Icon's breathtaking vista

Early risers: BridgeClimb tourists get a spectacular view of Fort Denison as they climb the eastern arch of the Sydney Harbour Bridge at dawn / Reuters



A Sydney Harbour Bridge climb experience blows Belinda Heggen away
November 28, 2004
http://escape.news.com.au/story/0,9142,11797027-27982,00.html

STANDING at the summit of Sydney Harbour Bridge, high above a flotilla of boats and ferries, the city emerges as a giant playground.
Multi-million dollar views stretch from the Opera House to the dress circles of Rose and Double Bay and the ocean beyond.

A train grunts on the steel carriageway below as a shock of cool salt breeze slaps at our skin; the sun piercing through the clouds seemingly within arm's reach.
The 3 1/2 hour climb across the famous 503m-long arch - has become one of Sydney's most popular tourist activities.

While it's not cheap - from $160 a person - it isn't strenuous and will give even the most seasoned traveller a different perspective of the city.
Once breath-tested and hooked safely onto the steel hand-rails, climbers tread 1439 steps behind their guide who gives a fascinating history of Sydney and the bridge construction.
(Thankfully, we're told no one died during construction by falling from the bridge!)

For a quick getaway, Sydney is best savoured like a tasting plate - sample a bit of everything.
North Sydney, across the Bridge from The Rocks, is quietly resurgent and offers a good exploring base. While it doesn't ooze the buzz and glamorous nightlife of Paddington or Bondi, the area has a cosmopolitan edge and harbours hidden treasures.
For holiday makers, it is an ideal location only 30 minutes' stroll over the bridge or a $12 taxi fare to the CBD.

An eclectic strip of affordable cafes and shops in the harbourside suburb of Kirribilli attracts a stream of well-heeled locals.
We were there one Monday night and a queue had formed outside one popular sushi restaurant so we ventured further to the nearby pub - probably Prime Minister John Howard's local.
For the young or young at heart, Milsons Point by the water's edge boasts a revitalised Luna Park which reopened earlier this year.

It has all the trappings of a modern fairground - the rides, sideshow alley and carousel - with a nostalgic twist. There is something particularly special about the park at night, when the ferris wheel casts a beautiful multi-coloured haze over the harbour.
The park opens until 7.30pm Sunday to Thursday and until midnight on Friday and Saturday nights.
Entry is free, with an all-day unlimited rides pass available.
While Sydney has a reputation for being expensive, it's not difficult to find affordable accommodation on Milsons Point.

The newly opened four-star Vibe Hotel located across the road from the Milsons Railway Station appeals to couples or young families.
For those with energy to burn and a couple of hours spare, the Bondi to Coogee Walk is a must, with beautiful coastal views and stops along the way.

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