Australia Travel & Vacation Guide

The Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney - Region Information

The Sydney Harbour Bridge (Sydney's greatest tourism icon) - on a par with San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, New York's Statue of Liberty, London's Tower Bridge and the Eiffel Tower in Paris - took eight years to build and opened in March 1932. Once nicknamed the 'coathanger' it is now simply called 'the bridge' by Sydneysiders.

Linking the city with North Sydney, it carries eight lanes of road traffic and two railway tracks which form part of the city's rail suburban network.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge has a pair of granite clad pylons at each end, they are actually there for show and do not support the great arch which is 530 metres (1650 feet) long and connected to huge hinges tied to bedrock at either end - technically Dawes Point in the south and Milsons Point in the north.

The road and railway track actually hangs from the arch, 59 metres (194 feet) above sea level. Where the Golden Gate suspension system loops down to the centre, the Sydney Harbour Bridge loops up.

At its highest point, the arch is 134 metres above sea level. Taking into account the road approaches, 'the bridge' is 1150 metres or about a mile long. There are 58,000 tons of steel in the bridge, the arch of which was built from both ends and met in the middle.

Steel supports for the road and rail platform were 'hung' beginning at the middle to the pylons. Its two eastern lanes were originally tram tracks, converted when Sydney abolished its trams in the 1950s. The main arch of the Sydney Harbour Bridge is about two feet shorter than the main span of the Golden Gate.

Before it opened, its entire length was packed with railway carriages, trams and buses to test its ability to support a total traffic jam. It was designed to withstand winds of 200 kilometres and hour, which are cyclonic (hurricane) in force and have never been recorded in Sydney.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge has become a major adventure with the opening in 1998 of Bridge Climb, a company which conducts tours over the arch. Clad in overalls and clipped to a safety line, you can walk and climb 1500 metres over the arch.

A challenge for the faint-hearted, the traverse attracted thousands of people in its first year. The climb is open to anyone over 12 who is fit enough to handle some steep climbs on metal ladders and can cope with heights.

The south-east pylon of the bridge includes a lookout for the less adventurous. It includes an exhibition explaining the construction and history of the bridge and offers great views of Sydney Harbour. The entrance is from Cumberland Street at the edge of The Rocks, close to the Shangri-La Hotel.

There are about 200 steps to the lookout, which is enough of a challenge for some. Open daily, The Pylon Lookout is one of Sydney's oldest tourist attractions.

Walkers can cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge on either the eastern or western side. Both walkways are fenced with steel and wire and perfectly safe. They offer great views up Sydney Harbour and the Parramatta River. The eastern side is the more popular, with entrances off Cumberland Street in The Rocks in the south and Milsons Point railway station in the north.

The entrance to the western walkway is near Milsons Point in the north and Observatory Hill in the south (access from Kent Street). You can walk from the city and catch a train back to Wynyard or Town Hall. It takes about 20 minutes to cross the bridge. Bicycles are allowed on the Cycle way which is on the western side of the bridge.

Sydney Harbor Bridge

If you've got a free hour in Sydney, make sure to walk across the Sydney Harbor Bridge. One popular area of the bridge is the Pylon Lookout, where you can see amazing views and even visit a museum. Adventurous visitors can sign up for the climbing expedition, which involves harnessing groups of climbers and scaling the bridge. Different areas of the bridge have different admission fees.

Sydney Aquarium

The Sydney Aquarium is one of the most magnificent found anywhere. Giant rays, nurse sharks, exotic fish, crocodiles, penguins and even rescued seals make their home here. One of the many highlights is the Great Barrier Reef section. It takes about two hours to tour the entire aquarium. Admission costs A$24 for adults, A$12 for children between the ages of 3-15 and A$56 for families.

Koala Park

This gorgeous, green park has over 55 koalas that roam its grounds. You can even interact and cuddle with koalas during the designated koala cuddling sessions throughout the day. There are other animals here as well, including kangaroos, dingos and wallabies. Admission costs A$18 for adults, A$8 for children and A$46 for families.

Featherdale Wildlife Park

This park is one of the finest in Australia and houses an incredible collection of local animals. Here, you can feed kangaroos and wallabies by hand and see koalas up close. At the Reptilian Pavilion, you'll see more than 30 different kinds of native reptiles. Admission to the park costs A$18 for adults, A$8.50 for children and A$45 for families.

Australian Museum

The Australian Museum is a natural history museum rich with fascinating exhibits. One of the most popular is the section devoted to the Aborigine people. Other highlights include geoscience, paleontology and the Lizard Island Research Station. The museum often features interesting temporary exhibitions as well. Admission costs A$8 for adults, A$3 for children and A$19 for families. Temporary exhibitions cost extra.