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Vivid Sydney Turns 11!
The glowing, interactive extravaganza that is Vivid Sydney turns eleven this year and promises to be the most whimsical playground for kids of all ages! Here’s a handful of reasons you and your students should stay and play with YHA this year.
We’ve Found the Vivid 2019 TOP Precincts!
The Sydney Opera House Will Be As Spectacular As Ever
Image Credit: Vivid Sydney 2019, Austral Floral Ballet - Andrew Thoma Hunag & Bemo
The Harbour City’s most iconic landmark takes centre stage during Vivid Sydney, and the light show in store for the 11th anniversary of the festival won’t disappoint. Every year its sails dance with a rolling display of artworks, with this year’s display dedicated to Australian flora from artist Andrew Thomas Huang for the duration of Vivid (Friday, May 24 – Saturday, June 15 2019).
Luna Park Lights Up
Image Credit: Vivid Sydney 2018, Destination NSW
The amusement park on the north side of the Harbour has been thrilling visitors since 1935, and in 2019, Luna Park will make its second Vivid appearance. Adding a splash of colour to Coney Island as well as lights on its iconic Ferris Wheel making it an exceptional experience. Plus, let’s not forget the view of the harbour in all its glory, which is definitely not something to laugh about.
Botanical Gardens Buzzin’ with Colour
Image Credit: Vivid Sydney 2019, Firefly Field
With Vivid in mind, you can always count on the Royal Botanical Gardens to deliver the goods! This year’s display includes Firefly Field an engineering feature that sees hundreds of lit fireflies buzzing around you, Dancing Grass an installation of grass spears as high as 4.5 metres, and Torus a wavy reflection of light that responds to vibrations.
Taronga Zoo Twinkles
Image Credit: Vivid Sydney 2019, Taronga Zoo
Sydney’s famous zoo is Vivid’s wildest precinct… literally! Light for the Wild is returning again in 2019, with larger than life sculptures of various animals putting conservation in the spotlight, and drawing attention to Taronga’s efforts to save 10 species from extinction over the next decade.
Darling Harbour Dazzles
Image Credit: Vivid Sydney 2018, Destination NSW
Making one hell of an impression at Darling Harbour is a larger than life, 16-metre tall bot! Eco-friendly (obviously) he’s dedicated to crushing and processing old vehicles to create a fresher society from their spare parts, symbolising the need for sustainability in our hyper-manufactured world. The kids are sure to love this one!
Where to Stay?
If you’re planning to light up the lives of your students, we’ve got affordable, safe and super-well equipped properties dotted over the city for you to rest your bones in! Choose from The Rocks-based Sydney Harbour YHA as seen above (where you can even watch the Vivid fun from the rooftop!) or Haymarket-based Sydney Central YHA and Railway Square YHA… of course, letting our Groups Coordinators sort your stay from sunrise to sunset. All you need to worry about is educating the next generation!
Nearby Hostels
From $29 per night
Sydney Central YHA
Our heritage-listed building, opposite Central Station, is ideally positioned near the Sydney Airport Train line, Darling Harbour, Chinatown and the Powerhouse Museum.
From $35 per night
Sydney Harbour YHA - The Rocks
The only hostel in Sydney that has views of Sydney Harbour, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. Sydney Harbour YHA is the best place to stay in Sydney for the New Years Eve fireworks and the Vivid light festival.
From $34 per night
Sydney Railway Square YHA
The hostel that literally has its own platform at Sydney Central Railway Station. You won't have an excuse for missing your bus, train or plane, with direct access to the Sydney Airport Train line and bus terminals at your doorstep.
YHA is a member of Hostelling International