Sydney Tower... For A Breathtaking 360-Degree Views Of Sydney And Surrounds

The Sydney Tower is the place to go if you want a bird's eye view of Sydney and its surroundings. The pictures that you will take here will leave you fondly gazing at them long after you have left the city.

On a clear day, it is possible for you to see as far as the Central Coast to the north, the Blue Mountains to the west and the Illawarra to the south. The tower's observation deck is purposely built to provide a 360 degree view of Sydney from the deck's elevation 250 meters (820ft) above ground.

Standing at 309 metres (1014ft), Sydney Tower is the tallest structure in Sydney, Australia and in fact the second tallest viewing tower in the Southern Hemisphere. Its construction began in 1970. It was at the same time as the major shopping complex in Sydney's Central Business District that it springs from was being developed. The intention of the tower by the time it was being completed in 1981 was to serve as a communications tower as well as a tourist site for breathtaking views of the city.

This Sydney landmark has seen a number of name changes and visitors to the city can get confused since locals will often use the names used before when referring to this tall building. Two of the more common alternative names used to refer to Sydney Tower are Centre Point Tower and the AMP Tower. Centre Point is still the name used to refer to the shopping centre at the base of the tower. AMP on other hand refers to the name of this landmark's original owner.

The position of Sydney Tower right at the centre of the city is one of the main reasons that it has become one of the city's most recognisable attractions. But it takes more than just a location to attracts tourists from all over Australia and the world year after year.

To cater for the high traffic and the height of the building, there are several high speed elevators that can get you to the top (8th floor turret) in just 40 seconds. The turret often referred to as the ‘golden basket' and other than the observation deck, houses two restaurants (revolving) and a coffee lounge. Sipping your early morning or late evening coffee as you enjoy the views is an unforgettable experience.

It would be easy to assume that anyone who goes up the Sydney Tower does not fear heights. But once you see the glass bottomed platform 268 meters above the ground, developing cold feet at this point is not unusual before taking what has been coined the ‘skywalk'. If you have taken the trip all the way up, you may as well do the walk!

While you take the skywalk, tour guides are available to explain the history of the tower as well as the many landmarks that are visible from the observation deck. A tour of the tower also involves the OzTrek, which is a virtual tour of the diverse geography and rich history of Australia. If you are looking for a one-stop shop for information on Australia, this is a good place to start.

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