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Sydney Harbour Bridge

Landmarks ·Sydney
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#1Landmarks in Australia#1Landmarks in SydneyTravelers' Choice Best of the Best 2026
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About

Sydney Harbour Bridge is a steel through-arch bridge across Sydney Harbour, linking Dawes Point in The Rocks with Milsons Point on the North Shore.

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Sydney Harbour Bridge

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Why go

  • Group climbs of the bridge’s steel arch have been offered since 1998.
  • The arch rises 134 metres above the water.
  • Four granite-faced pylons frame the arch; they are decorative rather than structural.

Don't miss

  • Pylon museum and lookoutVisit the museum and tourist centre, then take in views across the harbour and city from the lookout. Access from the bridge footway involves about 200 steps.South-eastern pylon On the map

Know before you go

  • Use the eastern footway for walking and the western cycleway for cycling; each is reserved for its respective users.

Tips for your visit

  • At the northern cycleway stairs, dismount and wheel your bicycle along the central concrete strip.

Best time to visit

  • The south-eastern pylon and its lookout were closed to the public for over a decade after the lease expired in 1971; the pylon reopened in 1982.

Interesting facts5

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  1. The arch design earned the bridge the nickname “the Coathanger.”

    Sydney Harbour Bridge - Wikipedia
  2. 52,800 tonnes

    The bridge’s steelwork weighs 52,800 tonnes, including 39,006 tonnes in the arch.

    Sydney Harbour Bridge - Wikipedia

  3. Six million Australian-made rivets hold the bridge together.

    Sydney Harbour Bridge - Wikipedia
  4. 54 metres

    Ships have 54 metres of clearance beneath the bridge.

    Sydney Harbour Bridge - Wikipedia
  5. 30,000 litres

    Painting the bridge takes about ten years and uses 30,000 litres of paint.

    Sydney Harbour Bridge - Wikipedia

Shorts

History

Construction employed about 1,400 men on average, and 16 people died during the work. The bridge’s transport role later changed as tram tracks gave way to road lanes.

  1. 1814A bridge between the harbour’s northern and southern shores was proposed.
  2. 28 Jul 1923Construction was formally launched at Milsons Point.
  3. 26 Oct 1928Construction of the arch began.
  4. 19 Aug 1930The two halves of the arch joined and became self-supporting.
  5. 19 Mar 1932The bridge formally opened. John Bradfield directed the project, and Dorman Long designed and built it.
Show all
  1. 1934Archer Whitford opened a visitor attraction in the south-eastern pylon.
  2. 1939–1942The military took over the pylons; in 1942, parapets and anti-aircraft guns were added.
  3. 1948Yvonne Rentoul opened the All Australian Exhibition in the pylon.
  4. 1958After tram services ended, their tracks were replaced by two road lanes.
  5. 1971–1982The pylon closed to the public after Rentoul’s lease expired, then reopened with an anniversary exhibition.
  6. 2000More than 250,000 people crossed the bridge on 28 May; Olympic rings were displayed during the Sydney Olympic Games.
  7. 2003A pylon exhibit covered construction dangers and commemorated workers with two stained-glass windows.
  8. 2007The bridge entered the Australian National Heritage List.

How to get there

  • On footFrom The Rocks, follow signs to the sheltered stairway at the bridge’s south end, near Gloucester and Cumberland streets, to reach the eastern footway.
  • On footOn the north side, stairs at Broughton Street in Kirribilli lead to the eastern footway.
  • On footFrom Circular Quay’s east end, take stairs or a lift to Cahill Walk; the route can also be reached from the Botanic Gardens.
  • BikeAt the north end, reach the western cycleway via 55 stairs at Burton Street in Milsons Point.
  • BikeFor the southern cycleway approach, use the north end of the Kent Street cycleway or Upper Fort Street in The Rocks.
  • TrainThe bridge lies on the North Shore railway route between Wynyard and Milsons Point stations.
  • CarFrom Sydney’s central business district, reach the bridge via Grosvenor, Clarence or Kent streets, the Cahill Expressway or the Western Distributor.
  • CarOn the northern side, the bridge connects to the Warringah Freeway.

Sources: Sydney Harbour Bridge - Wikipedia · Sydney Harbour Bridge - Wikipedia (part 2) · Sydney Harbour Bridge - Wikipedia (part 3) · Sydney/City Centre - Wikivoyage (sleep) · Sydney Harbour Bridge - Wikipedia · Harbour Bridge - Wikipedia · checked 28 Sep 2026

Where
Sydney New South Wales

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Questions and answers

How long is Sydney Harbour Bridge?

Including its approach ramps, the bridge is 1,149 metres long.

What is the Bradfield Highway?

It is the roadway across the bridge, about 2.4 kilometres long.

What traffic does Sydney Harbour Bridge carry?

It carries eight road lanes and two railway tracks, alongside routes for pedestrians and bicycles.

Does Sydney Harbour Bridge have national heritage status?

It entered the Australian National Heritage List in 2007, its 75th anniversary.

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