Experiences
Hidden Gems and Historic Artefacts
ABOUT
This itinerary is a three-day immersion in the world of opera at the iconic Sydney Opera House. You will need to start planning your trip in advance.
Start on day one in Sydney’s Surry Hills at the Opera Australia Opera Centre for a costume and wig fitting in preparation for your walk-on role with Opera Australia in the Opera Australia: Star at the Sydney Opera House experience two days later.
Explore Surry Hills, a Sydney hotspot for eating, drinking, shopping and art. Artist-run TAP Gallery is there as is the Brett Whiteley Studio, one of Australia’s most celebrated artists, his studio, complete with unfinished paintings, has been preserved as it was in his life.
On day two, the green spaces and harbour vistas of Sydney Royal Botanic Gardens are calling. Aboriginal Heritage Tours run in the Gardens Monday to Saturday at 10am. Wander through the Australian Rainforest Garden, the Palace Rose Garden, or the Fernery, a walled garden with dazzling orchids and begonias, and visit the splendid Palm Grove, with trees dating from as early as 1828.
If time permits, a walk to Circular Quay to take a return ferry trip on magnificent Sydney Harbour is highly recommended.
The evening’s activity is the Sydney Opera House: A Taste of Opera experience. An intimate guided tour revealing the history and secrets of this iconic building, followed by an exclusive opera recital by a world-class performer, with the opportunity to meet the singer and pianist afterwards. For encore, a private dining experience under the sails in one of the Sydney Opera House’s magnificent venues.
On the final day, start with a visit to the Art Gallery of NSW with its collections of Colonial and 19th-century Australian works, European old masters, Asian and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art. For modern art, Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art in the historic Rocks district is a must. To dive deeper into the history of The Rocks, download the Walking The Rocks app.
Arrive at the stage door of the Sydney Opera House at 6pm sharp for the experience of a lifetime – Opera Australia: Star at the Sydney Opera House. First, the Main Rehearsal Room for a briefing on your role with the Assistant Director or Stage Manager. Then on to the Dressing Room, wigs, make-up, an official photograph and then onto the stage for your Sydney Opera House debut.
