The Sky Tower is a telecommunications and observation tower in Auckland, New Zealand. Located at the corner of Victoria and Federal Streets within the city's CBD, it is 328 metres (1,076 ft) tall, as measured from ground level to the top of the mast, making it the second tallest freestanding structure in the Southern Hemisphere, surpassed only by the Autograph Tower in Jakarta, Indonesia, and the 28th tallest tower in the world. Since its completion in 1997, the Sky Tower has become an iconic landmark in Auckland's skyline, due to its height and design. It was the tallest freestanding structure in the Southern Hemisphere from 1996 to 2022.
The tower within the SkyCity Auckland complex
The upper sections of the Sky Tower, illuminated at night
A view from the base of the tower
The tower illuminated in Christmas colours. Various other lighting schemes and colours are also used.
An observation tower is a structure used to view events from a long distance and to create a full 360 degree range of vision to conduct long distance observations. Observation towers are usually at least 20 metres (66 ft) tall and are made from stone, iron, and wood. Many modern towers are also used as TV towers, restaurants, or churches. The towers first appeared in the ancient world, as long ago as the Babylonian Empire.
Observation tower in Auersberg, Saxony, Germany
Haukkavuori's observation tower in Kotka, Kymenlaakso, Finland
Kirkkovuori Nature Observation tower, Karstula, Central Finland.
Swan Bells Observation tower, Perth, Australia.