REVIEW: Vivid Sydney 2016 – Spectacular And Instagram Worthy

From now till 18 June 2016, it will be one of the best time to visit Sydney. Winter is here, so bring a warm coat along. The spectacular light installations, projections and music performance are bringing life to this amazing city after sunset every night with Vivid Sydney 2016. Vivid Sydney is an annual event for the last eight years organised by Destination New South Wales (NSW) in celebration of Sydney as a creative hub in Asia-Pacific.

It is also the largest festival of light, music and ideas in the Southern Hemisphere. If you like Singapore Night Festival like I do, you will love Vivid Sydney too. You will have a fun time during your walks and selfies/wefies are mandatory for such festivals. So look your best and get ready to strike your most glamorous pose!

There are a good mix of interactive installations that you will be amused with and entertained by participating in the activity. Like the hilarious I LOVE YOU installation which is a giant illuminated heart-shaped ‘Love-O-Meter’ where you need to publicly declare your LOVE to fill up the heart with as much light(love) as possible.

 

The light installations and projections from Vivid Sydney 2016 can be experienced from the ever popular Sydney Opera House and Circular Quay, to Central Park Sydney in the up & coming Chippendale precinct, as well as the affluent business district in Chatswood. It will take you a few nights to visit all the Vivid Light displays, excluding the Vivid Music events and Vivid Idea workshops. So plan ahead! See our Guide for Vivid Sydney 2016.

I personally love the new additions of Royal Botanic Gardens and Taronga Zoo. I was impressed by how the 3D-mapped projections brought life to the trees and bushes in the gardens and was charmed by the whimsical trail and animal light sculptures at the zoo. The surprise appearance of the giraffe at the Taronga Zoo was the highlight for me during our visit. Check out Taronga Zoo and Royal Botanic Garden from the video below:

If you are in Sydney over the weekend, I strongly recommend you to visit the Silent Disco at Central Park which only takes place on Fridays and Saturdays. Put on a headset and select one of the three DJs spinning on the audio channels and start grooving on the dance floor. It was also fun watching from outside the dance floor what seemed like a bunch of “Crazy Folks” dancing silently and humming to different tunes from their audio channels. See the video below:

 

Indulge During Vivid Sydney 2016

Since you are already having a great night out, why not complete your Vivid Experience by having a great dinner? Remember to make reservation in advance to avoid disappointments. Here are some recommendations we have for you:

 

Circular Quay – Bennelong

Located right in the iconic Sydney Opera House, Bennelong offers an inspiring menu features Australia’s best wine and food under the sail roof while enjoying the fantastic view of Circular Quay through the glass walls surrounding the restaurant. The food was fantastic, but do note that there are a few dining options in the restaurant, like dining by the bar, by the kitchen, the table and more. Check the website for details & reservation.

 

Chippendale – LP’s Quality Meat

Located right in the up & coming Chippendale district in Sydney, LP’s Quality Meat has been raved by many locals and tourists for their smoked meats designed to share with drinks over casual dinner as a group. I highly recommend this place to anyone visiting Sydney.

 

Oppa Food Truck Style

If you want to walk and eat, there are many food truck options that can be found around the exhibit precincts too. This way you can spend more time checking out the installations and maybe take some pictures of your food and the harbour bridge like me…