Walk Across the Sydney Harbour Bridge - Sydney Uncovered (2024)

The Harbour Bridge is arguably Sydney’s most iconic landmark. Connecting the CBD with Sydney’s north shore, it is both a popular tourist attraction and a crucial piece of infrastructure.

Walking across the Harbour Bridge via the pedestrian walkway is the easiest and best way to experience the beauty of this landmark while also enjoying the incredible city and Harbour views.

In this article, we’ll share everything you need to know about the pedestrian trail on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

There are two access points to the Sydney Harbour Bridge pedestrian walkway:

• Bridge Stairs in The Rocks (see map location)
• Bridge Stairs in Milsons Point (see map location)

The stylish art-deco building that holds the Bridge Stairs is located at 100 Cumberland St in The Rocks, only a short walk from Circular Quay.

Make your way into that building, walk up the stairs, and follow the signs to the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The staircase on the other side of the bridge, in Milsons Point, is located next to the pedestrian tunnel at the Broughton and Burton Street intersection.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge Walk is a one-way pedestrian walkway, so it doesn’t matter which side of the bridge you start on.

To return, you can either walk back the same way, catch a train between Milsons Point and Wynyard, or catch a ferry between Milsons Point and Circular Quay.

One of the absolute best free things to do in Sydney is walking across the Sydney Harbour Bridge from The Rocks to Milsons Point.

The Harbour Bridge walk is a purpose-built pedestrian walkway on the eastern side of the bridge, starting at the Bridge Stairs in The Rocks and finishing at the Bridge Stairs in Milsons Point.

It’s a very easy 1.5 km walk that offers panoramic views of Sydney Harbour, Circular Quay, the Opera House, and Kirribilli.

However, one big drawback of doing the Sydney Harbour Bridge Walk is the noise from the cars driving past right next to the walkway.

Bridge Stairs in The Rocks

Once you’ve found the Bridge Stairs in The Rocks, make your way up to find the pedestrian walkway on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

You will notice a junction with the Cahill Walk. At this junction, follow the arrow to the Sydney Harbour Bridge to get to the pedestrian walkway.

The Cahill Walk is another enjoyable walk that leads to Circular Quay and the Botanic Garden. You can read more about that particular walk further below.

Views from the Bridge

Once you’re on the pedestrian walkway, the views will gradually get better as you approach the middle of the Harbour Bridge.

What’s great about the bridge walk is that the walkway is located on the eastern side of the bridge.

This means you can enjoy the best views of the city, the Harbour, Circular Quay, the Opera House, and Kirribilli from an elevated point.

In contrast, the cycle lane and the train line are located on the other side, the western side, of the Harbour Bridge, which has less interesting views.

Pylon Lookout

At the first pylon, you will find the entrance to the Pylon Lookout and Museum , one of the best Sydney tourist attractions.

If you have time to spare, we strongly recommend visiting the Pylon Lookout. Not only are the views from higher up amazing, but the museum housed in the pylon is also quite interesting.

Read more about this attraction in our Harbour Bridge Pylon Lookout guide.

Connecting Walks

If you want to make the most of your day exploring the Sydney Harbour Bridge, two great walking trails connect with the Harbour Bridge Walk.

1. Lavender Bay Walk:
   This is an easy loop walk exploring Milsons Point and Lavender Bay and can be started from the Bridge Stairs in Milsons Point. Milsons Point and its neighbour, Kirribilli, are both great suburbs for lunch, with lots of cafes and restaurants to choose from.
2. Cahill Walk:
   This is an elevated walk above Circular Quay train station, which can be accessed via the Bridge Stairs in The Rocks, or on the other side of Circular Quay, via an access point in the Royal Botanic Garden.

Opened in 1932, the Sydney Harbour Bridge not only has the best looks but is also an incredible piece of superb engineering.

Also known as the Coathanger because of its recognisable arch-based design, the 134m high Sydney Harbour Bridge connects the CBD with Sydney’s north shore.

History of the Bridge

In the 19th century, well before the bridge was built, a thriving ferry service carried travellers across the Sydney Harbour from the north shore to the city.

However, with an increasing population and growing economy, the need for a bridge or tunnel became increasingly apparent.

After years of debating, royal commissioning, designing, tendering, and analysing, the construction of a bridge across Sydney Harbour was legally authorised in 1922.

Construction work officially started in 1924, the two arches joined in 1930, and the bridge was completed and opened in 1932.

Design of the Bridge

Under the direction of Dr John Bradfield of the NSW Department of Public Works, the bridge was designed and built by British firm Dorman Long of Middlesbrough.

The Harbour Bridge was ultimately designed as a two-hinged, single-span steel arch bridge. This type of bridge was chosen because a steel arch could accommodate heavy loads while also looking more imposing.

The winning design of the bridge needed to incorporate functionality and beauty. For example, the four massive pylons weren’t required, but they were added to make the bridge appear more robust and attractive.

The pylons were also faced with granite to give them a more natural look, even though this involved considerably more expense.

Now, almost 100 years later, we should be thankful to Dr John Bradfield for designing a bridge that has not only had a dramatic impact on the city’s infrastructure but has also grown into an iconic tourist drawcard.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge now carries one highway with eight lanes, one railway line, one cycle lane and one pedestrian walkway.

Last updated: July 12, 2024