Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Standing at 300 metres in height, Eureka Skydeck 88 is the highest viewing platform open to the public in the entire Southern Hemisphere. It is the best way to get an almost 360 degree bird’s-eye-view of the city of Melbourne, without resorting to hiring a helicopter (although Skydeck 88 does also offer this service for a premium price).
So it’s no wonder the building is so popular with tourists hoping to get a different perspective on the city scenery. From the moment you enter the lift that takes you up to level 88 (the viewing platform), the entertainment starts. It takes less than 40 seconds for the lift to rise from ground level to level 88 (you’ll definitely feel your ears pop on this elevator ride!), and the floor of the lift depicts the scene you will see if you go on ‘The Edge’- probably the most exciting part of Eureka Skydeck if you’re daring enough to try it.
‘The Edge’ is a glass cube you go into, which then moves out away from the building so that there is nothing between you and the ground, 300 metres below, except a piece of see-through glass! You do have to pay extra to have this experience because understandably, not everyone will want to do it. But even if you’re not willing to try ‘The Edge’, the panoramic views you will get just from walking around the Skydeck should be more than enough to keep you amazed.
You can see nearly everything the city has to offer, and there are viewfinders located around the deck that point out many of Melbourne’s attractions and historical landmarks. I recommend paying for the ‘sun and stars’ admission, which allows you to enter the Skydeck twice in the same day- once during daylight hours, and once at night. Admittedly, the view doesn’t change, but Melbourne does look a lot different at night when it’s all lit up and the coloured lights that illuminate the city look extremely pretty.
This is not an attraction for everyone- people who are scared of heights probably shouldn’t even attempt to go up unless they hope to conquer their fears- but the views are spectacular and it’s unlikely you’ll be disappointed.
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