The Sydney Harbour Bridge

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is the mighty steel arch that spans the harbour beside the Opera House, an engineering icon opened in 1932 and affectionately nicknamed the Coathanger. Beyond carrying the city's traffic, trains and pedestrians, it offers one of Sydney's great experiences: the BridgeClimb to its very summit, 134 metres above the water, for breathtaking panoramas over the harbour, the city and the sails of the Opera House.

History

Francis Greenway proposed a bridge across the harbour to Governor Macquarie as early as 1814, and many schemes followed through the 19th century, a floating bridge in 1840 and a high-level bridge in 1880 among them, and a design competition of 1900 that came to nothing. John Bradfield, appointed chief engineer in 1914, pressed the project for years, a bill for a cantilever bridge failed in 1916, and after the war he went abroad to seek tenders; the bridge was finally designed and built by Dorman Long of Middlesbrough under his direction and opened in 1932 (Wikipedia, Sydney Harbour Bridge).

What to look for

• The BridgeClimb - the guided climb to the summit of the arch.
• The pedestrian walkway - the free walk across for harbour views.
• The Pylon Lookout - the museum and viewpoint in the southeast pylon.
• The views - the panoramas over the harbour and Opera House.

When to go

Spring and autumn for the mildest weather; the free walkway can be crossed any time, while the BridgeClimb runs day, dusk and night, with sunset climbs especially spectacular. New Year's Eve brings a world-famous fireworks display over the bridge.

Before you go

The famous BridgeClimb is a memorable experience but expensive and weather-dependent; the free pedestrian walkway across the bridge and the cheaper Pylon Lookout give superb views for far less. The climb involves a fair bit of walking and steps, and cameras are not allowed on it for safety.

Nearby

The Opera House, The Rocks and Luna Park across the water are close.

Key facts