Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb - Climb of a Lifetime! by Jake

Dad and I stood on the top of the ‘coat hanger’ also known as the Sydney Harbour Bridge!
We were looking over Sydney admiring the sunset. The Bridge Climb was one of the most exciting things I have ever done!

The trip started with a briefing and breathaliser test! We then moved through to the changing rooms were we put on some special overalls.

We then got all of our equipment on to do the bridge climb which included a radio head set. We also received a metal ball on a piece of elastic and that would be the only attachment that we had to the bridge!

We then did a quick training course which mainly involved how to climb up and down ladders and to check whether we had vertigo or not!

We then advanced towards the bridge …….
Underneath the bridge we attached ourselves with just the metal ball and piece of elastic. We strode through a slimy tunnel and finally started climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

We walked for 15 minutes and then started ascending. If you looked down you would see the sea 150m below!
We climbed and then dodged and ducked the sheets of heavy metal until we climbed above all of the cars to the start of the arch.

Everything we had was strapped on to us because if even a 1p coin fell from the summit it could split open someone’s head and kill them. We carried on climbing forward - as I paused to catch my breath I looked out and I could see twenty miles round of amazing view.

The Sydney Opera House was dwarfed in its size and all the people and cars seemed ant size, but to them I guess that we looked the same! Although our overalls were coloured Sydney grey - the same colour as the Sydney Bridge, we still would have stood out as silhouettes against the sky.

I carried on walking and then as I reached the summit - the sunset had started and the view everywhere was spectacular. We had some photos took and as the sunset went behind the cloud - it gave the cloud a golden trimming and as the beautiful view faded out, we started the descent down the ladders, dips and tight spaces.

When we arrive underneath the bridge, all of Sydney’s buildings were lit up against the darkness of the night sky. It was another awesome sight and we walked back and into the tunnel above the 150m space to the sea.
We marched back to the building feeling triumphant; we then got our certificates and left after climbing successfully over the Sydney Harbour Bridge!

Facts about Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Bridge Climb!

• Dad nearly peed his pants being so scared!

• It took 7 years to build the bridge

• 16 people died building the bridge. 1 survived a 150m fall into the sea but broke lots of bones!

• It is covered with 6 million rivets

• It is painted Sydney grey and no one else can use this special colour invented for the Sydney Harbour Bridge

• The bridge is 346 m high. At the summit the Australian flag and New South Wales flag are flying proudly

• The Australians call the Harbour Bridge “The Coat Hanger”

• You have to be over 10 years of age to climb the bridge. (So Helena couldn’t come)

• It is located in Sydney!

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