Eureka Skydeck is a disappointment
architecture, photography | Posted on May 27th, 2007 Add commentsYesterday I explored the brand new Eureka Skydeck 88 to see what Melbourne looked like from its highest and newest vantage point. The observation deck opened a mere 10 days ago, and I was keen to see how it compared to the older Rialto Observation Deck. I am sorry to report that I was largely disappointed with what I found.
Melbourne’s Eureka Tower is Australia’s tallest residential building.
The Eureka Tower is 91 storeys tall, bringing its total height to a massive 297.3 metres. To experience this, entry to the Eureka Skydeck costs $16.50, which includes access to a small computerised display about Melbourne on the ground floor. A lift is then used to transport patrons to the eighty-eighth floor.
The Eureka Skydeck is modern but smaller than the Rialto’s.
The viewing area is considerably smaller than that at the Rialto Tower. Unlike the Rialto, the Eureka does not have any binoculars, but does have small mounted eyepieces (with no magnification capacity) pointed at various significant buildings and icons in the city.
The view extends 360° around the building. But this comes with a significant qualifier; in many places, the view is terrible.
The main problem is that the reflection off the glass is so considerable that it seriously obscures the view and makes photography very difficult. This is especially the case on the sunny northern (city) side. Furthermore, much of the glass has a blue or gold tint through it to further destroy any photographic opportunities.
People admire the view of Melbourne through the Eureka Tower’s tinted and highly-reflective glass.
The interior of the Skydeck features LED signage embedded within the floor and walls to give the place a modern feel. But these, too, are also reflected in the glass.
By the time one has found a non-tinted window and aligned their camera at a subject such that their body, the LED signs, other patrons or even their own camera are not reflected in the double-glazing, one begins to wonder if it is even worth the effort in trying to take a photo? Patience and an eye for detail are the tricks to decent happy snaps here. Otherwise just buy an over-priced postcard from the gift shop and be done with it.
If one can overlook these considerable faults in the design of the Skydeck, the view itself is quite impressive. The CBD is clearly visible from an angle that Melbournians have not been able to enjoy previously. The fact that the Eureka Tower sits outside the CBD is a real benefit, despite any misgivings one may have had about this particular planning decision. It is particularly impressive to be able to look down on the Rialto Observation deck!
Good views of the city of Melbourne can still be had from the Eureka Skydeck.
I was clearly able to see Albert Park Lake, Williamstown, the Westgate and Bolte Bridges, Royal Melbourne Hospital and the Melbourne Cricket Ground. But the Eureka Skydeck also offers new views, including an excellent peek into Government House and the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Government House and the Royal Botanic Gardens as viewed from the Eureka Tower.
If one wants to get the real feel for being 88 storeys above the city, there is a gusty outdoor viewing area. However, accessing this space was fraught with confusion and disappointment. There is a double-door system for accessing the area that is designed to prevent wind damage to the building. But the doors require the use of temperamental and uncooperative electronic buttons to open them. With no staff to help, and no instructions, it seemed an unnecessarily complicated and technical system for the required job.
The outside deck has a south-east orientation, thus preventing a view of the docklands or the city. Furthermore, the area is enclosed with fine mesh so only those with small point-and-shoot cameras could possibly hope to get an uninterrupted photo from this space. The question of why a mesh was incorporated here, and not steel bars (like at the Rialto), is as puzzling as the use of super-reflective glass in the indoor observation area.
And if you thought reflective glass, complicated door systems, and fine mesh were all signs of a poorly planned facility, there’s yet more.
The outdoor viewing platform on the Eureka Tower is enclosed in a fine mesh
and faces away from the city centre.
After strolling around the Skydeck for three-quarters of an hour, I thought it’d be nice to have a cup of coffee. And whilst there is a café on the Skydeck (with a tokenistic selection of edibles), there is actually nowhere specifically to sit and enjoy it. The latté was provided in a paper cup, and I was forced to wander around to find a random seat, or stand at one of the several seatless tables provided. Seriously, what were they thinking with this idea? Leave Grandma at home is all I can say.
Of course, the big showpiece of the Eureka Skydeck is “The Edge“; a glass room that protrudes 3 metres from the edge of the building and allows one to get a sense of being suspended mid-air. As the glass box slowly protrudes from the building (it is initially incorporated within it), the frosted glass in the floor and walls clears and one is left standing almost 300 metres from the ground. Whilst one’s heart and courage are being thoroughly tested, sounds of breaking glass are audible. Or so I believe. Because whilst I was interested to try The Edge, it cost an additional $12.00 and I decided that I was no longer enthusiastic enough to pay the charge to try it.
To be honest, Eureka is worth a look for the curious local. But I think if I were hosting international visitors, I’d stick with the Rialto. Despite being the shorter building, it’s more tourist-friendly and less gimmicky. And unlike Eureka, photographing the experience is a joy. You can have a nice lunch and make it an occasion for everyone.
If the Eureka Skydeck wishes to remain relevent beyond the initial curiousity phase, it will have to seriously address the problems I have mentioned. In particular, I suggest that the glazing be reassessed immediately. I personally don’t expect to return to the Eureka Skydeck any time soon.
Thanks for a most informative review of Eureka Skydeck. I’ve added it to the database at the trivago travel community and have also placed a link to your article as I am sure our visitors would enjoy it as much as I. Perhaps you would care to add a review and/or pictures directly?
Regards,
Pierre
I agree with your observations of the Eureka Skydeck. I felt that it could be so much better.
I had intended to go on “The Edge” but deemed it highly over-rated when I watched it from the outdoor meshed area and I didn’t see the value in the additional $12 charge. I bought an overpriced hot chocolate and a muffin at the “cafe” that you would be able to buy at a service station. Aside from the usual cliched Australia souvenirs, I can’t believe they sell Eureka snow globes! Since when does it snow in the Melbourne CBD?
