Eureka Tower, Melbourne: Exploring the Spectacular Views from Eureka Tower

A perfect embodiment of the Kangaroo country’s fast-paced cities and first-world architecture, Eureka Skytower shoots with a glistening glow into the South Australian skies. Boasting several records to its name, Eureka Skydeck is the highest public viewing platform in the Southern Hemisphere, standing at a generous elevation of 990 ft. Elevate your experience further by including Australia trip packages, allowing you to marvel at the breathtaking views from this iconic landmark as part of your unforgettable journey Down Under.

Brains behind the marvel

Nonda and Fender Katsalidis are the architects who ideated and crafted this wonderful piece of architecture. Nonda is a Greek-Australian architect. He is currently a practicing director of architecture firm Fender Katsalidis Architects.

Constructs like Eureka, due to their vertical plunge, need to be wary of the crucial elements like wind and Weather pressure. The tower was built to withstand 600mm in Melbourne’s blustery winter winds. To keep the building from excessive swaying, Two 300,000-litre water tanks on level 90 & 91 have been provided.

Stairway to Heaven and Gold

Amongst the innumerable things to do in Melbourne, for the adventure and the thrill-seekers, Eureka Skydeck offers a plethora of opportunities to grab some much-needed adrenaline rush whilst being in the city. With 3680 stairs up till the last floor, the Skydeck is also the host of an annual vertical race, the Eureka Climb. Hundreds of participants scale 1642 of these steps, with sweat, blood and a whole lot of fun, this happens to be one of the top 10 tallest races of its kind in the world.

Along with the rising sun on the horizon, there is another shiny affair in the skies of Melbourne, and it is none other than the glistening golden tip of the Eureka Skydeck. The tint of the glasses on Eureka’s top 10 floors is plated in 24-carat gold. Stairway to heaven? Certainly.

Wallet weeps? Certainly not

The tickets to Eureka Skydeck are best bought online since the queues are long and tiresome and certainly not short. Ranging anywhere between 18 – 25 AUD, being one of the top 10 things to do in Melbourne, the pricing should definitely not be an issue here.

The Eureka Skydeck Experience

Being the fastest elevator in the southern hemisphere, you are certainly in for a ride. The view atop the Skydeck is absolutely stunning, offering a 360- degree view of the city. Grab a pair of binoculars to catch some of the places of attraction in Melbourne like the Yarra River, Albert Park Lake, Melbourne’s Arts Centre, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Flinders Street train station, and the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, commonly known as the MCG.

The Eureka Terrace

Accessible with the regular ticket, the Eureka Terrace is a small area outside the glass panelled rooms. Pressure locked by chain link fencing to prevent one from falling, it is not the best place to snap pictures but you can get a glimpse of the ‘Edge’ from here.

If unsure about the edge experience, this is a great place to view others’ experiences first before making a decision. Keep in mind that the Skydeck is closed during high winds.

The Eureka Edge

The Edge is a glass cube enclosure that projects 3 meters out of the 88th floor. With nothing below but a glass floor, it is both an enthralling and dizzying experience. Cameras are not allowed here, however, two pictures are taken for you by cameras inside the room. This can be purchased after the experience.

The Edge experience demands an additional ticket that needs to be purchased on the 88th floor.

Eureka Tower- History and Fun Facts

The Eureka Tower is the world’s tallest residential tower and the Skydeck is the highest public viewing platform in the Southern Hemisphere.
The Eureka Tower is named after the Eureka Stockade rebellion that took place in 1854 during the gold rush. This was also incorporated into the building’s design.
The building’s gold crown represents the gold rush while the red stripe is for the blood spilt during the revolt. The blue glass and white horizontal lines are also said to represent the blue and white flag of the stockade. Seen horizontally, the white lines resemble a ruler.
Construction for the building began in 2002 and it took 4 years and 2 months to build. It weighs 200,000 tonnes and cost an estimated $0.5 billion to build, including the 24-carat gold plating at the top. The tower officially opened in October 2006.
The tower consists of 84 residential floors and 8 more non-residential floors. The first few floors include retail, a swimming pool, car parking spaces and one underground floor. The building’s developers live on the top two floors.
Eureka tower has a total of 3,680 stairs.

How to get to the Eureka Tower?

One should not find it difficult to reach the tallest structure in the Southern Hemisphere, nevertheless here are a few tips to reach Eureka Tower from Melbourne city:

Train – Train to Flinders Street Train Station and a five-minute walk across the bridge to the other side of the Yarra river
Tram – One can take tram 1, 3/3a, 5, 6, 16, 64, 67, or 72 to the Arts Precinct/St Kilda Road. The Eureka Tower is a short walk from here.
Bus – Watch for bus 234, 236, or 605 to Casino East Station. The Skydeck is a short 5-minute walk from here. One can plan the route using Public Transport Victoria
Car – The Eureka Tower is very easily accessible by car and there are several car park stations around the tower. Be mindful of the parking fees.

Be it a romantic getaway, a fun-filled day out with the kids or a solo adventure, Eureka Skydeck is an all-round short-haul visit that definitely packs the punch and value for money. Head straight to this must-see attraction in Melbourne for a few hours of timeless memories!