Bridge Climb

Only the Aussies (well, perhaps Kiwis too) could have a gigantic bridge in their harbour and think not only 'I would like to climb that', but also think they could get about 2 million other people to do it too and pay for the privilege.

However, Bruce and Jo assure me that Bridge Climb is a must-do Sydney experience, but as I get close up to it and see it at full size, with the wind getting up...

So the deal is this. You get put into a very attractive all-in-one jump suit along with about a dozen other people, get some quick training on walking up and down the ladders, put on some radios so you can hear the group leader through the wind, then walk down the street looking like you've come to put out a nuclear reactor fire until you get to the start of the bridge. You get clipped to a clever device that keeps you hooked to a steel line all the way round, then off you go - first through the underside of the bridge structure, then you climb several sets of ladders that has you appearing through the middle of the freeway, then you get onto the top arch and climb up to the middle where the flags are. Then you cross over from one side the other (with the Freeway about 200 feet below) and walk down the other side. It takes about 3 hours in all. The views are amazing (they needed to be...) Daniel, our wholesome all-Australian guide, helpfully mentions at the top that the height of the bridge is the same as the London Eye (about 500ft) - with the obvious difference that you're outside. If you look very carefully at the photo of the bridge attached, you might be able to make out some dots on the top arch - that's the Bridge Climb (you may need to double click on the photo to enlarge it).

By the way, Bruce and Jo are right. It's awesome.