Off to The Tower

The third (and final) installment of my super-priced, tourist trap, combo ticket involved The Sydney Tower.

Built in the early 70's it is still Sydneys tallest building. It is also Sydneys most boring building (to date).




I arrived fairly earlyish in the morning and dutifully stood in line awaiting my turn. I was informed that my ticket also included a 'go' on Oz-Trek, the largest simulated ride in Australia, that takes you on an amazing virtual reality adventure across Australia's cultural history and geography. Piffle.

In reality, you are led through a line of plastic walled caves that lead you to one of those ride simulators that are supposed to make you think you are actually on a rollercoaster or in this case flying over the Opera House, soaring over The Blue Mountain or sailing over Uluru but you are actually thrown around in an electronically controlled chair where you bang your head on the safety bar as we career around the billabongs of the Darling River.

After this entertaining, thrilling and indeed enlightning cultural experience, I headed over to the lift area where I would be elevated at great speeds to the observation decks. Handing over my ticket I was asked if I had been up to the top before.

"Indeed I have" I answered.

"Well, I'm afraid you can't go up again." said the 'working during term break' student.

"Err, why?"

"Because you're only allowed to go up to the top once"

Having encountered stupid people working at the Wildlife Park last week, I realised I may have to take a different tack with this one....she was sharp!

"Let me see if I'm getting you" I say. "Any given person is only allowed up there once in their life time?"

"Oh no" she says "Only once on a ticket!"

Now we're getting somewhere I thought. "Well, I have been up to the top previously, which was your question, but that was back in 1990 and not today. Can I go up now?"

"Oh, I see....well your ticket says you've been up there today."

"Does it?" I say

"Yeah, right there is the date"

"Yes, that is the date. That is the date of purchase, that is the date today, that is the date I just wandered in off the street and swapped my combo pass for this ticket."

"Enjoy the ride!" she says over-enthustically as she allows me thru the barrier with one of those beaming to brightly "down's-syndrome smiles."

I enter the lift and whoosh at the great speed of around 1mph to the top where I can see all of Sydney below me. What a view! It's amazing!



After 1 minute and 12 seconds I had done the full circle and was kinda wishing I hadn't been allowed up there..ZZZzzzz