Open Air Cinema
Have you ever wondered how amazing it would be to watch a movie, snuggled under a warm rug with a basket of goodies, under the starlit Sydney sky? There is just the right place for you to take your loved one for such a beautiful experience.
The St George Open Air Cinema offers breathtaking views of Sydney Harbor and the Opera House. As you take in the lights of the Harbor, many a times you’ll be more inclined to watch Harbor Bridge than the movie itself. It is considered as the top location by the tourists.
Located at Fleet steps, Mrs Macquarie’s Point in downtown Sydney the Cinema, adjacent to the Royal Botanic Gardens, this beautiful open air cinema offers good mix of new and old Hollywood flicks. There is a restaurant and a bar which offers food and drinks till 6:15 pm every night but bringing outside food is not allowed.
It is advisable to book your tickets in advance as it is the most popular outdoor cinema in Sydney. Sometime you do get tickets on site but there is always a queue. Tickets cost around $20 AUD. The screening starts at sunset with the spectacular Sydney skyline in the backdrop.
Over 200 metered parking spaces is available on Mrs Macquaries Road and discount parking is also available at Enacon Parking Cathedral Street Car Park, at the southern end of Cathedral St adjacent to Cook and Philip Park which is just 10 minute walk from the cinema. One can either take a stroll through the Botanical Gardens to reach the place or catch a bus or a taxi which is easily available.
Visit The St George Open Air Cinema for an amazing cinematic experience. It is a perfect way to spend a fine summer evening.
Sydney’s Moonlight Cinema
Located at Belvedere Amphitheatre in the gorgeous Centennial Park, Sydney’s Moonlight Cinema has a relaxed picnic style atmosphere where you can enjoy a good Hollywood’s classic, contemporary or latest releases with family& friends. The place has been a favorite for night entertainment with the locals for last 12years.
Though the place does not offer the spectacular view like St. George cinema but it has many advantages like bringing your own food, alcohol and picnic rug. Even a well behaved dog is allowed. The food stalls on site also offer a large variety of snacks etc.
One can watch good old and new movies in about $15 AUD. For AS$30 you can get a glass of beer and a special bean bag to relax. What more can one ask for? You can reach the venue by catching any of buses from the city or by a taxi. There is ample parking space available on Oxford St and also limited parking within Centennial Park on Carrington Drive.
So get into the holiday spirit for a special night at the Moonlight Cinema.
Starlight Cinema at North Sydney Oval and the Open Air Cinema at Bondi Beach are some other options for open air cinemas.
Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace
Cremorne is a peaceful suburb located very close to the central business district in New South Wales, Sydney. It, like most suburbs is mainly residential. Cremorne is popular for is the Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace.
Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace is a charming blast from the past. A theatre that was built in 1935, it’s Art Deco exterior has been refurbished as recently as 1987 by its current owner, Mike Walsh, a familiar name in the world of television.
Hayden Orpheum has six theatres all of them done up in an ornate style, each of which is done in a completely unique way. The entire experience of watching a movie in any of the six theatres is quaint. The cinema hall has a retro feel to it with its 70 mm screen, the velvet curtains that actually get drawn up before the movie starts, and the Wurlitzer organ which plays at special events. They organize special screenings and events where very young children can be taken. They even provide the long forgotten facility of crying rooms where parents can take very young children so that other patrons can continue to watch the movie undisturbed.
The old world charm goes side by side with the latest technology. The movie hall may look like something from the past but it is fully equipped with modern cinematic technology. The films at new, images sharp and the movie hall offers digital surround sound.
The theatre has a distinct retro ambience, but does not compromise on quality and comfort. It has digital surround sound and other technological advances. In today’s world where the number of movie goers is steadily dwindling, Cremorne’s Orpheum has, with its six separate screens, its opulently decorated upstairs lounge bar succeeded in retaining its loyal patrons. Moreover, a smart selection of thrillers, blockbusters, classic and alternative films ensures that it does not have to screen its movies to an empty hall.
Going to the cinema is a great way to spend a few hours if the destination is Hayden Orpheum. It is plush, beautiful and glamorous. It is a place a person can go with family and even very young children. It is spacious and the little ones can run around while you watch the movie. They offer a wonderful scheme called “Wednesday Movie Lunches’ where for a mere $13 you can watch a movie and have a light lunch and finish with a cup of coffee. It is a perfect movie outing that stay at home mothers can enjoy with their children, or a group of friends can enjoy in the middle of the week. Oh yes, this is a special event they advertise on their website.
A visit to this theatre takes you to the past with 70 mm screens, terrazzo floors, art deco exteriors, glass fittings, the velvet curtains, comfortable seats, fresh flowers and for special events, pipe music that plays in the intervals. If you are in Sydney, you must visit this movie hall for a nostalgic trip to the past.