Of course, the Opera isn’t the only landmark at the Sydney Harbour. The Bridge is enormous and majestic. Many of these pictures were taken from a harbour cruise. As you expand each picture, look for the tiny groups of people walking along the top arch of the bridge. They are doing the BridgeClimb (see below).

Occasionally I will take a picture that just cries out to become a postcard. This is one, maybe because it shows both the bridge and the opera house. It might be improved if the frame were large enough to contain the entire bridge, but then the opera house would be tiny!

The view of Hell Gate Bridge / New York Connecting Railroad Bridge from Triborough Bridge. Copyright ©2002 Wired New York. Used with permission and gratitude.

Hell’s Gate This is not the Sydney Harbour Bridge, but it is remarkably similar in construction, as you can see. I’m sure I never noticed this bridge before I visited Sydney, but as soon as I returned to New York, it seemed to jump out at me! One can see it from the Bruckner Expressway or the Triborough Bridge. It is much smaller than the Sydney version, and carries rail traffic only.

BridgeClimb We probably won’t see an attraction like this on any of New York City’s bridges anytime soon: BridgeClimb charges you to put on a goofy grey suit and climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge. I didn’t do this because I wasn’t feeling up to it—indeed, I went to the hospital the very next day. But here are pictures of Art, Ben, and Dad. The one at left is nice because the Opera is visible. If you expand the photo below-right, you can see climbers looking over the edge of the bridge. I have no idea whether they include my family—probably not.

Where now? Sydney aquarium Back to Harbour cruise Up to Sydney Up to Australia ’03

Published September 2003 Updated 30 September 2003

Visitor comments You may leave a comment on this page.

23 Nov 2003 cordy sydney

your pictures aren’t of the best quality i think you could get some pictures of the whole bridge not just the corners!!!! A fair criticism: although I sometimes pride myself on composition, I was not able to find an angle that would capture the whole thing, and yet provide enough detail to remain interesting. —chris

2 Dec 2003 j smailes newcastle england

Would be nice to include Tyne Bridge at Newcastle as made by same company and like Hellgate all similar.

7 Mar 2004 girl queensland

ir would be better if the people wern’t bloking the veiw and there was more closer up pictures

16 Mar 2004 Ashley nsw

it would have been a better site if you had more detailed information about the bridge climbing. I included a link to bridgeclimb.com; if that doesn’t include the information you need, please take it up with them! —chris

22 Jul 2004 Lauren Peters Wangaratta Vic

Need more info about the bridge. And a full picture of it.

29 Aug 2004 matt Sydney, NSW

Its a nice bridge isnt it. Im quiet proud of living near it to tell you the truth...

8 Sep 2004 a cox england

Coming over to aus on Friday thinking of doning the walk after seeing you great photo I now intend to have a go Brill pics Regards Ann

21 Oct 2004 fishsticks scotland

I live in scotland but i'll be coming over to australia this january.I have lived there for nearly all my life.But one of the things i've not done since i have lived there is climb the harbour bridge.But thanks for the info.

22 Oct 2004 Anonymous

What is the go with not having a whole pic of the bridge? What a waste of a website!!! It's done shit all to help me.

8 Dec 2004 Paul Rogers Canberra, ACT

The Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Hell Gate Bridge in New York are among only a few bridges throughout the world to have been built to a reverse spandrel arch design, in which the top chord of the arch terminates far above the deck, with the lower chord terminating at ground level. (This design is also known as the untied bowstring design). Gustav Lindethal, designer of the Hell Gate Bridge, was inspired by railway bridges crossing a river in Germany; these are thought to be the rail bridges at Koln. A much smaller (591 feet in length for main span) double deck version of the reverse spandrel arch bridge design can be found in Cleveland, Ohio. It is of interest to note that all of the above bridges were specifically designed to accommodate electrified railway tracks; hence, the substantial portals at each end of the arch. A second issue appears to have been the need to accommodate a sharp curved approach span at one end of both bridges. (Both John Bradfield and Gustav Lindethal had rejected the more common crescent arch bridge design, such as the Bayonne Bridge, New York, with which the Sydney Harbour Bridge is often compared.)

27 Apr 2005 anonymous anonymous

i think ur site is heaps cool, if you just take whole photo's of da whole bridge all da time it would b boring. luv the angles of ur photos

27 Apr 2005 Anonymous

ps its so not a waste of time its helped me, sum ppl r so rude

2 May 2005 someone NSW

Sydney rulz!!!!

22 Oct 2005 Dreamerkins Brand Parkville, MO

I am working on a project and I was looking for a perfect picture. When I looked at the site, I found an awesome picture. It is perfect! Thanks.