Vivid to get more info on this.
I hope this helps.
Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any other enquiries.
Thank you and have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Jeni
By subscribing to the Finder newsletter, will I be updated (via the newsletter) once the 2019 dates are released, please?
Hi Michelle,
Thank you for your comment.
You’ll definitely be updated when you sign up for Finder’s newsletter. You’ll be notified via email the latest deals across shopping, money, tech and more.
Regards,
Jhezelyn
Will there be extra train services on the South Coastline to Wollongong?
Hi Leone,
Thank you for your inquiry.
Trains on most lines to city circle stations run frequently on weekdays and every 10 to 15 minutes on weekends.
Extra services will run on the weekends to help large crowds get to and from the city and between the Vivid Sydney precincts.
On Fridays, additional late-night trains will run on the T2 Inner West & Leppington Line. On weekends, additional services will run on the T2 Inner West & Leppington Line and the T8 Airport & South Line.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Jeni