BridgeClimb Sydney facts for kids
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Climbers on the Sydney Harbour Bridge
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| Industry | Tourism |
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| Founded | 1 October 1998 |
| Founder | Paul Cave |
| Headquarters | , |
BridgeClimb Sydney is a popular tourist attraction in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It lets people climb the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge. This exciting experience first opened in October 1998.
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Types of Bridge Climbs
BridgeClimb Sydney offers different ways to explore the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Each climb gives you a unique view and experience.
The Original BridgeClimb
The original BridgeClimb started in 1998. This climb takes you to the very top of the bridge. You walk along the upper arch of the bridge. The whole experience lasts about three hours. This time includes getting ready for your climb.
BridgeClimb Insider
The BridgeClimb Insider takes you inside the steel structure of the bridge. You get to see how the bridge is built. After exploring the inside, you then climb to the top. This climb takes about 2.5 hours.
Ultimate Climb
The Ultimate Climb is a longer adventure. Climbers go all the way across the bridge. You start on the South side and walk to the North side. Then, you walk back again to the South side.
Burrawa Indigenous Climb
In 2021, BridgeClimb introduced the Burrawa climb. This special climb focuses on the history of Sydney Harbour. An Indigenous storyteller guides you. They share stories about the local Aboriginal culture.
You can choose to climb at different times of the day. Climbs are available at dawn, during the day, at twilight, and at night. There are also special climbs for Sydney events. These include the Vivid Climb during the Vivid Sydney festival. Another special climb is the Anzac Day Dawn Climb.
Many special moments have happened on the bridge. Over 4,000 marriage proposals have taken place at the top. Couples can even get married on the bridge. This happens 134 meters (440 feet) above Sydney Harbour. Many famous people have also done the climb. These include actors like Matt Damon and Robert De Niro. Musicians like Kylie Minogue have climbed too. Even members of royalty, like Prince Harry, have enjoyed the view.
Anyone aged eight years or older can do the climb. You need to be in good health. There is no age limit for older climbers. The oldest person to climb was 100 years old. You can book a climb on their website. Prices start from 198 Australian dollars.
History of BridgeClimb
The idea for BridgeClimb came about in 1989. Paul Cave, who founded BridgeClimb, helped organize an event in Sydney. This event included a climb over the Sydney Harbour Bridge. After this, Paul Cave wanted to make bridge climbing a regular attraction.
It took many years to make this happen. Paul Cave worked with government groups and experts. They focused on safety, planning, and protecting the bridge's history. After almost ten years of hard work, BridgeClimb Sydney officially opened. This was on October 1, 1998. BridgeClimb became the first company in the world to offer bridge climbing as a tourist experience.
In June 2018, a company called Hammon's Holdings took over the franchise. They also own Scenic World. They were given the right to run BridgeClimb for 20 years.
Pylon Lookout and Museum
The Bridge's Pylon Museum and Lookout is another part of the attraction. It tells the story of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. You can see exhibits and interactive displays. These show how the bridge was built. They also tell about the engineers and workers. Sadly, 16 men lost their lives during its construction.
The museum also covers the bridge's opening ceremony in 1932. BridgeClimb Sydney manages the Pylon Lookout. From here, you get amazing views of Sydney.
Awards and Recognition
BridgeClimb Sydney has won many awards. They even hold a world record. This record is for the most flags flown on a bridge. It was recognized by Guinness World Records.
In 2007, BridgeClimb won "Major Tourist Attraction" at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards. Lonely Planet has called BridgeClimb Sydney one of the world's top "Biggest Adrenaline Rush" experiences. They also listed it as one of the "10 Best Things to Climb." In 2011 and 2012, it won "Best Guided Tour in Australia." This was at the Australian Traveller Readers' Choice Awards. In 2016, BridgeClimb won this award again. It also won "Major Tourism Attraction" at the New South Wales Tourism Awards.
