RULES
1. Friends and families, stay together; children under 14 should be accompanied by an adult at all times
2. Resist the temptation to dive or jump off the piers
3. The balls are for swimming only, not for throwing
4. Please use designated pram parking
5. Please do not eat or drink inside The Beach
6. So everyone can look their best in the mirrors, please avoid touching the glass
7. To avoid losing your shoes in the balls, we suggest you take them off and store them in the areas provided. But please leave your socks on.
8. It is very easy to lose things in the balls, so make sure your pockets are empty and you have secured all your valuables before getting in. Lost keys, phones, wallets and jewellery may not be found until after the Festival has finished.
9. There is no priority entry for those wishing to view only. All attendees must queue in the same line on arrival.
10. Groups must queue together. Holding spots for other people is not permitted.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHERE IS THE BEACH?
The Beach is located inside the Cutaway at Barangaroo Reserve.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
Nothing! It’s FREE between 10am – 5pm.
CAN I GET A TICKET?
Yes, eager beach goers who wish to have guaranteed access can purchase a ticket to The Beach. Each day we will allow a limited number of ticket holders to access the installation at 9am, a full hour before we open to the general public. If you're keen to avoid the lines and beat the crowd, purchase a ticket for Early Entry online at sydneyfestival.org.au/2017/beach.
For those of you over 18 years of age and looking for after hours access without the kids around, each Friday and Saturday evening there are limited tickets available for 1.5 hour sessions. Tickets are available online at sydneyfestival.org.au/2017/beach.
WHO IS SNARKITECTURE?
Snarkitecture is a New York-based collaborative practice established to investigate the boundaries between art and architecture. The name is drawn from Lewis Carroll’s The Hunting of The Snark, a poem describing the “impossible voyage of an improbable crew to find an inconceivable creature.” In its search for the unknown, Snarkitecture creates architectural-scale projects, installations, and objects.
Snarkitecture’s work focuses on the reinterpretation of everyday materials, structures and programs to new and imaginative effect. With a conceptual approach centered on the importance of experience, the studio creates unexpected and memorable moments that invite people to explore and engage with their surroundings. By transforming the familiar into the extraordinary, Snarkitecture makes architecture perform the unexpected.
HOW LONG CAN I STAY?
As long as you wish, but we find most people spend about 45mins at The Beach.
WILL THERE BE A LONG LINE TO GET IN?
Possibly, but it will be worth the wait. Depending on the time of day, you may need to wait 60 – 90min to gain access. The Beach Patrol staff will keep you informed of anticipated wait times when you arrive. Keep an eye on Sydney Festival’s social media channels for regular updates and tips on the best times to visit.
CAN I GET A PASS OUT IF I NEED TO LEAVE THE BEACH FOR A SHORT TIME?
No, pass outs will not be available. To ensure everyone gets a chance to enjoy The Beach, once you leave the installation you will need to re-join the line if you wish to get back inside. This includes dashing out to use the bathroom, so we suggest you use the amenities before lining up.
CAN I BRING MY PET?
Non-service animals and pets are not permitted at The Beach.
ARE THERE BABY CHANGING FACILITIES AT THE VENUE?
Yes, the nearest baby changing station is in the restrooms at The Cutaway opposite the elevator. If you’re outside enjoying a walk around Barangaroo Reserve, additional change stations can be located inside the heritage 1904 Pump House at Marrinawi Cover, near Towns Place.
CAN I BRING MY CAMERA?
Yes, hand held cameras / video and audio recording devices are permitted. Remember to use #sydfest when posting your shots on social media. To ensure all guests have a great experience, we ask that you leave your large tripod and lights at home. If you have a wrist or neck strap for your camera, we strongly suggest you bring it along. It is very easy to drop items into the balls and often these cannot be retrieved until all the balls are removed at the end of the Festival.
CAN I BRING FOOD AND DRINKS?
The outdoor grass areas of Barangaroo Reserve are fantastic for picnics. So feel free to pack a picnic and make the most of your day at Barangaroo.
A selection of snacks and light lunch options will be available to purchase at the venue.
The Beach is an amazing all white art installation, and we are keen to keep it white. For this reason food and drinks that could stain or make a mess cannot be consumed inside. Feel free to bring a water bottle, but please leave the beetroot salad and chocolate in your bag while enjoying The Beach. The cleaning team thank you.
ARE BALL PITS UNHYGIENIC?
GermBLOCKTM antimicrobial balls have been used to create The Beach. This safe, powerful agent provides antimicrobial protection for everyone against 50 different germs and bacteria for the life of the ball. It cannot be rubbed, scrubbed, or wiped off. Each ball is moulded from 100% recyclable nontoxic materials.
