Chinese New Year at Luna Park
We got to celebrate Chinese New Year at Luna Park this year. Take Luna Park fun, combined it with chinese music echoing through the Park, lanterns bobbing up above you an the thrill of displays and you’ve got an idea of how magical it was.
We were invite by Luna Park to celebrate Chinese New Year with them and I am so grateful they did. We spent hours walking through, playing and watching the festivities. Thank you Luna Park and specifically Joanne for extending the invite.
Now if you’ve done Luna Park before with kids, this post is not about that, this post is specifically about the magic of Chinese New Year at Luna Park. I will touch on a few aspects of Luna Park though.
As the friends who joined us said, it was like being on a movie set! I didn’t realise that Luna Park did these different events throughout the year but now I do so I will be on the lookout for other things happening because its a cool backdrop to celebrate against.
Chinese New Year at Luna Park
Year of the Dog
If you’ve read a AllThingsMomSydney review before you know that we usually talk about how to get to the place first in a review. In this instance Luna Park is so well known that I’m not sure it even needs this type of introduction. However, because there are so many expat followers and Sydney visitors who read the blog, I thought I would just include this information at the bottom.
Chinese New Year at Luna Park Special Features
Lanterns and the Music – what an atmosphere
You know it’s Chinese New Year when there are hundreds of red lanterns being hung. Luna park was no different with red lanterns dangling above your head as you walked in through the mouth. There were also lanterns dotted throughout the park. When night fell, it was so stunning!
It would be remiss of me not to talk about the Chinese music echoing throughout the park. It was so beautiful. I’ve never been in an environment like that.
Between the red lanterns shining and the gorgeous music the atmosphere was just perfect. It was so enchanting.
“It’s like being on a movie set.”
Around a corner I found an elderly man carefully crafting Chinese words. The kids were so interested to see the alphabet set out and how the man was painting words.
A bit further down was a pop-up dumpling tent. The smells were delicious and just added to the red lanterns and the music.
Lion Dances
Disclaimer: this does not involve real lions. My poor 3 year old thought she was going to see real lions.
The Lion Dance is a traditional Chinese dance that goes back thousands of years and is usually done at important cultural, religious and traditional festivals. The lion dance is generally made up of two performers who mimic a lion’s movements in a lion costume with the purpose being to bring good luck and fortune.
The kids went mental as soon as they heard the drumming. They knew something was happening but they weren’t really sure what to expect and then they saw a white fluffy head rise up above the crowd. What fun!
I had never seen a Lion Dance, I mean I had seen it on TV but never in real life. It was quite exciting to me involved in it and you can get up really close and almost feel involved in it.
Firecracker Display
As the Lion Dance ended the Firecracker Display started.
From what I’ve read the point of the firecrackers is to scare away bad fortune from the previous year and bring in a happy and prosperous year ahead.
Originally, firecrackers weren’t used but Bamboo stems were filled with gunpowder that were burnt to create small explosions. I’m quite relieved that this has evolved but I won’t lie the firecrackers gave me a near heart attack.
The Firecracker Display is not a fireworks display. It’s like lots and lots of bangs with little sparks flying. If you’ve ever visited a temple in Thailand when there have been firecrackers you’ll have a sense of what the Firecracker Display is like.
Tickets and Opening Hours
You don’t have to buy a ticket to walk through Luna Park. You only need a ticket to go on the rides.
Tickets
All tickets are priced and sold according to height. Guests who do not have the correct ticket for their height will be required to pay the difference to purchase the correct pass. Guests in the Red and Green height zones will require a paying adult to ride many of our larger rides.
Please also note that some rides inside Coney Island require closed shoes to ride
Opening Hours
Special Events at Luna park
(two tips for special events at Luna Park)
- If you’re thinking about heading into Luna Park for one of its special events then check out the options online first. I know for Chinese New Year you could get a $5 food voucher if you bought tickets online.
- Be sure to keep you eyes open when you get inside for other specials. I didn’t notice until I got home but the fortune cookie we were given included one free game. Had I known that I wouldn’t have had tears during the evening… We’re all learning!
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Where is Luna Park
Luna Park is on Sydney’s North Shore. This means its over the bridge from the City. But its right on the North Shore shoreline so you can see it from the City.
The official address for Luna Park is
How to get to Luna Park
There are plenty of ways to get to Luna Park.
By car
Luna Park has carpark right underneath the park. There is plenty of parking and the lift from the parking brings you right up into the park. In terms of ease, this is one of the easiest ways to get to Luna Park however it is pricey. It is actually the most expensive way to get to the park considering that parking for 3 – 4 hours is $33 and 4+ hours is $39.
The entrance to the car park is on Paul Street, just off Alfred St South, Milsons Point.
By ferry
This is probably the easiest way to get to Luna Park. There is a Wharf right outside the Park. Just make sure you check on the website that there are no issues with the Ferries before you visit.
The Wharf you are aiming for is Milsons Point Wharf.
By train
From Milsons Point station, it’s an easy five minute walk to Luna Park. Milsons Point station is only one stop from the CBD and is on both the ‘Northern Line’ and ‘North Shore and Western Line’.
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