Mobility

For those with limited mobility, there are seating locations within the Joan Sutherland Theatre and Concert Hall that have significant amounts of stairs to seats. All other venues have less than 30 steps in total from entry to the furthest row. The below step counts are from the nearest level access point including all available public lifts. 

Lower Concourse 
Two facilities, one located at the bottom of the escalators from East Circular Quay and one near Opera Kitchen.

Western Foyer Level 
Two facilities, one near adjacent to the Playhouse entry and one between the Studio and Drama Theatre entry. 

Main Box Office Level 
Two facilities and a separate Changing Places facility, located in the corridor next to the Box Office. Download information about the Changing Places hoist and instructions for use.

Joan Sutherland Theatre 
One facility, located next to the male bathrooms on Level 3a of the Northern Foyers.  

Concert Hall 
Two facilities, one next to the male and female bathrooms on Level 3 of the Northern Foyers. 

There are a number of wheelchair and companion seating locations in all theatres. To book accessible seating, call the Box Office on +61 2 9250 7777 or email bookings@sydneyoperahouse.com.

Access to the Drama Theatre, Playhouse and Studio is from the Western Foyer (street level). For access to the Joan Sutherland Theatre or Concert Hall please see Front of House staff in the Box Office foyer (Level 1) who will provide lift access to these venues. 

Our ticketing policy allows customers requiring a wheelchair accessible position to purchase a wheelchair accessible position for themselves and a seat for their companion at the lowest concession ticket price available at the time of purchase for the selected performance. Where no concessions are available, the wheelchair seat and one companion seat will be sold at the lowest price available for that event at the time of purchase. Additional companions can purchase tickets on the standard pricing basis.

A limited number of courtesy wheelchairs (standard manual wheelchairs) are available for loan one hour before performances for patrons attending events in the Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre. They are available by the entrance of the Western Foyers (at the top of the escalators). 

Front of House staff are happy to arrange for patrons to borrow these wheelchairs but are unable to leave their posts to assist patrons moving around the House. It is therefore strongly recommended that patrons who do not normally use a wheelchair bring a friend or companion along to assist them in manoeuvring the wheelchair around the House. Front of House Staff are not able to assist patrons in transferring to seats or to provide personal attendant services.

Visitors and patrons with limited mobility arriving by taxi or private vehicle may be dropped at the designated area near the Macquarie Street Gatehouse.

The Gatehouse is located at the entry to the Sydney Opera House site, just off the roundabout at the bottom of Macquarie Street. There is a driveway around the Gatehouse that provides a vehicle drop off for patrons and turnaround point. The distance from the Gatehouse to the building entry is 160 metres. 

Opera House staff are on hand to arrange transfers to the building via a wheelchair-accessible shuttle service between the hours of 10am and 5pm. The dimensions of the wheelchair accessible shuttle is 84cm width x 95cm length x 142cm height. There is a 110kg weight limit. To arrange transfer outside of these hours, please contact accessibility@sydneyoperahouse.com or call the box office on 1300 764 849 (Monday to Sunday, 9am-5pm AEST).