CAN THE BALLS BE RECYCLED?
Yes, in fact The Beach balls have already been recycled once thanks to the generous assistance of the Vinik Family Foundation and The Beach Tampa. The Sydney Festival is working with local plastic recycling services to make sure every single ball is recycled after the event. They are composed of a nontoxic Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) which makes them a “Type 4” Plastic for recycling purposes.
ACCESS
Barangaroo Reserve is a place for everyone and our aim is to make it accessible to all visitors, of all ages, including those with additional mobility requirements
Wulugul Walk, which follows the 1836 foreshore, is relatively level and, like all dedicated pedestrian pathways in the reserve is 3.8m wide. At the northern end, Wulugul Walk provides stair-free access to the Cutaway. Lifts connect all levels from the Stargazer lawn down to the car park.
The Beach provides wheelchair access by way of an accessible ramp that can accommodate guests using a push or electric wheelchairs. Guests will have full access to all areas of the shore, out onto the piers and onto a shallow ball area along one of the mirrored walls. This area is clearly marked with white and grey flags. Between these flags, the balls have a maximum depth of 250mm. This will allow guests to remain in their wheelchairs and move around the balls. To encourage play, families and carers will have access to large white buckets, these can be used to scoop up and pour out the balls. Beach Patrol staff will be available at the event to answer any questions.
Accessible Toilets
In addition to the amenities within the Cutaway, other toilet facilities, including two ambulant and one accessible cubicle, are located near the Towns Place entrance to Barangaroo Reserve.
HOW DO I GET THERE?
There are entrances to Barangaroo Reserve from Towns Place, Hickson Road, Munn Street Reserve and Merriman Street. The entrance to the Cutaway is near Hickson Road and Nawi Cove.
Public transport
For those travelling by train, both Wynyard and Circular Quay are approximately 1.1km walk. If you use a wheelchair or any other mobility device and find steep gradients difficult to negotiate, travel from Circular Quay is recommended. Travel via Wynyard is a little quicker with options now open from Wynyard via Kent Street or through Wynyard Walk via Hickson Road. Please see thismapwith a suggested route.
Tactile Ground Surface Indicators and curb ramps are consistent from both locations. Shorelining from Circular Quay is more consistent than from Wynyard for white cane users.
The closest bus stops are on Hickson Road at the Nawi Cove entrance, and are serviced by routes 324 and 325, which depart from Town Hall; and route 311, which runs between Central Station and Argyle Street.
Wheelchair users accessing the park from the Towns Place entrance should be aware there is a 30m-long brick/cobbled pathway to navigate before the surface becomes completely smooth.
By car
An underground carpark is located off Towns Place. Lift acces is available from all levels of the car park to the Cutaway and Reserve. The car park provides eight accessible car parking spaces. The entry height into the car park is 2.2m. Accessible parking bays at this Wilson Parking station cannot be pre-booked; for further enquiries contact 1800 PARKING (1800 727 5464). Wilson Parking offers an online booking service via bookabay.com.au. Be sure to select "Barangaroo Reserve" from the list of car parks.
There are two accessible street parking bays on Towns Place, close to the entry to the carpark.
The Hickson Road entrance is recommended if arriving by taxi or being dropped off/picked up by private vehicle.
BICYCLE PARKING
There are bicycle rails available along Wulugul Walk so you can secure your bike while enjoying The Beach.
FIRST AID
If you need First Aid, please notify The Beach Patrol staff.
GUEST SERVICE & INFORMATION
Guest Services & Information is located within the Beach Hut near the entrance to The Beach. There are also Beach Patrol staff located throughout the experience that can help you if you have any questions.
LOST AND FOUND
If you lose and item at The Beach, please check with nearby Beach Patrol Staff to see if the item has been found. If we have not located your item, we suggest you visit the Beach Hut near the entry and register your lost item with our Lost & Found staff. Please note, if an item is lost in the balls, you will not be able to pick up your lost items until The Beach closes and the balls are emptied out after the 29 January 2017 unless it is handed in earlier.
To avoid lost items at The Beach, please take full advantage of our provided shoe storage and locker facilities.
Make sure your pockets are empty before you enter the balls and that you keep a good hold of your camera or phone if you are using it for photos. Keys and wallets should always be kept on the shoreline.
STROLLERS
Strollers are permitted inside the Cutaway, however, they must be left in the designated pram parking area near the entrance to The Beach. Remember that there will not be any pass outs, so please take anything you may need for the kids out of the stroller and take it with you into The Beach.
