{"id":5714,"date":"2018-06-30T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2018-06-29T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/?p=5714"},"modified":"2020-05-01T13:49:04","modified_gmt":"2020-05-01T03:49:04","slug":"sydney-bridge-climb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wotif.com\/vc\/blog\/sydney\/real-travel-stories\/sydney-bridge-climb\/","title":{"rendered":"5 reasons every Sydneysider should climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u2018Incredible, iconic, traffic congestion\u2019 are four words you\u2019d probably never use together, yet they perfectly describe how the average Sydneysider feels about the Sydney Harbour Bridge. That included myself until about one month ago, when I finally got the chance to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge<\/a>. Now I can only describe it as something truly spectacular.<\/p>\n

Climbing the bridge was a bucket-list item of mine that I wanted to do, but just never prioritised. That was a mistake! So here, with all my post-climb wisdom, are five reasons every Sydneysider should climb our iconic Aussie Coathanger sooner rather than later.<\/p>\n

1. Because you can<\/strong><\/h3>\n

How many iconic, man-made landmarks can you climb around the globe? I mean, I don\u2019t know, but it\u2019s safe to assume not many. The Sydney Harbour Bridge (and the Opera House, for that matter) continually top the list of landmarks to see before you die, so it would be almost ungrateful not to visit (and climb) them when they\u2019re right on our doorstep.<\/p>\n

Climbing the bridge also offers a rare opportunity to experience an international landmark without thousands of people ruining your view. Yep, I\u2019m talking about the endless lines at Paris\u2019s Eiffel Tower and the hundreds of people throwing coins over their shoulders at Rome\u2019s Trevi Fountain. When you climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge, there\u2019s just you and a maximum of 14 other people, which means it\u2019s utter bliss when you reach the summit, with uninterrupted views of the best city in the world.<\/p>\n

Climbing buddies, Deb and Aliisa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
<\/div>\n

2. You learn things about Sydney you probably should have known a long time ago<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Did you know that up to 1,400 Sydneysiders worked on the construction of the bridge between 1926 to 1932? Or that the bridge is held together by more than six million rivets? Maybe you do, but I certainly didn\u2019t. Your Climb Leader, in addition to being an all-round champion host who\u2019s responsible for your safety during the climb, will also talk you through how the bridge was built, what life was like during its construction, and the how the bridge is currently used in some of Sydney\u2019s biggest celebrations. I do my climb just before Vivid, so I see some of the preparation for that, as well as a cool \u201870s-style flashing dance floor on top of the bridge.<\/p>\n

Along with the history lesson, you gain an appreciation for what life was like back in the \u201820s and \u201830s, as well as the safety procedures we have in place today. Just wait until you hear how the bridge\u2019s six million rivets were fixed along 550,000 individual pieces of steel! (Hint \u2013 there\u2019s no way it would pass today\u2019s safety\u00a0standards.)<\/p>\n

Six million rivets and 550,000 pieces of steel…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
<\/div>\n

3. Not being allowed to use your phone is actually really\u00a0rewarding<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Hate to break it to you, but for safety reasons you can\u2019t carry anything with you on the climb \u2013 and that includes cameras and phones. BUT it makes the experience even more special, because it forces you to immerse yourself in it and really enjoy the view firsthand, instead of taking hundreds of photos.<\/p>\n

It also means the experience is totally unique for every first-timer. Ever been to Time Square or Stonehenge only to be disappointed because it didn\u2019t compare to the photos you saw on social media? No phones allowed means you won\u2019t just see what you\u2019ve already seen on your Instagram feed and you\u2019ll really get to embrace the feeling of being 134m above sea level.<\/p>\n

But if you really love your photos, don\u2019t worry. Remember that friendly Climb Leader I mentioned? They\u2019ll also be your photographer and videographer during the climb and will take a group photo and a 7-second video, which you\u2019ll receive for free after your climb.<\/p>\n

\n