The Sydney Harbor Bridge is a truly impressive structure. It captures the imagination just like the Brooklyn Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge. You can’t really get an appreciation of just how large it is or how much work it took to create until you stand underneath and look up or walk across.
For a few hundred dollars, you can climb the bridge. The little ants in this photo are people coming down off the bridge. I don’t see myself climbing it anytime soon. Way too expensive for not even getting to take your camera to the top.
The Sydney Opera House from the southern bridge pier.
Looking up at the massive bridge pier and the ironwork.
The deck is 49 meters across. That’s HUGE.
Looking north along the highway lanes. The pedestrian path starts below.
Some important-looking plaque.
Looking back into the city.
Starting the long walk across. The entire way is monitored by CCTV cameras and security personnel in bright reflective yellow jackets. I felt very “secure,” especially in the sections where the entire pedestrian walkway was surrounded by chain link fence and barbed wire.
Looking out toward the mouth of the bay.
Circular Quay and downtown.
At the western bridge pier. Note the CCTV camera keeping a steady gaze on any hooligans who might come across the bridge. An Australian TV show tested the bridge defenses a few years ago to hilarious results. Don’t film the bridge if you look like a terrorist!
Cameras cameras everywhere.
They don’t want you to illegally climb the bridge. You must pay money for the privilege to climb.
One of the old ferry slips for the cross-harbor traffic. Before the bridge was completed, everything went back and forth via boat. This little slip is all that remains. Now everyone uses the bridge or the tunnel to get across.