Sky Tower Auckland Restaurant - Orbit 360° & Observation Deck, New Zealand

Last Updated on 13th November 2022

This post about Sky Tower Auckland contains affiliate links.

Before my fascination with the views from the Top of the Rock in New York City became apparent, the first place I remember seeing the most spectacular views was from the Sky Tower in Auckland when I was 13 years old.

Since Matt and I landed in New Zealand over 5 weeks ago, we’ve only spent time immersed in nature, with the occasional trip to Tauranga and the Mount (which really can’t be classed as big cities…).

So when we got the opportunity to hitch a ride with a family friend up to Auckland for the day (to save on petrol and do our bit for the carbon footprint!) we jumped at the chance.

If you’re looking for an epic experience in New Zealand, check out my ultimate Sky Tower Auckland review to see what you can expect from visiting the incredible Orbit 360° dining room and the awesome observation deck at the Sky Tower in Auckland!

As I mentioned before, I went up the Sky Tower back in 2011 when I first lived in New Zealand and it held very special memories for me. The views of the city below, as well as out to sea and all the surrounding islands, the delicious food we ate at Orbit 360˚ and of course the excellent company of my family made my experience thoroughly enjoyable and memorable.

So naturally, when Matt and I got the chance to visit Auckland, we knew the main thing we wanted to see/do was the Sky Tower. If you’ve got a trip planned to New Zealand’s biggest city and are looking for a luxury (and affordable) place to eat, or you just want to head up into the sky for beautiful views, here’s everything you need to know!

Orbit 360˚ Dining restaurant, SkyCity

While you’ll see down below in the ‘top tips’ section that I recommend purchasing tickets for the Sky Tower online before you visit, Matt and I didn’t actually follow my advice…

This is because we weren’t sure whether we wanted to eat at the Orbit 360˚ restaurant, so we waited until we arrived at SkyCity before making our decision.

Having learned first-hand from our experience, I would definitely recommend booking in for lunch or dinner at Orbit. With 360˚ panoramic views of Auckland while you tuck into a delicious two-course lunch for just $49 NZD, it’s undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Auckland!

We arrived at SkyCity; the entertainment complex at the bottom of the Sky Tower that encompasses a 700-seat theatre, two luxury, world-class hotels, a casino and a dining complex that’s home to more than 20 bars and restaurants!

The entrance to the Sky Tower is actually one level below ground once you enter SkyCity; this is where you buy your tickets for all activities including the SkyJump, SkyWalk, Orbit 360˚ and general admission tickets to the Sky Tower’s viewing platforms!

There are numerous menus to be enjoyed at Orbit 360˚, but we opted for the $49 Lunch Club Menu (£25), where you get a choice between two mains and desserts. Unfortunately, as the menu isn’t that extensive, there might not be an option to suit you (these choices also aren’t very accommodating for various dietary requirements and preferences) but the $49 Lunch Club Menu is an excellent deal as you get to eat a two-course lunch and go up the Sky Tower, all for just $49!

Updated June 2022: I’m not sure if the Auckland Sky Tower restaurant still offers the $49 set menu, but you can check out their lunch and dinner menus here in preparation for your visit.

When opting for the $49 Lunch Club Menu at Orbit 360˚, you get the choice of either battered snapper fish, calamari, shrimp and salad or NZ Scotch fillet steak with calamari, shrimp and salad.

I opted for the battered snapper which was definitely something out of my comfort zone; I’m a huge fan of calamari but apart from fish fingers and the occasional battered cod from my local chippy, I’ve never really been a big seafood eater.

However, on our first full day of being in New Zealand, we went to some friends’ house for dinner who cooked up a delicious meal of freshly caught fish; since then, I’ve adopted a new found love for trying different types of fish!

The battered fish at Orbit was delectable; the batter was crisp, the fish was fresh and flaky and the accompanying shrimp and calamari were an unusual, albeit enjoyable, addition for me.

Matt went for the fillet steak with salad, shrimp and calamari (we also ordered a portion of fries to share which was $9).

His steak was juicy and tender and while it wasn’t the nicest steak he’d ever had (or I’d ever tried!), it was still incredibly tasty and was well worth the price to be included in the $49 deal!

Matt never used to be a huge fan of desserts but over the last few months, he’s seemingly learned to love them! Unfortunately, there wasn’t an awful lot of choice for dessert at Orbit 360˚; either Tiramisu or mango and passionfruit pavlova. As the Tiramisu was served with a hazelnut crumb (and Matt is allergic to nuts), we both went for the latter.

I’m not the biggest fan of mango but the pavlova was actually surprisingly enjoyable and incredibly fruity! The meringue was also very tasty and the accompanying strawberries were fresh and delicious!

Orbit 360˚ restaurant Sky Tower, SkyCity, Auckland

As part of the $49 Lunch Club Menu at Orbit 360˚, as well as getting panoramic views of Auckland as you rotate and eat, you also get free access to the other viewing platforms.

