Climb Sydney Harbour Bridge

The adventure

Opened in 1932 and nicknamed the Coathanger, the Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of the world's great steel arches, and BridgeClimb lets you walk right over the top of it. Kitted out in a grey climb suit and clipped to a static line, you file through the bridge's girders, past some of its six million rivets, and up ladders onto the outer arch, with traffic and trains rumbling below.

Then the steps lead up and up until you reach the summit, 134 metres above the water. Below you, ferries carve white wakes across the harbour, the sails of the Opera House glow on the point, and on a clear day the city spreads out all the way to the Blue Mountains. Climb at twilight and you watch the sky turn orange and pink before the skyline lights up, while the guide points out landmarks and takes the photo you'll end up framing.

Why it’s epic

Standing on the summit of the arch, 134 metres above Sydney Harbour.
Close-up views of the Sydney Opera House and Circular Quay.
Walking among the bridge's six million rivets, driven in during its construction in the 1920s and early 1930s.
Dawn, day, twilight and night climbs, each with its own light.

What it is

BridgeClimb takes you over the arches of the Sydney Harbour Bridge to the summit, 134 metres above the harbour.

How to do it

Book through BridgeClimb Sydney; climbs run at dawn, during the day, at twilight and at night.

Top tip

Twilight climbs give you daylight and city lights in one go.

Need to know

Every climber takes a breath test, and nothing loose is allowed on the bridge, including your phone, so the guide takes the photos.
Allow about three and a half hours including the safety briefing.
Dawn and twilight slots sell out first, so book ahead, especially in the Australian summer.

Plan this trip

Rough cost: £750 to £2,000 per person, including flights from the UK
Time needed: 3 to 4 hours
Best time to go: All year
Fly into: SYD airport

Prices vary by time slot, with dawn and twilight climbs costing the most.

Do it yourself

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My experience

Ticked off, but the full story is still to be written up.