Australia is going to have another great tourism attraction in near future. The gigantic Southern Star observation wheel is expected to open in November this year. The structure is located in Melbourne Docklands. It will be the largest wheel in the southern hemisphere. Only two wheels in the world are bigger - the London Eye and the Singapore Flyer.
The Southern Star will be approximately as high as a 40 storey building and will have a 120-meter orbit.
Former CEO of Dreamworld on Australia’s Gold Coast, who is nowadays the chairman of the Southern Star Management Group, Fred Maybury claims he had been working on the project for more than six years. Developer ING Real Estate Development Australia is involved in this AU$100 million project. The wheel was designed by a renowned Japanese manufacturer, Sanoyas Hishino Meisho Corporation.
There are 21 walk-around cabins designed for up to 20 people each. The air conditioned rotating cabins will allow customers to enjoy breathtaking views of Melbourne, Docklands and Port Phillip Bay, as well as up to 40 kilometers of the surroundings. Cabins are 5.7 meters in length and 3.7 meters wide and provide guests with smooth ride as they do not sway in the breeze. The Southern Star will be opened 10am-10pm, 365 days a year and a 30-minute ride will cost adults $29 and children $17. The cabins will be also available for hire for various events like for example weddings or meetings.
The new attraction is believed to significantly increase the number of tourists coming to the area. Mr. Maybury believes it will attract as many as 1.5 million guests in the first year. This is definitely positive for the Waterfront City precinct, which hosts range of retail stores, restaurants, bars, cafes.