Recently we had the opportunity to participate in the updated Sydney Opera House accessible tour. We did the tour as a family in 2016 but the Opera House has had a makeover since then. A raft of new accessible features were included in its recent upgrade so we were keen to see what had changed so we could share updated information about the accessibility of the tour with our Have Wheelchair Will Travel community.
Accessibility at the Sydney Opera House tour
We met our tour guide Marcus at the Stage Door entrance of the Opera House. Joining us on the tour was another lovely family who also required wheelchair access. The tour is designed for anyone with a mobility restriction so a step-free route is provided during the tour.
Marcus provided a plethora of facts and figures about the Sydney Opera House, the design process and the logistics of its construction. It’s hard to imagine that one of Australia’s most recognisable sites was so controversial for so long. Personally, I can’t imagine Sydney Harbour without our beautiful Opera House.
For visitors to Sydney the tour is a wonderful opportunity to visit the Concert Hall and various performances spaces within the Opera House, especially if you don’t have time to catch a performance. Over the years we’ve been fortunate to see many shows but many features and details are easily overlooked without a tour guide pointing them out.
Sydney Opera House accessible tour access information
Ramp and lifts provide easy access throughout the tour. In some areas the lifts are on the smaller side so with two families with a wheelchair on the tour we took turns to take the lift but this didn’t bother us. While waiting for our turn it gave us time to further appreciate the details and space.
A Changing Places Bathroom is located in the Opera House and offers a ceiling hoist to assist with transfers to the toilet or the adult-size change table. The bathroom also has a privacy screen for anyone using the facility with a support worker or carer. 
Unisex stand-alone accessible bathrooms are also available near the Changing Places bathroom.
Whether you are a Sydney local or a visitor to our beautiful city, I highly recommend learning more about the Sydney Opera House. The building and its history is something best appreciated with a knowledgeable guide. You can read more about the accessible tour on the Sydney Opera House website.
We were guests of the Sydney Opera House for the purposes of updating our review of the tour but as always our opinions are our own.
And if you are planning a visit to Sydney and you are looking for accessible accommodation we have a review full of options.
I went to visit my sister and her family who live about 2 hours North of Sydney this past May and we were lucky enough to go to see 2 performances at that iconic building. The first was Jewels ballet which was awesome, the quality of the choreography, the costumes and the dancing were out of this world. The next one we went to see was a Verdi Requiem with a full orchestra, 4 soloists and a choir of 280 people, it was mind blowing, if I could have stood I would have😊. The staff were brilliant, the toilets impeccably clean. All in all a wonderful experience, I didn’t have the tour that you had unfortunately but I can highly recommend the Sydney Opera House as a wheelchair friendly venue
Hi Patty,
It’s lovely to hear that you had such a great experience at the Sydney Opera House. It’s a special place to see any performance so lucky you seeing two.
Julie