Destination: Australia
Sydney still sizzles
Already a popular holiday and business destination, Gerardine Donough-
Tan finds out what’s new and exciting about Sydney for incentive tours
F
Clockwise from
below: Luna Park
Sydney; The Rocks
Market; artist impres-
sion of the future
Sydney Fish Market
or starters, bring the group
on a heritage walking tour
around The Rocks area, led
by an Aborigine, whose
Dreamtime stories will
contrast history with the modern,
built-up cityscape.
Likewise, the iconic Sydney Opera
House and Sydney Harbour Bridge
offer more than concerts or a climb.
They can literally be seen in a new
light at Australia’s largest event,
Vivid Sydney.
New South Wales minister for
tourism and major events Adam
Marshall described it as “an unmiss-
able experience for Sydneysiders and
visitors alike as our capital city is
transformed into a kaleidoscope of
colour”.
The three-week festival of light,
music and ideas runs every May-
June with spectacular, free public
exhibitions of outdoor lighting sculp-
tures, installations and grand-scale
projections on iconic buildings.
But if peak-prices and large
crowds (2.25 million in 2018) are a
put-off, Sydney Opera House – Aus-
tralia’s top attraction – runs cus-
tomised events for incentive groups
throughout the year.
Tours are available in seven lan-
guages, highlighting architecturally-
striking venues and spaces usually
off-limits to the public.
“Performance tickets, private
opera recitals, curated menus from
on-site caterers and even a sunrise
yoga class on the Monumental Steps
can also be arranged to create an un-
forgettable experience for incentive
visitors,” said its head of sales, tours
and experiences, Sarah Duthie.
Last October, Mandarin-speaking
guides took a 75-member commer-
cial real estate development group
from China on a one-hour private
tour of the performance venues and
foyers. As the tour ended in the Con-
cert Hall, a soprano surprised them
with an opera recital beside a grand
piano. They later mingled with her
before taking a group photograph in
front of the iconic Opera House sails.
When the function centre renova-
tion is completed this April, pre-
mium and flexible events space will
present more top-notch facilities and