If you dream of sharing the stage with rock stars, walking the red-carpet arm in arm with your favourite Hollywood hunks, challenging your sporting heroes, or getting face time with the world’s most powerful politicians, Madame Tussauds Sydney is the place to sing, chat up, race, debate and cuddle up with your favourite A-listers.
In fact, with so many legendary residents and awesome interactive experiences, Madame Tussauds Sydney has become one of Raffles and Sugarpuff’s favourite Sydney attractions.
The A-List residents at Madame Tussauds Sydney
Raffles is particularly keen on the History and World Leaders Zone.
If he’s not discussing the theory of relatively with Albert Einstein, you’re likely to find him waxing philosophic, if you’ll pardon the pun, with Global icons Nelson Mandela, Ghandi and the Dalai Lama.
Sugarpuff, well she’s more likely to be found driving Queen Elizabeth II’s throne like she stole it. Or chatting up Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard for future Prime Ministerial tips.
She’s also pretty keen on the Hollywood zone where she rubs shoulders with Hollywood royalty from Angelina Jolie, who I swear Maleficent fan Sugarpuff was hitting up for adoption, to Leonardo DiCaprio.
But these big-name icons are just are just the wax tip of the celebrity iceberg at the interactive attraction, with just as many of the residents being legendary Australians who’ve have shaped and entertained our country, from Captain Cook to Kylie.
One of the things that keeps Raffles and Sugarpuff coming back to Madame Tussauds Sydney time and time again is that it is extremely hands on, allowing them to get up close and personal with the stars by providing props, activities and photo stations throughout. They can catch a wave with Layne Beachley, play cricket with Don Bradman, or take a leap with Olympic Hurdler Sally Pearson, while Cathy Freeman and Ian Thorpe look on.
Or they can Quiz Eddie Mabo on Aboriginal rights, don feathers with fabulous Guy Pierce, as Felicia from ‘The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert’ or get on their bikes with ET.
There’s a fashion zone and catwalk complete with supermodels Miranda, Elle and… Raffles.
If you’re like Sugarpuff, you’ll want to take to the stage with Adele and shake it off with Taylor. Raffles’ musical tastes run to more towards raucous, so he’ll more likely be rocking with Jimmy Barnes, Keith Urban and the late Michael Hutchence.
And for a bigger slice of the rock star action, the kids like to grab the mic and lay down a track in one of the MTV Music Zone recording booths, or moonwalk (badly) with Michael Jackson on the dance floor.
Once they’re warmed up they’re all about Superhero training in the Marvel zone.
Sugarpuff loves to try on Iron Man’s suit and get her claws out with Wolverine, while Raffles prefers to dangle decorously from the ceiling with Spidey.
Interactive action at Madame Tussauds Sydney
And now Madame Tussauds comes with added super! A brand new, high tech Justice League zone has opened, bringing with it the whole DC crew. Amazonian Princess Wonder Woman is at her bullet-deflecting wristlet-gauntlets baring best.
Batman broods! Even under duress. And Superman is well, super, thanks for asking!
But it is Aquaman who makes the biggest splash with mega fan Raffles, who loves the trident tossing super fish. Just quietly his mother is quite happy to get an eye full of the big guy too.
The exhibits, new and old, are nothing short of incredible. It takes 60 artists around 800 hours to create just one of the life like figures from beginning to end. The hair, inserted strand by strand, takes weeks to create using real human hair, and there are days dedicated just to getting teeth painted the exact right shade.
Then there’s the hours put in by a special team who do daily retouching, grooming and wardrobe repairs to keep the exhibits red carpet ready. Some of the more swoon inducing and heavily fondled figures – I’m looking at you Chris Hemsworth and Ryan Gosling – also enjoy regular off the floor makeovers to keep them fresh and ready for their next stolen kiss.
Madame Tussauds Sydney is located at Aquarium Wharf, Darling Harbour and is open daily from 9am-6pm with last admission at 5pm.
Top tip: The Merlin Annual Pass offers our whole crew 12 months unlimited entry to 11 amazing attractions in Australia and New Zealand – Madame Tussauds Sydney, Sydney Tower Eye, SEA LIFE Sydney, WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo, Illawarra Fly Treetop Adventures, LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Melbourne, SEA LIFE Melbourne, Otway Fly Treetop Adventures, SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast and WILD LIFE Hamilton Island – plus SEA LIFE Auckland! Plus, the pass provides discounts on food, shopping, tours and experiences as well as special member events at each. At just $79 per person for families, it is awesome value, and for us has paid for itself five times over already.