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Sydney Skywalk: Nothing But Thrills and no Spills

By Marco Cevolani
Epoch Times Australia Staff
Dec 11, 2005

How do you get to the highest vantage point in the southern hemisphere without the use of a rocket?

It's the Sydney Skywalk, at 268 metres above street level, which offers customers a unique 360-degree panoramic view of Australia's biggest city.

Sky Guide Jenifer Bert, says the experience is just "extroadinary".

"Most people just go, WOW the view. I mean its extraordinary, it's the best vantage point your going to have in Sydney to see everything."

Constructed on top of the tower's observatory deck, the Skywalk allows people to step outside of the walls and experience Sydney in a whole new way.

Twice as high as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, thrill seekers can see as far as 85km away, including the Blue Mountains and beyond.

The two-hour tour allow viewers to walk around the tower twice, with Sky Guide's giving running commentaries on the historical origins of Sydney's major landmarks.

At one point of the course, a specially mounted glass platform extends one metre outwards, allowing customers to 'step over the edge' and see right down to the ground.

"You're going to go out onto a moving glass platform, so you will be able to see directly below between your legs," Bert said.

"This is where, not only are you going to get the panoramic views, but your going to feel like part of the elements."

Groups of fifteen people travel at a time, with the opportunity to have photos taken to saver the experience.

In full swing, four tours can be done a day.

At a cost of six million dollars, the Skywalk is held together by 2000 sections of steel and 4300 bolts and nuts.

Four hydraulic pumps allow the platform to be raised a further 2.4 metres into the air, and the glass platform to extend over the turret's edge.

Stringent safety procedures are implemented before the tour, with walkers decked out in specially designed 'all weather' sky suites, harness and radio.

Bert said there is no place safer than being on Skywalk, offering "nothing but thrills and no spills."