The Sydney Harbour Bridge is instantly recognised around the world as a symbol of Australia’s favorite city and its harbour.
It is a coin toss whether the Sydney Harbour Bridge or the Sydney Opera House are the best symbol for Sydney Australia, but it doen’t matter since they’re both close to each other. Visit one, and you’ll see the other. And it’s just a short walk along Circular Quay in between.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge was first conceived of in 1900, and was built in between the two World Wars, at the height of the Great Depression.
It is 1,650 feet long (530m), and the center of the Sydney Harbour Bridge is 440 feet (134m) above the water level; this clearance is to allow ships unobstructed passage through Sydney Harbour.
Sixteen workmen died during its construction, though only seven of these deaths were on the bridge structure itself. In the USA, by comparison, 139 workers died building the Brooklyn Bridge.
Walkers can cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge on walkways on both the eastern or western side which offer fantastic views up Sydney Harbour and the Parramatta River. However, on the western walkway, you may have to avoid pedal cyclists who use it as well. (There are ramps for pushbikes alongside the steps at the north and south ends of the western walkway.)
The bridge walkways are well fenced in so you can’t fall off, and it’s a really pleasant half-hour walk across the Harbour Bridge in either direction.
If you take the eastern side walkway, you can stop at the Southern Pylon, which has an exhibition of photos of the Sydney Harbour Bridge being built. You can also climb some 200 steps up to a hidden lookout and take great snaps of the magnificent Sydney harbour.
If you want to cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge from the south (the Sydney end), you can get to the eastern walkway is from Cumberland Street in The Rocks. From the northern end, you’d start at the train station at Milsons Point, then duck out on the east side which is called Kirribilli.
And for the really adventurous, who are not afraid of heights, there is the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb. You don a set of overalls and a safety harness and are led over the bridge from an entrance in The Rocks underneath the bridge… Then you climb up to the top with the group and down the other side and back.
Picture Credit: Image via Wikipedia.
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