If there was ever a reason to make the pilgrimage over to Sydney to enjoy the festivities surrounding Vivid LIVE, organisers well and truly provided one this year.
In order to make organising travel a little bit easier for our readers, we’ve decided to put together a handy guide that will help those looking to make the trip to Vivid LIVE 2015 a little bit easier.
Getting There
There are a number of different ways to get to Sydney, and whether you’d prefer to go by air or make it into a road trip with some pals is totally up to you. No matter your preferred method of travel, we scoured the web to find some of the cheapest deals on offer.
Plane
If you’re making the trip from Melbourne, Tigerair have return flights going from $118, Jetstar are offering returns from $150, while the likes of Virgin and Qantas have legs each way starting from $129.
For those in Perth, returns from Jetstar go from $325, Virgin are selling for $470, and Qantas from $509.
Meanwhile, Brisbanites can cop return fares starting from $114 with Tiger, $125 with Airline, $175 with Jetstar, $221 with Virgin, and $252 with Qantas.
From Tasmania, returns with Jetstar start from $135, Virgin for $241, and $375 with Qantas.
You can compare up-to-date prices with Skyscanner and Webjet.
Driving
If, like Marge, flying isn’t your style, or if you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, why not do an Unofficial Vivid LIVE Roadtrip™?
Fill up a car with your best mates, split the petrol costs and see how many times you can re-enact the ‘Tiny Dancer’ scene from Almost Famous.
If you don’t have a car, you could always look into renting a car. Or a bus, if you’re that committed.
Where To Stay
For those bad with direction, Vivid Live is for you! Everything is hosted at The Sydney Opera House, the city’s most iconic location. If you, armed with Google Maps and a keen heart can’t find your way there – probably best you don’t leave the house. ever.
As well as being easy to find, The Sydney opera House is located a stones throw from the CBD and a cruisy stroll from some of the city’s most liveable suburbs.
If you’d like to houseshare and hang around for a while, we’d recommend checking out www.airbnb.com.au and staying in one of the following cafe riddled (slightly more chilled) suburbs:
– Surry Hills (approx 5km from the venue)
– Redfern(approx 6km from the venue)
– Chippendale (approx 6.5km from the venue)
– Newtown (approx 8km from the venue)
If you’re feeling a little more luxxx, pop by www.expedia.com.au to check out what CBD apartments and motels are available, as they’ll usually be less than 3kms from the Sydney Opera House.
Thing To Organise In Advance
Before you head to the Vivid LIVE shows, there are a few things we highly recommend organising first. We know, we know – you’re too excited to think about the logistics, and all that’s on your mind is staring at all the pretty lights and becoming a moth for two weeks. But trust us: these two preparation tips are vital and will save you some unnecessary heartbreak down the track.
[include_post id=”4441073″]Get your gig tickets
This one should be a no-brainer, but it’s an important reminder nonetheless. Before you go struttin’ up to the Opera House to spend an evening with Morrissey or have a dance with the Melbourne Ska Orchestra, you need to buy your tickets first.
These special Vivid LIVE shows have already proven competitive to nab tickets for – the Future Classic showcase featuring Flume, Flight Facilities and Seekae sold out immediately with “unprecedented demand” (though you can still put yourself on the shortlist).
You can view the Vivid LIVE lineup and purchase tickets from their official website. We recommend getting on that sooner rather than later.
(Note: the Universal Everything exhibition, however, which opens up the Vivid Light Walk into the Opera House itself for the first time, is free.)
Get an Opal card
There would be no bigger buzz kill than getting all dressed up and ready to go out on your first night at Vivid, and then when you try to get on public transport you realised you don’t have a ticket. This will happen to thousands of people visiting the city, it’s inevitable, but you don’t have to be one of the strugglers waiting for 20 minutes in line at the station.
Avoid the cues and order your Opal card online at opal.com.au. Daily fares cap at $15 per day for adults, $7.50 for concessions and children, and $2.50 for gold seniors/pensioners.
Vivid Live 2015
Morrissey
Sufjan Stevens
Daniel Johns
FCX – 10 Years of Future Classic feat. Flume (only 2015 Australian shows), Flight Facilities, Seekae, George Maple & more
TV On the Radio
Squarepusher
Bill Callahan
The Drones
The Preatures
Melbourne Ska Orchestra
Friday, 22nd May – Monday, 8th June 2015
Sydney Opera House, Sydney
Tickets: Vivid LIVE
