Sitting atop the 24-hour SkyCity casino and entertainment complex in Auckland's city centre, the Sky Tower ascends like a needle into the sky. At 28m high, this steel and concrete tower is the tallest structure in the Southern Hemisphere and its three circular observation levels offer panoramic views of the city and surrounds up to 82km away on a clear day.
At night, the Sky Tower glows from base to tip with its colours changing for various events throughout the year. To ascend the tower, three glass-fronted elevators travel at 18km an hour for a stomach-flipping trip of just 40 seconds. The Sky Lounge at 182m houses the highest cafe in the Southern Hemisphere with a side of fantastic views. The Main Observation Level at 186m is a high-tech interactive viewing platform with see-through floors, and higher still is the Sky Deck at 220m which offers unobstructed panoramic views. You can also dine at the award-winning Orbit restaurant which is situated at 190m up the tower, or the Observatory at 194m.
Those not sated by see-through floors and panoramic sky-high views can go jump – literally! SkyJump allows thrillseekers to base jump by wire off the Sky Tower from a height of 192m to land in the SkyCity Plaza below. Or if you fancy taking a stroll at 192m around the Sky Tower in a bright orange jumpsuit, there's the SkyWalk 360 where you are tethered by harness to an overhead rail. SkyJump is NZ$225 for adults and NZ$175 for children under 15. SkyWalk 360 is NZ$145 for adults or NZ$115 for kids aged 10 and over. A Look & Leap combo ticket for both experiences is NZ$290.
A Total Tower Experience Pass for access to the Sky Lounge, Main Observation Level and Sky Deck is $NZ28 for adults, NZ$11 for children aged six to 14 and free for kids aged five years and under. The Sky Tower is a 12-minute walk from Britomart Transport Centre on Queen Street, right onto Customs Street East, left onto Albert Street and right onto Victoria Street West.