The Sky Tower Auckland restaurant is an awesome place to enjoy remarkable views of the city, but it’s also well worth heading to the different observation deck levels at the Sky Tower so that you can really make the most out of your visit.

Sky Tower Auckland – Observation Deck

Sky Tower, Auckland, New Zealand observation deck

The Sky Tower general admission ticket costs $35NZD (£16.50) for adults and $18 NZD (£6.70) for children aged 6 to 14. The Sky Tower website also often offers 20% off on general admission tickets, so make sure you check there too. Tickets are also cheaper if you buy tickets online before you go.

There are numerous observation decks and viewing platform options available within your ticket price, these include:

Sky Deck viewing platform – 220 metres (Level 60)
Sky Café – 182 metres (Level 50)
Main Observation Level – 186 metres (Level 51)

With our Orbit 360˚ tickets, we had access to the Level 51 and Level 60 viewing platforms and observation decks.

It’s suggested that from the main observation deck, you can see up to 80km in every direction. While I’m not sure if we saw 80km away (tbh, I’m not even sure how far 80km is), we did enjoy a spectacular view of the surrounding city.

The glass-bottomed floors (as pictured below in the fun facts section) also allow you to see right down to the ground, 186 metres below! While these glass floors are perfectly safe, it’s not something for the faint-hearted; when myself and my family went up the Sky Tower back in 2011, my mum was too scared to walk on them in fear of them breaking!

SkyJump at Auckland Sky Tower

Located on Level 53, the Sky Tower’s SkyJump is the perfect activity in Auckland for adrenaline junkies!

It doesn’t come cheap, with tickets priced at $225 NZD (£117) for adults, but it’s certainly an incredible experience to enjoy while in Auckland!

You’ll jump off the tallest man-made structure in New Zealand and fall approximately 192 metres towards the ground; at speeds of up to 85kmph, it’s certainly not for the faint-hearted!

Matt and I, unfortunately, didn’t take part in the SkyJump or SkyWalk while in Auckland as we did a bungy jump just a couple of weeks ago at Velocity Valley but it’s something that I’ve heard from many people is an absolute must-do while in the North Island of New Zealand!

SkyWalk

Located on the same level as the SkyJump, the SkyWalk is slightly less terrifying, but still a perfect experience for thrill-seekers!

Instead of jumping off the Sky Tower, you’ll be walking around the 1.2m wide platform that spans 360˚ around the Tower.

You’ll also be encouraged to take part in some daredevil activities while walking around including walking backwards, standing on the edge of the platform on your tiptoes and balancing backwards!

The SkyWalk is priced at $150 NZD (£78) for adults, $130 NZD (£67) for students and $120 NZD (£62) for children.

I would say that the SkyWalk is arguably less scary than the SkyJump but it’s still adrenaline-fuelled and will make for a great memory of your time in Auckland!

Fun facts about the Sky Tower Auckland

The Sky Tower is the tallest building in New Zealand; standing proudly at 328 metres (1,076 feet) high!
It took two years and nine months to build the Sky Tower; definitely worth it in my opinion!
The glass floor (pictured above) on the observation deck is 38mm thick and is as strong as the concrete floor throughout the viewing platform!
There are panoramic, 360˚ views of up to 80 kilometres on the Sky Tower observation deck.
The Tower’s lifts (elevators) travel at speeds of 18km p/h; taking only 40 seconds to travel from the bottom of SkyCity to the top viewing platform!
In extremely windy storms, the very top of the Sky Tower can sway on either side up to one metre!
The foundations of the Tower go down 15 metres below the ground, giving it an incredibly stable structure!
The Sky Tower is open 365 days of the year, except for in extreme weather conditions.

Top tips for visiting the Sky Tower Auckland

fun facts about the Sky Tower, Auckland, New Zealand

Below, you can find my top tips for visiting the Sky Tower in Auckland, as well as the Orbit 360° restaurant and the SkyCity experiences at the top of the Sky Tower!

Purchase tickets online before you go to avoid disappointment.
There are more than 20 restaurants and bars situated at SkyCity, including three exquisite places to eat at the top; Orbit 360˚, Sky Café and The Sugar Club.
If you can, try and organise your visit to Auckland and the Sky Tower on a clear day. While it’s still enjoyable if the weather is a little overcast and grey, visiting on a clear day means that you’ll be able to see much further!
Avoid peak times (unless you’ve booked in advance).
As always, bring your camera with you to snap some incredible pictures of Auckland city and the surrounding areas!
Consider booking lunch or dinner at Orbit 360˚ for a truly unique experience while in Auckland; it was one of our favourite things on the North Island!

We had the most amazing time at the Sky Tower and Orbit 360˚ restaurant in Auckland and I would highly recommend it to anyone who’s visiting the city!

Whether you just want to take in the astonishing views, brave the SkyWalk or SkyJump or indulge in a luxurious meal at Orbit, the Sky Tower is a wonderful place to visit and somewhere that should be on everyone’s North Island New Zealand bucket list!

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