I agree completely Adam, I went at around twilight in the hope that I could get some nice photos of Melbourne lighting up but all I got was crazy reflections in the glass, at one point the reflections were so bad that I would have been grateful just to be able to see out the window never mind take a photo.
The mesh on the outside viewing area is also a nightmare, its hard to get a shot through it and even if you manage it all you get is one that is straight on from the mesh, there was a great opportunity for a nice photo but it was at 45 degrees to the mesh so no chance.
all in all a thorough disappointment.
I find this blog very interesting, i will be here everyday till now. Greetings
I completely disagree with this artical
I went to Eureka Skydeck not that long ago with school and i loved it.
It is not to small at all. Its just the perfect size.
If you find that the glass refects to much then maybe you need a new bloody camra!(or brain to learn how to make it not refect!) There are binoculars up there but maybe you need a new pair of glasses to find them along with your new brain! The mesh outside on the viewing deck is there not so you can get a decent photo but there to protect people from falling and so you can get some air! Anyway if you can’t find a way to get a decent photo them maybe you need a new camra and another new brain! The edge is 100% worth it. It only cost $8.00 and it truely is an experiance above all else. It even helped me overcome my fear of hieghts! There are many great suvoiniers to get to. NOT JUST SNOWGLODES! but then again everyone has there own thoughts about it…
Danielle
Danielle: Thanks for your comments. The Edge only costs $8 if you’re a child; we grown-ups have to pay $12.
Hey Adam D. I am the other Adam D from Walking Melbourne. I agree that the Rialto remains the better of the two. A shame as Eureka is usually much more convenient to me. Hoping they can at least merge it with the Melbourne 360 club at some point:
http://www.melbournedeck.com.au/club.html
AdamD: Given that Rialto and Eureka are competitors and that the Melbourne 360 Club is operated by Rialto, I couldn’t imagine them merging although I agree it would be fantastic if they did!
stop teasing the eureka skydeck!!!!!!!!
Hi,
i think the Eureka Skydeck is really good.first of all, beside the Rialto, the Skydeck is one of the cheapest attractions going around. It is the cheapest in the world i think. if you go to sydney you pay over $20. Rialto is so old, and bare. the staff dont even talk to you, there’s no one there. Its a ghost town. Eureka is alot higher. You got to realise that the Edge is the only experience in the world. I bought a hot chocolate and a muffin too, and i dont think $6 was expensive.
i think you guys dont appreciate what Melbourne has. we dont need people like you bagging attractions and other venues. why dont you just appreciate what we have.
i cant wait to read your comments on the Observation Wheel
Thanks for your comments, Melanie. I do appreciate what we have here in Melbourne, but I appreciate the Rialto’s lookout much more than I do Eureka’s.
As a recent Pommy visitor to Melbourne (so recent in fact, I got off the plane back home this morning), I had the chance to visit the Eureka tower. I actually enjoyed it up there, and it compared pretty well with my recollections of the Rialto from a previous visit. I would agree though that taking photo’s did seem a bit tricky, and the scrolling LED things certainly don’t help, but as a Pom I will resist the urge to whinge too much. I did get some good (by my standards) shots of the sunset however. I also tried out The Edge, thanks to a complimentary voucher I received from another tour I had been on so I can’t comment on the value. I was just happy to beat my nerves and actually do it.
Glad I found this website. Totally agree with the author. The Skydeck is so lame and a full architectural stuff-up. Instead of a modern pretty layout, they should have considered the prime purpose – an uninterrupted pristine view. Since the building is so recent, and self-cleaning glass has been available since 2002, I was shocked to find rain-splattered dirt outside, which meant that even if you found a shooting point free from internal reflection (almost impossible), you then had glare from the dirty glass outside. Totally a design stuff-up! The internal reflections are so bad (from yourself or others moving behind you) that you have to struggle to find a small spot(eg hold camera near floor, or way above your head) at just the right point to avoid internal reflections off the glass. If you go during the day, either pray it is overcast, or since they dumbly have the mesh-side away from the city view, ensure you go at 10:00am to avoid any afternoon glare when trying to view the city centre, etc.
Edge? Didn’t bother, you can see just as much from the mesh, and you can use your camera.
THEY CHEAP-SKATED AND GOT IT SO WRONG!
the eureka skydeck is awsome
Looks like the rialto 360 is closing..
Obviously Eureka has superseded it.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/video/2009/10/23/2722902.htm
I went there today in the afternoon when it was really sunny and 39 degrees. Didn’t have a problem and there was no glare and it was enjoyable. The sky deck is worth the $12 and I recommend going to it.
Melbourne 360 – Rialto is now closed!!!!!!!!!
GO SKYDECK!!!!!
Now what do you have to say A’dam’
Mel, you can read my comments here.
Can someone tell me how much they charge for a Souvenir photo for the Edge cube in the Eureka tower?
look mate, just because YOU! don’t like the eureka tower doesn’t mean you have to come out of nowhere and say in our bloody faces that its pretty s***. alright mate don’t do that again, and besides I’m going to the EUREKA tower with my friend and you really don’t wanna mess with her because shes wanna the cranky people and you no who the cranky people are, hahaahhahaah i was just joking mate, but still i don’t agree with you fat donut
hey its fat donut again, mate you never replied to our comment, now thats quite rude mattteee…. anywayz i went to the eureka tower last week and its was AAAAAWWWWWWWWEEEEESSSSSSSOOOOOOOOMMMMMMEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SOOOOO MATE YOU WERE RONG!!!!! EUREKA TOWER IS BETTER THAN THE RIALTO THING. PEOPLE GO TO EUREKA TOWER NOT TO BLOODY RIALTO!!!!