One of the most popular things to do in Sydney is to climb to the summit of the city’s iconic Harbor Bridge. I was wondering if my fear of heights would hold me back but knew that the exhilaration of standing at the top enjoying the 360 degree view would be hard to beat. I also read a few reviews saying that the Sydney Bridge Climb was overpriced and that for the money you could hire a short helicopter ride for the views. We ended up with a beautiful sunny day and opted in for the adventure and the 1332 steps over the Sydney skyline.
The full “Summit Climb” takes three and a half hours in total and there are a few shorter options as well. You choose between dawn, day, twilight and night climbs while you are booking and they will assign a start time for your tickets. We booked the Summit Twilight climb, thereby enjoying daylight, sunset and night while we were trekking the top arch to the summit, across and down the other side.
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Five Things to Know – Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb
1) What to wear on the Sydney Bridge Climb?
When you report in to the Bridge Climb office in the Rocks area of Sydney, the first thing they do is suit you up. Everyone has to wear a “regulation” grey and blue jumpsuit. If it is warm weather you may be too hot if you leave your street clothes on underneath – but the choice is yours. You are not allowed to carry any items with you at all – no bags, phones, cameras or go-pros – and the jumpsuits have no pockets. You leave all of your belongings in a secure locker and head to the briefing area. They give everyone a Bridge Climb cap and a headset with microphone to communicate with your tour leader. For the Twilight and Night Bridge Climbs they also provide a small lamp to wear around your neck in case you need more light as you walk the stairs.
2) Is the Sydney Bridge Climb safe?
Safety is paramount in this tour. The Bridge Climb operators require that all climbers have a blood alcohol level under .05 (although I didn’t see them test anyone). After a detailed safety briefing, you put on a belt harness and go through a practice course they have in their offices. This course is designed to walk you through all of the typical structural conditions that you will encounter on the Bridge and how the harness works clipped in as you move through them. During the actual climb you are clipped in the entire time. It felt extremely safe and the heights were never a concern.
3) How strenuous is the climb?
The Sydney Bridge Climb is 1332 steps. While the scheduled activity is three and half hours the actual time on the bridge is just under two and a half hours. The “climb” itself is really just a great walk up and down stairs and not at all strenuous. Our group had all ages and sizes of participants. We had great weather, amazing views, and as expected the top sections were a little windy. With our Twilight Bridge Climb we were able to enjoy daylight, a gorgeous sunset and the lights of Sydney Harbor all in one climb.
4) Can you take photos on the bridge?
Unfortunately you can’t carry or take any personal items with you at all on the climb, including your phone or a camera. The only photos you can get of your tour are those that are taken by your climb leader and offered for purchase afterwards. They have three photo stops during the climb. The first stop is part way up the bridge with the Sydney Opera House behind you; the second stop is at the top of the bridge as you are crossing over, and the final stop is on the way down with the city and Darling Harbor views. They also film a five to seven second video clip for you.
5) Is the cost of the Sydney Bridge Climb worth it?
The Sydney Bridge Climb is definitely a pricey experience, and since they have no competition they can charge accordingly. That said, the views were spectacular and the experience was both fun and informative. Our guide shared much about the history and construction of the bridge and the local area. It was also the first time I heard that the American Revolution was credited with the inception of modern day Australia, which was first settled in the 1780’s by the British as a penal colony once the Americans had kicked them out.
OUR VOTE … when in Sydney … climb the bridge!
For more information and to purchase tickets check out the Bridge Climb website here : https://www.bridgeclimb.com/
What a terrific write up! If I were ever to get to Sydney, I’d do the bridge climb! How exhilarating that sounds and looks!
The bridge and the ocean pool at Bondi Beach Icebergs were the two favorites!