Santa Abseils Down Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour to Deliver Early Christmas Cheer

Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour

While the Sydney sky may have been clear of snow, it certainly wasn’t short on Christmas magic when Santa made his grand descent down the Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour. On this particular occasion, Santa wasn’t arriving by sleigh, but rather abseiling down the iconic 35-storey, 115-metre high façade of the hotel, much to the delight of a group of special guests — children from the Royal Far West Charity.

The heartwarming event was organized by Dr. Jerry Schwartz, the owner of the Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour, as part of his ongoing support for Royal Far West, one of Australia’s leading charities dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of children living in rural and remote areas. The charity’s school in Manly provides essential services to children who may otherwise not have access to health specialists or personalized learning.

The high-flying Santa, along with his trusty elves, made a spectacular appearance courtesy of Edvaldo Godoy, the entrepreneur behind Updown Access, a high-rise window cleaning company. Clad in his signature red suit, Santa was hoisted to the top of the towering hotel before abseiling down, his elves in tow. Along with the jolly man himself, Santa carried a special message for the children: a handmade sign reading "Life's Beautiful – Merry Xmas," crafted by the young students themselves.

At the base of the Sofitel, a group of excited children from Royal Far West eagerly awaited Santa’s arrival. As he touched down, the children were overjoyed, receiving early Christmas gifts as part of this heartwarming holiday tradition. For many of these children, who had traveled from remote parts of Australia to attend the Royal Far West school in Manly, the experience was one they would treasure for years to come.

In addition to the festive fun, the children were treated to a silver-service afternoon tea at the Sofitel, complete with all the trimmings, providing a taste of luxury and hospitality to cap off their visit to Sydney.

Dr. Schwartz, who has organized this event annually, shared the importance of the occasion: "We do this event each year because it brings so much joy to the kids and their families. It's the perfect way to end their stay at the Royal Far West school in Sydney, and we hope it creates lasting, happy memories for them."

The visit also marked the final day of the children’s stay at the Royal Far West school, making it a particularly meaningful way for them to finish their trip. "Hopefully, they leave with fond memories of Santa coming down a skyscraper with bags full of treats," Dr. Schwartz said with a smile.

For the children of the Royal Far West, the visit from Santa was a magical reminder that, no matter the distance from home, the spirit of Christmas could always find its way — even in the heart of Sydney’s bustling Darling Harbour.