Climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge

Q: During a visit to Sydney I would be very interested in climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Could you tell me what costs are involved and if there are limitations. - Adrian Moore

A: There are three types of climbs of Sydney's famous bridge. The Bridge Climb is a 3.5 hour guided journey to the top of the bridge along the outer arch of the bridge on catwalks and ladders all the way to the summit at 134 metres. Groups are led by a professional guide and limited to 14 people. The Express Climb gets you up and down in just two hours fifteen minutes. Groups are smaller, there are more helpers and you use internal arches to get there faster. Finally, the Discovery Climb is a 3.5 hour experience that journeys to the top along the inner arch of the Bridge. You will be asked to fill out a health declaration form taking part. The climb is not available for people suffering from a number of conditions, including high blood pressure and damaged limbs, and particpants must be over 10 years in age. Women may not climb if they are more than 24 weeks pregnant. There are different prices for the different climbs and the prices varies depending on the day of the week and the time of the day, with a premium on climbs at dawn and sunset. However, you can count on spending around 200 Australian dollars on a regular guided tour and 300 Australian on one during a peak period. Please note that climbers are not allowed to take personal items with them on the climb (including cameras), but pictures will be taken of you during the climb on the off-chance that you might like to buy one! You should also be aware that breathalyser tests are taken before the climb to make sure that you are sober. For further details, check out the www.bridgeclimb.com website. (15/1/12)