Sydney is one of the few places that offers you the ability to actually climb up an icon known across the globe. When I visited I was told by my friends the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb was an activity I had to book. They promised me the best view in the city, especially if I went at twilight. Well I couldn’t deny myself something that sounds that good, so thats exactly what I booked.

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My Sydney Harbour BridgeClimb Experience

Sometimes when booking an experience the time of day can make or break your enjoyment. With the Sydney Harbour BridgeClimb you can never be disappointed. If you go early in the morning you are treated to a stunning sunrise over the Opera House. But climbing in the evening allows you to watch the sunset over the city. You also descend into the darkness creating a whole new experience. No two climbs will be the same so whenever you decide to go, it will always be truly unique. It comes as no surprise BridgeClimb has been voted the number one attraction in Sydney.

I was originally booked on to do the UnderBridge Walk, but this route only takes you a quarter of the way up the bridge. However as the date of my climb approached I was already starting to regret not booking the Summit Climb. Many people take the UnderBridge option every day, and for a lot of them it’s enough. As for myself, I couldn’t bare the thought of leaving with something unfinished. It seemed ridiculous to travel halfway across the world only to complete a quarter of something, so I made the call and switched. 

Getting Ready for the Sydney Harbour BridgeClimb

The experience starts with a safety briefing, meeting your Tour Guide and handing out your jumpsuits. There’s no point wearing something cool for your pictures as everyone has to wear one. Each jumpsuit looks a bit like the result of if MC Hammer worked for NASA.

Our Tour Guide for the climb was Dash. He made a point of telling us that every group has one person who doesn’t listen, and will put their on jumpsuit back to front. That person was me. As I awkwardly shuffled out to ask for help getting out of it I could hear him say “there’s our one”.

After my wardrobe malfunction, we had to have a practice climb before we were allowed out. This was on a rig built inside the centre so that we would know what to expect outside. Using the ladders and safety rail and we all made our way across without issue. So we were permitted to to exit and step out onto the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge

Starting the Climb

As you start the climb you are given a radio and headphones so you can hear the tour guide. The wind as soon as you step out can be fierce, whipping away at your jumpsuit. We started our walk out on the bridge, immediately starting at some height. The ascension felt slow and gradual as we made our way along the bridge. I am ok with heights, and although it wasn’t for everyone, they soon got adjusted.

The Views from the Bridge

We would periodically stop as we climbed up the bridge, each stop Dash would give us more facts about how Sydney has came to be and has grown to become the city we know today. The headsets were two way, so we could ask questions which he was more than happy to answer. Despite the roar of the wind as it buffeted us we could hear him clearly.

The very top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge is home to a flashing red light affectionately named “Blinky Bill” which is there to warn low-flying aircraft, but also acts as a marker for when you have reached the peak. When you stand under this light you are 134 metres above ground, and your reward is nothing short of spectacular. The view was breathtaking, wind was whipping around me and the city was giving me the most incredible light show.

I loved watching the boats move across the harbour, and had what was indisputably the best view of the Opera House in Sydney as Dash regaled us with facts about the history of Australia. It was at this point Dash took some photos and videos of me to document our climb, some of which I have scattered across this post.

Photos on the Sydney Harbour BridgeClimb

Because of the risk it creates for the traffic below, you cannot bring cameras or your phone out onto the bridge. But you can still get photos and videos during the experience. At the summit you will find a fixed, pre-positioned camera, set to give you a fantastic shot with the Opera House and the city as a backdrop. You can purchase the photos in the gift shop when you reach the end, which I ended up doing.

When it comes to video, I am not used to being that side of the camera. So a bit of warning allowing me to prepare what to I was going to do or say when it came to my turn would have been appreciated. I went with yelling “I made it to Sydney” over the wind as I thought that would make an entertaining video for the family WhatsApp group.

Descending the Sydney Harbour Bridge

Before I knew it I was being told it was time to start our descent. There’s a different kind of intensity going down that you don’t get climbing up. A lot of the excitement comes from the part where I climbed down a set of ladders sat between two railway lines crossing the bridge.

The climb down was quick, and before long we were back inside taking off our jumpsuits. I said my thank you and goodbyes, and collected my photos. Still full of excitement from the climb, I finished the night off by heading back to the coffee shop to check the photos out and wind down before retiring to my hostel bed. 

Would I Recommend the Sydney Harbour BridgeClimb?

If I hear about anyone’s plans to visit Sydney, I always ask whether the Sydney Harbour BridgeClimb is on their itinerary. I had always wanted to see the Sydney Opera House, so seeing it from such an incredible viewpoint was an experience that will stay with me for a lifetime.

I would highly recommend booking the twilight climb if you have the time. I saw some beautiful sunsets during my time in Australia, but watching the sun go down over Sydney as the city lights began to switch on was one of the highlights of my trip. You get to ascend in daylight before climbing back down surrounded by the city lights. For me, it gives you the best combination of daytime views and the atmosphere of Sydney after dark.

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