Luna Park: Classic carnival fun
Sydney Harbour is home to the city’s most iconic landmarks – the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, and the giant, slightly terrifying plaster face that swallows up visitors as they enter the city’s oldest and most beloved amusement park, Luna Park.
Built by most of the same recruits who’d just finished work on the Harbour Bridge, the park welcomed its first guests in back in 1935. Restored and reopened in 2004 after several tumultuous open-again-closed-again decades, Luna Park Sydney remains a classic old time fun park, full of nostalgic nods to the world’s very first Luna Park, New York’s long defunct Coney Island park built in 1903.
A short ferry ride north of the city, Luna Park occupies some of Sydney’s most valuable real estate. The arch of the Harbour Bridge looms large in the background as you wander down the park’s main thoroughfare, and the waterfront promenade outside the main gates is a prime spot for viewing the city landmarks.
All the old school side show games are here. Test your skills with the Laughing Clowns and Gone Fishin’, or pit your strength against the Hi-Striker and you’ll hopefully walk away with your arms wrapped around a giant fluorescent plush toy.
Don’t scoff down too many Dagwood dogs before you take on the Flying Saucer, the Rotor or the pirate ship-like Moon Ranger. The Wild Mouse is a groovy mini rollercoaster that first debuted in 1962, while Coney Island Funny Land is an original relic of the park’s early days – the only operating example of a 1930s funhouse left anywhere in the world. A playground of giant slides, moving platforms and rotating barrels, it harks back to a bygone era, complete with vintage slot machines, Art Deco murals and crackling 1930s show tunes. Adults and kids alike will find themselves absorbed by the mind-bending mirrors, the Turkey Trot and the Wonky Walk.
The towering Luna Park ferris wheel is a gentle but breathtaking experience, sweeping you 40 metres into the air to give you a phenomenal view of the city and harbour.
HelloSydney Tip: Entry to Luna Park is free, so it’s possible to wander in and enjoy the carnival atmosphere without spending a cent. Single ride tickets are $10, and there are various all-day ride passes available.
Posted by Fiona Davies
