|
|
back to all reviews...
|
|
check out more activities and cultural things to do...
|
auckland: general info
· city links
· history
· cruising around
· nightlife
photos
· hostels
· things to do
· tours
· read reviews
|
|
|
Name: Sky City Auckland
Address: Corner Victoria & Federal Streets
City: Auckland New Zealand
Phone: 0800 SKYCITY in NZ or +64 9 363 6000
Admission: varies
What's it like?
First opened on August 3, 1997, Sky Tower is the tallest tower in the southern hemisphere
and Auckland's most prominent landmark. At 328m, it is taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the AMP Tower
in Sydney (something every local is happy to point out!) On a clear day, you can see 82km in any direction - as far
north as Leigh, south to the Bombay Hills, east to Coromandel Peninsula and west to the Waitakere Ranges.
The Tower has 3 viewing levels offering 360� views of the city and the Hauraki Gulf. There's even a glass panel floor
on the Main Observation deck that will let you look straight down to the city below. They've all recently added an all
glass elevator.
The Sky Deck is the highest public observation level in Sky Tower at 220 meters above the ground and 34 meters above the Main Observation Level. For a few extra dollars you
can get up to the Sky Deck and get the best views of the city. For the flash travellers, Orbit, the Tower's revolving
restaurant at 194m, offers great food, intimate surroundings and spectacular views.
The Sky Tower is also host to 2 adrenaline sports, the Sky Jump and the Vertigo Climb - step up to the challenge of the world's
highest tower jump as you plummet 192m at about 75km/h or take a guided climb up to the Sky Tower's outside crow's nest at 270m.
At a normal pace it would take someone about 24 mins to clim 1,029 steps to the Main Observation Level. The fastest recorded time was 5mins
7sec in the 2002 Sky Tower Vertical Challenge. The stairs, however, are only opened to the public for special events.
Sky Tower has been designed and built to withstand winds of up to 200kph. In such winds, which we can only expect every 1000 years,
Sky Tower will only sway up to a meter at restaurant height. Since New Zealand is a haven for earthquakes, the Tower had to be reinforced
to withstand a 8.0 quake.
The Tower is also host to the largest FM combiner in the world, television broadcast, wireless internet, laser links, traffic viewing,
land mobile services, and NIWA air sampling/weather measurement services. There are also 58 wireless microwave links located externally.
The Sky Tower is definitely a tourist trap, but well worth a visit. Just make sure it's a nice day out first!
If you know of a great destination we're missing,
review it for us!!
|
|
|
|
|
