John’s view
When we were planning our holiday to Australia, one event on my list to complete the bucket list, was to literally walk over the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. We have seen so many programmes with celebrities doing it (most recently an old documentary with Clive James), I thought that it had to be done.
It was pre-booked from the UK so Sue had the whole holiday to nervously contemplate the event.
Our hotel, the Harbour Rocks Hotel, was an old converted warehouse and as the name suggests, was situated in the Rocks area of Sydney which is between the Bridge and Circular Quay/Sydney Opera House. Very handy for the bridge climb as we were only 5 minutes walk to the climb centre on Cumberland Street.
There are various options for the climb, the Summit (3.5 hours), Summit Express (2.5 hours) and Sampler (1.5 hours). There are even Mandarin and Japanese climbs with guides who speak the appropriate languages.
We decided not to make it more difficult than necessary and chose the English speaking Summit (3.5 hours) climb rather than the Mandarin or Japanese versions. The safety briefing in Mandarin would have been a nightmare for Sue although I am sure I would have got by.
The safety briefing is very thorough and, after removing all of our clothes, we were kitted out in climb suit and safety harness. Every accessory was fixed to us: sunglasses, hat, even a handkerchief, but nothing else could be taken due to safety reasons, so no cameras or mobiles.
Our guide, Mitch, told us that it was the perfect weather day for the climb, perfect visibility, sunny and warm with no wind. They did still climb when it was windy but stopped just short of gale force.
The climb is along walkways that have been put in to allow maintenance and when one gets on top of the bridge, there are hand rails on both sides and steps so extremely safe. The only tricky bit is the four flights of stairs one has to climb to get from the road level to the top level of the arch. They are reminiscent of stair on ships and very steep.
The bridge does expand and contract with the temperature but you would not notice it when you climb although you do hear the trains rumbling over the bridge and the sound of the cars.
The views were spectacular, Opera House, Harbour, Sydney CBD, etc but as we were not allowed cameras or mobile phones, or in fact anything that could fall off, we could only admire the views and not record them for posterity. We did make some photos stops and Mitch obliged by taking some photos and a video that we could purchase (surprising that) after the climb.
A view from the top 
Sydney CBD
I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would recommend it although Sue was not so keen as she will explain.
Sue’s view
Never have I been so terrified. I had had assurances that climbing the bridge would not be scary. I had climbed the O2 in London and that was fine. I was not in any doubt that the safety aspect would be second to none and it was.
When we headed off our group of seven was asked if anyone was nervous. I immediately put both hands up. Why was it that nobody else did? ‘You’ll be fine’, assured Mitch our guide (who also carried out repairs on the bridge). ‘I’ve managed to get people up to the top that were in tears’…. Well, I wouldn’t be going that far!
After a practise steep stair climb we headed off. I had seen images on line of several steep steps before an easier climb. What I had not bargained for was an extremely long walk along a narrow metal gantry with a thin handrail. Below was a huge drop, to where I do not know as I didn’t look down. All I could hear was the traffic on the bridge above bumping over expansion joints. This walk seemed to go on for around 10 minutes. I was about to quit but I couldn’t stop as others and our guide would get way ahead, and I would delay others behind.
When we eventually stopped to admire the view (not me) and discuss the qualities of the engineering I told the guide I could not go on.
‘Ah, don’t worry, I’ll bring you up front’. Well it was a ‘chicken’ sandwich with the guide ahead of me and John behind. I was terrified to go on, but terrified to return. In fact, other guides would have to come up to get me down and I would still have to walk that long plank of a walkway!
Thinking things could not get worse we headed for the metal stairs. These comprised level after level after level of about 20 vertical steps at a time, where climbers hung on to the narrow handrails either side. It was far steeper than climbing a ladder.
Once at the top of this section we had reached the arching of the bridge. What great timing for yet another view of the whole harbour. I could not look. This stepped walk was more gradual but again went on endlessly. During this time we stopped for the customary photos, me trying to smile, knowing I will have to look at those photos in the future.
Having reached the top, what next but to walk across the width of the bridge with eight lanes of traffic and a train wizzing underneath. Time to admire the two national flags above us and have a video. Will this journey never end?
Then it was time to make our way down, slowly and with plenty of photo stops. The trouble was the nightmare had not ended. It was just as scary for me going down as it was going up.
The bridge climb was an experience I will never forget… or repeat. Thank goodness they did not offer a buy one get one free. It would be one offer I would refuse!
Copyright: Words John Cruse and Sue Barnard 2020
Looks like you were petrified, Sue. I think I am glad we didn’t do it (I would not have got Peter up there anyway) and we just walked over the foot path, with people running, jogging, cycling, skate-boarding and walking. I hope you were able to appreciate it all and the views.