Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb

The 13th of December wasn’t over for my brother & me, for we had a historic bridge to climb. Nicknamed ‘The Coat Hanger,’ the Harbour Bridge is the world’s widest long-span bridge, and tallest steel arch bridge (134m). Construction began in 1923 and was completed in 1932 during the Great Depression, linking the central business district to the North Shore. The structure is held together by 6 million rivets and carries 8 vehicle lanes, two train lines, and a foot & cycle path.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb opened its doors on October 1st, 1998, providing thrill seekers the opportunity to climb to the top of the bridge via service catwalks & ladders. So far, over 2 million people (local, tourists, & famous celebrities) have climbed to the 134 metre summit and my brother & I were going to be the latest. There are 3 climbing options to choose from. The Bridge Climb is a 3 & a half hour walk along the catwalks & ladders. The Discovery Climb is also 3 & a half hours but you reach the summit via the bridge’s inner arch. The Express Climb is a ‘quick’ 2 hour & 15 minute trek to the summit. Prices vary according to day & time: between $198 to $298 for adults, and $128 - $198 for children.

We decided to do the Discovery Climb during the Twilight hours, meaning by the time we reached the summit, the cityscape would be brightly lit at night. Before you step out onto the catwalks, there are several procedures that you have to complete. First is a waver/consent form followed by a breathalyzer test. No drunks allowed. Next you suit up and go to the washroom for ‘the last time.’ Yes, there have been accidents at the summit. As an added precaution, I swallowed some Gravol to prevent nausea & vomiting. You’re assigned a locker where you place all your valuables & loose articles (ie wallet, watch, necklace, & camera) so that they are not lost during the excursion. And finally, you’re briefly instructed on what to expect and how to operate your harness & equipment.

Our enthusiastic & energetic Climb Leader led our group of 10 thrill seekers onto the metallic catwalks as night settled across Sydney. After making sure all of our safety lines were attached to the railing, we slowly walked beneath the bridge as our Climb Leader talked about the history & construction of the bridge. The first notable landmark we passed was the luxurious Park Hyatt Sydney Hotel, which sits beside the bridge. Our Climb Leader explained that many famous celebrities stayed & continue to stay at this hotel when they visit Sydney, occupying the top penthouse suite (private pool included) that costs $6000 a night. He even mentioned seeing Will Ferrell & Catherine Zeta Jones on two separate occasions. He also added that he wouldn’t be surprised if Oprah was staying there.

With every step we took, the catwalks became narrow & low forcing us to crouch and avoid hitting pipes. While we inched our way closer to the summit, the constant rumbling of passing vehicles & trains filled our ears. Having skydived twice in New Zealand, climbing a bridge wasn’t that scary for me. In fact, if you keep looking out towards the skyline & harbour, you don’t get the feeling that you’re high up and exposed. The feeling only surfaces when you look straight down. My brother was a little anxious & hesitant during the steeper portions of the climb but he toughed it out till the very end. Like I’ve said before, skydiving will cure anyone’s acrophobia.

As we neared the summit, our Climb Leader enlightened us with several interesting stories that happened on the Harbour Bridge, mentioning BASE jumpers, eloped weddings, and people climbing up to the top to drink beer with friends or to place large objects at the top. This was well before security cameras and chain link fences were installed around the bridge. I was surprised to hear that several locals had managed to place a shopping cart at the top.

We were greeted by a large Australian flag on a flagpole as we reached the summit, overjoyed to have achieved what some thought was impossible. Oprah & several of her diehard fans made the same ascent just the day before. We posed for pictures and walked around, gazing at the beautiful 360 degree scenery. This was the best place to view the Sydney Opera House and downtown Sydney. The only other place with a great view of the city is the Sydney Tower.

‘What goes up must come down.’ The descent was just as interesting because we were walking down the other side of the bridge, and we had to look down meaning more feelings of anxiety. But by this time, I wasn’t having any of it. I was having fun.

Once we were inside the main building, we were all congratulated on a job well done and instructed to remove our climbing gear and fill out a survey. We were then presented with a certificate of completion & a complimentary photo. You also have the option of purchasing the other pictures that were taken during the climb but my main complaint is that the price is too expensive. Since I looked stoned in the complimentary photo, I bought two better looking photos on CD. It cost $35AUD; $25 for the first and $10 for the second. Way too much! Of course, if you want to spend more money, there is a wide variety of t-shirts, baseball caps, mugs, cards, models, and DVDs to buy at the gift shop.

It was around 11pm when my brother & I walked out of the Bridge Climb building. I congratulated him for confronting his fears & said that he was ready for skydiving. He said he’d think about it. To celebrate, we had a drink at the nearby Harbour View Hotel. From there we returned to the hotel and got some much needed sleep.

If you have the time, energy, and cash, give this climb a try. It is truly a worthy experience to have, especially for acrophobics looking to cure their illness.