The history and beauty of the Sydney Harbor draws everyone in: from the gorgeous opera house and the culture that comes with it, to the harbor bridge and everything it took for it to be standing today. It offers so many dining opportunities, photogenic spots and shops for tourists and locals alike. What people don’t know right away however, is that just across the way there is a glitzy, old-fashioned place for people of all ages. The shining, smiling face of the entrance to it can be seen, and is fills people with intrigue. Just like any historic place, it has definitely had its ups and downs. Luna Park still stands despite adversity, and can still be enjoyed today.
The Atmosphere
If visitors go to Luna Park after sunset, the first thing waiting to greet them is lights. Plenty of lights. The entrance gate is larger than life in person, and some may say is a little unsettling. Staring into the eyes of the gate, the long eyelashes makes one a little jealous and the straight and glowing teeth leaves guests wondering, “can a gate even have braces?” All childhood dreams are brought to the surface as the park deepens and unfolds. There is the classic Ferris Wheel –which has a gorgeous view of the harbor –, bumper cars, carnival games, fairy floss, a burlap sack slide, a tilt-a-whirl and so much more. There is laughter all around, and sometimes you’ll find that the uncontrollable, childish laughter is your own.
The History
The harbor has had an on-again-off-again relationship with the amusement park, opening and closing every few years or so due to expired leases, renovations and even a fatal fire. The park first opened in 1935, and was based on the first Luna Park that opened on Coney Island in 1903. The park ran successfully and was popular for a while. It even sold its lease and equipment to the World Trade Center that wanted to redesign and develop the land to house a new Trade Center. Ultimately, this was unsuccessful.
In the 1970s a fire on the Ghost Train rendered seven fatalities, and the park closed. It finally re-opened when the former employees of Luna Park formed “The Friends of Luna Park” and held meetings and rallies to salvage the park. They effectively opened the park once again until it was closed in 1988 for renovation. It takes five years (from 1990-1995) to appoint a new leaseholder, restore the buildings, build a boardwalk and install a roller coaster along with various other rides and attractions. All of this hard work payed off, and on January 20, 1995, the park re-re-re-opened. Wouldn’t you know it, a few months later in May, the park closes due to an administration change.1997, the New South Wales Parliament passes the Luna Park Site Amendment Act 1997, which allowed for a more lenient and varied use of the venues in the park. Refurbishment of the park doesn’t happen again until 2003, with the park opening again in April 2004. In February of 2010, not only did the park stay open for many years to come, it was listed on the Heritage Register of New South Wales in February.
To learn more about the openings, closures and general history of Luna Park in Sydney, the park staff offer history tours. These tours offer a deeper look into the park’s history, a close-up of the artwork, a behind-the-scenes look of the park operations and a ride on the iconic Ferris Wheel. There is a minimum of 20 people on each tour and a maximum of 40 people. The tours run at 10 a.m. from Monday to Friday, excluding school holidays.
The Fun
Luna Park isn’t just for children: Kami (pictured below) visited on vacation and said she was having a blast. On a Monday night, the park was practically empty. “We pretty much have the whole park to ourselves.” She bought some hot chocolate because of the chilly wind and decided to snap a picture of it for her social media.
Her friend Natalia kept eyeballing the fairy floss even though she said she had three when she visited Sydney Harbor for Vivid Sydney a few nights before. “I feel like a little kid again.” She said. Natalia was on the bumper cars and claimed to have more fun than anyone else there.
The Activities
The activities in Luna Park are endless. During the end of May until mid-June, Vivid Sydney lights up the park in a whole new way, making it more colorful than ever. Every ten minutes or so, the Coney Island building lights up with different characters, patterns and drawings making for a great show. The park also offers the experience of high tea on the Ferris Wheel. On Saturday mornings in May to September, the Altum Restaurant caters a Mediterranean meal. More information can be found here.
If visitors have families with little ones, teenagers or just adults, Luna Park has something for everyone. It is also so rich in history that even though it is an amusement park, it can also be counted as a cultural experience. With great prices and deals for entry, the drive to the Northwest end of the harbor is sure to leave memories that will last a lifetime. Luna Park has gone through so much and, like a roller coaster, has had its ups and downs. It seems that it is currently at the point of the roller coaster just before the drop. Luna Park is at a high point, and there are only more exciting things to come.
Gators Down Under 2019 