Skytower Complex and Casino, Auckland

Even if you do not want to plunge down from the Sky Tower - 192 metres legs first, attached to a wire, a kind of safe, slow and smooth parachuting - or walk around the tower on the outside, also 192 metres above the ground (SkyWalk), a visit to this tower is a must for every Auckland visitor. Not only because with 328 metres it is the Southern Hemisphere's highest tower. It is more because of the fantastic views over the city with its many volcanic cones, harbours and sourrounding islands of the Hauraki Gulf.

The tower is open Sun-Thur 8.30am-11pm, and Fri/Sat from 8.30am until midnight.

It is a great experience at day and nighttime.

A drink in the Sky Lounge, located at the obersevation Level, can be rather romantic (open from 9am, Sun-Thur until 10pm, Fri/Sat until 11pm).

If you have buffet lunch (12noon-2pm) or dinner (5.30pm-7pm and from 7.30pm) at the Observatory Restaurant the trip up the tower is included in the price of $39.50 for lunch and $57 for dinner.

The tower is part of Skycity which features hotels, casinos, several restaurants, cafés and bars. This includes dining by star chef Peter Gordon at the five-star Grand Hotel.

You can also get very interesting views OF the tower if you walk around in the streets around Skycity, old and modernist buildings happily joint together.

The only thing I do not like about Skycity/Sky Tower is their website. Rather chaotic.

Contact:

Sky Tower (09) 363 6422 (Sky Tower)
Skycity (0800) 759 2489, (09) 363 6000
Website: www.skycityauckland.co.nz

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Sky Tower is located 143 Federal Street which only 500 meters from our hotel. It is 328 meters tall and the 15th tallest members of World Great Towers. We went to the top at night and I must admit the view of the city lights was excellent but the price I thought was a bit expensive. From the observatory deck you can watch people jump and watch the jumper face expression. I guess if you are in Auckland you have to visit the Sky Tower after all you can see the monument almost anywhere in Auckland.

Sky City located at the base of Sky Tower which only 500 meters from our hotel. The complex main attraction is the Sky Tower and Casinos. It has also bars and restaurants, theatres, hotels and convention centres.

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La torre ( Sky tower ) tiene una altura de 328m y desde el última plataforma se pueden ver vistas espectaculares de la bahía y los alrededores
Hay valientes que se tiran desde arriba , amarrados con cuerdas pero si no eres tan valiente puedes subir en el ascensor que tiene el suelo de cristal y puedes ver como se va quedando el suelo abajo en los 40 segundos que dura la ascensión

The tower (Sky Tower) has a height of 328m and from the last platform you can see spectacular views of the bay and the surrounding
There are brave people who are thrown from the top, tied with ropes but if you're not so brave go up in the elevator that has a glass floor and you can see how it goes down the ground running in the 40 seconds it takes the rise

There is plenty to do at the Sky City complex. It is has 2 hotels one of which The Sky City Grand is 5 star rated. There is the infamous Orbit restaurant which is located on the 190m off the ground and boasts a rotating platform giving you 360 degree views of Auckland City. There are also 7 other restaurants to choose from. If you like to play a bit on the tables, then you can head into the casino and pick the game of your choice from bottom end tables to high rollers. There are also a further 8 cafes and bars to choose from for the light meals and simply a smooth cocktail. Bar 3 is the nightclub that will have you dancing till all hours of the morning. If adventure is your thing, then there are 2 activities that you'll love. The first is the Sky Walk in which you walk around a 1.2m wide platform around the entire Sky Tower 192m off the ground. The second is the Sky Jump in which you fall 192m off the Sky Tower down to the ground.

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The Sky Tower is Auckland's main attraction and a milestone in the city famous skyline.
It is the tallest building of the Souther Hemisphere, and absolutely deserves a climb (28NZ$ per person).
As you can easily imagine, the panorama on the city is simply wonderful from there, you'll be able to count all the volcanoes Auckland has been built on, and all the yatches parked in the most famous harbour of the World :-)
The Sky Tower also offers a couple of adrenaline experiences:
Sky Jump : 192 metres straight down NZ's highest tower -> SkyJump
Sky Walk: walking around the tower on 1.2 metre-wide walkway at 192 metres! -> SkyWalk.
A big tourist office is located in the tower basement, together with a gift shop and a casino.

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Dare you??

At 328 ms high, Sky Tower is the tallest tower in the Southern Hemisphere, offering breath-taking views for more than 80 kms in every direction.

Now Skytower is part of the massive concrete megalith called Skycity, which is a draw for people trying to throw money away in earnest as it also contains a casino. And drawing these folks in, is the huge beacon that is Skytower as you can see it from every corner of the city.

In many ways, and I'm not sure who is copying who here, the Skytower mirrors that of the Macau Tower, where you can practically do almost anything trickling of adventure.

Want to go out and catch some fresh air? Do the Skywalk 192m high, on the outside of the Tower. Not content with that? Up the notch? Take a 14 seconds free fall jump from 192m in the Skyjump. Nothing like the winds of Auckland hitting you as the world around you rush up to embrace you. Trust me - I did it and I couldn't finish chuckling after I landed safely..that despite that I had spent almost NZ$200 to experience the rush. Did I get nervous? Yeah, for a few seconds as I stood at the edge of the platform, looking down at the cars and people below and thinking "What the hell am I doing here?" But when the guy behind me shouted 3-2-1, I leaped and never looked back. Cos I couldn't!! Ha ha!

The Skytower is opened Sun to Thur 8:30am-10:30pm, and Fri, Sat 8:30am-11:30pm (last tickets sold half an hour before closing)

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For all you thrill seekers, consider the Sky Jump in Auckland. I personally had no desire to even consider this madness, but my friend couldn't wait! Although, once strapped to the platform she did have a, "hell no" moment! They gave her the 3-2-1 jump countdown, and she stayed firmly planted where she was. She took a deep breath, and was able to take the plunge the second time around. I snapped away on the camera as she sailed the 630' in 16 seconds down to meet me. Wow!