Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb

I’d love to be one of those bloggers who uploads a perfect post full of jealousy-inducing photos and witty commentary everyday but sadly I’m not. For example, I have SO many posts from my time in Australia that are just patiently chilling in a backlog waiting for their moment to shine. I can’t believe how life has just whizzed by since my trip down under (is anyone else freaking out that it’s 1st Nov today! How did this happen?!) but then I thought about it and realised that this whole year has felt like its been on fast forward.

Since my quick trip to Oz back in May I’ve released another novel, had a book launch for Destination India, my brother got married, I moved house, I’ve been to France, Switzerland, Ireland and taken a UK Staycation, AND I’ve finished writing my fourth book, Destination Australia! Phew. No wonder this blog is sometimes a little late to the party! But, I promise that I will try my very best to give the Australian posts their moment in the sun too!

So, enough of the excuses here’s what I got up to when I climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge (and only nearly cried once):

I tumbled off the bus from Byron Bay to Sydney at silly o’clock in the morning and tried to figure out my way from the station to my hostel (this place was incredible and a bargain for Sydney prices) and that’s when I saw it, well them to be precise. The iconic Sydney skyline made up of the imposing Harbour Bridge on my left and the gleaming white sails of the Sydney Opera House on my right, broken up by the lapping waves of the harbour water in-between. It was truly mesmerising especially with the sun only just rising around them. Although, in my sleepy state I couldn’t figure out where the hell I was and almost missed this breathtaking view as my head was burrowed in my free map!

But what a view.

Anyway, I digress. The reason I’m telling you this is because as I literally got goosebumps taking it all in. Standing there that chilly morning I knew that I wanted to tick this off my travel bucket list and climb that bridge.

So I did. And here’s how!

The people at Sydney Bridge Climb have been doing this for years and are pro’s with newbie climbers like myself. The head office is set up for groups of climbers (including the odd celeb or two) to make their way to the top both safely and quickly. It is such a smooth operation that even if you’re nervous at first once you set foot in the place you’ll soon be more excited than terrified!

At my allotted time I was taken up to a small room with the other climbers in my crew (7 people in total - two friends from Brisbane, a dad and his son from Sydney, an American couple on their honeymoon and me!). First up was a very detailed form to sign ~~your life away~~ sharing any health issues that the leaders need to be aware of. Then it was a go on the breathalyser to check you didn’t have a drop of booze in you (I’d even stayed off the drink the night before as I’d heard stories of people being unable to climb because of the smallest trace in their system!) before we were moved onto the next room. The dressing area…

Here was were they passed out the dorky outfits. Okay, so you’re not going to win you any style points but even on a sunny day once you’re up at the dizzying heights of the bridge it can be so cold. Trust me - you’ll be glad of the naff hat!

I wanted to share all of the process but they make you put all of your belongings including phones and cameras in lockers so you have to rely on their images, which is annoying for a travel blogger but I guess no-one wants a phone to drop on their car from high above!

Once my group were suited and booted we were taken to the next room - I told you how slick this was - and shown how to clasp and unclasp our harnesses, safety cords and given a safety briefing. All pretty simple and by this point I was just desperate to get out and start climbing.

We were fastened to a steel rope fixed to the side of the bridge and walked up like obedient ducklings behind our bubbly team leader who stopped us at certain points to explain the history or the views. The higher we went the more my legs began to shake. I’m pretty good with heights especially after flying round Mount Everest and trekking the Himalayas but there were some parts of this that gave me shivers!

There were sections of the bridge where the lattice floor meant you could see right the way down, and I mean, ALL the way down to the waves below. Gulp. I really didn’t want to hold the rest of the team up so I mentally told myself to man up and try not to look down!

It was worth those few wobbles to get to the top! If I thought the sunrise view was incredible, that was nothing compared to the Sydney skyline from 134m above sea level that sprawled around us from this vantage point.

After posing for pictures that the team leader took (and we got on a USB key to take home after), a few high-fives and gawping at the views, it was time to begin the descent as what goes up must come down. This time it felt a lot quicker and easier to reach the base camp, unhook ourselves from the safety rail and congratulate each other on a successful climb.

Leaving with a certificate and a sense of pride I decided I’d earned myself a drink. Thankfully the historic Glenmore Hotel is literally over the road. This gorgeous pub has a pretty roof terrace with views of Sydney Opera House that almost rivalled the views I’d just taken in from the summit of the bridge.

If you do the bridge climb then make sure to reward yourself by visiting this place, the food was incredible and for some reason a glass of wine had never tasted better!