Story Bridge Adventure Climb

Tried twice to climb this bridge but it wasn’t in the cards.
First attempt: Called ahead and only one slot available and would not let the 2 of us climb due to strict policy. Fine.
Second attempt: Our GPS froze up going through tunnels on the way and got completely lost on the way, showed up 15 minutes late as a result. We’re from the United States so did not know the area at all. They told us we were too late and forfeited our climb and were not even allowed to do a shortened climb. We proceeded to walk onto the bridge and watch the group climb the bridge without us so obviously we had enough time to still climb. Strict policy.
Multiple emails with Paul and Megan but they politely refused to refund any money and again told me their policy was clearly says no shows and cancellations would result in no refund. I didn’t feel that we did either but alas, $ 320 down the drain.
Long story short, we didn’t get to climb but it didn’t look like much of a climb anyways. Just walking up some stairs to the top and standing around on a platform for a while. The view standing on the bridge is just as good and that is free to do. They will not let you bring cameras up and will charge you for pictures afterwards if you want any also, so budget for that if you want them.
If you’re going to do it make sure you show up early but my opinion, didn’t seem worth it.

Story Bridge ‘Historical Stroll’
If you enjoy beimg treated like you’re doing the low ropes course on a year 5 school camp and a security check simliar to an airport, then this is the place for you.
After being breathalyzed, stripped of anything valuable and then scanned with an x ray wand, you are hearded like cattle to be strapped into your harness and chained to the fence guided cable where your are free to explore the bridge, providing you dont want to go more than 20 cm from the rail.
after a painfully slow walk up with the droll nattering of your guide in your ears about the history of the bridge you reach the first peak, but enjoy it, because thats all you get. as the slow procession makes its way down the other side like convicts chained together, at the half way point its time to head back.
To top it all off you can have a lovely memory of that time you climbed lots of stairs for the low low price of an additional charge. because of course, your not allowed to take your phone.
looking for adventure or a ‘climb’…wrong place
take that $ 100, use $ 50 of it to bribe a security gaurd to let you to the top floor and get some photos of the city scape, then use that other $ 50 to by some drink at the story bridge hotel and laugh at all the fools lining up out the front to waste their money.

It was such a unique experience to climb a bridge and our tour guides were so knowledgeable and funny! We had a great time, although the stairs got a bit slippery when a few rain showers hit us (bring some dry shoes for after just in case).
You’re suited up with all the necessary gear you need and given a safety briefing before you start your climb. You are not allowed to really bring anything with you on the climb for safety reasons, so Story Bridge will take photos of you and you can purchase them afterward.

Just weeks before my trip Australia, one of my offices mates had suggested that I do something daring. Los Angeles Dodgers Player, Dee Gordon, walked the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Since I didn’t have enough time in Sydney, I would walk in Brisbane, Queensland. I couldn’t leave Australia without doing a bridge walk at Story Bridge Adventure Climb in Brisbane/​Kangaroo Point, Queensland, Australia.
I booked my climb via website for $ 99 AUD. Cheaper in USD conversion. If you are coming from the downtown side, you can take one of the free ferry services to get to Kangaroo Point. Lovely name since I ate kangaroo a few days earlier. I picked the morning climb at 9:40am. Obviously, you are not going to climb the bridge right away. You’ll need to sign some document and get prepared before the climb.
There will be a ten people per group. Our guide for the day was, Riley. He got us our jumpsuits, got us to prepare each others suits, tell us the do’s and don’ts of our climb. I can say about 98% of your belongings will not be able to go with you for safety reasons. Most likely insurance reasons since there are thousands of cars passing underneath you. There is one more guide, but I didn’t catch his name, but he has a cool ponytail.
You’ll be wearing the jumpsuit, harness, radios, and lots of straps. Unfortunately, its not those types of straps. Make sure you wear close toed shoes, if you don’t you are not climbing. You’ll be provided lockers to store your items and you’ll keep the keys around your neck. Your eyeglasses will have to be secured with the provided straps. Your jumpsuits will have provided jacket and hats, if needed. In my scenario, it was drizzling and it was windy.
You’ll be climbing multiple steel/​metal steps and facing winds that could just suddenly punch you in the face. You’ll be secured on a metal line all the time. The one part of the climb that may frustrate you is that sometimes, you may get stuck because of latch not letting you move forward. You’ll feel the bridge shake constantly. I was always on the lookout for the big rigs with their heavy payloads. Geez, Riley warned us that our legs could be shaking for awhile. My doesn’t…when I am awake.
Riley will take photos at certain areas with the background of Brisbane. You can purchase them at the end of the climb. I know… I know, but its business. It probably cost more to buy the photos than to do the climb. After the climb was over, I was relaxed, but I was happy to mark it off my list of things to do in life. I wish Riley didn’t add that my group was the last group before he was going to be evaluated. I hope it was a joke. If he wasn’t kidding, then he did pretty well.
Overall, it was a great experience. I hope my review will show that Sydney Harbour is not the only place in Australia that you climb the bridge. The rain and the wind added some fear. When the guy’s hat, in front of me, lost his hat, I imagined some bad storm that was coming in. We both looked funny trying to grab a hat that looked like it was going to fly into the river, but was secured to the jumpsuit. I love the name «Story Bridge». Every person who climbs this bridge has a story to share… a Story!
You think I write too much? Well, you can call me a Unilocal-​O-​Holic!

Whether you’re a local or a tourist visiting Brisbane, the Story Bridge Adventure Climb (SBAC) is a must do if you are thinking of doing something different, adventurous, and an unforgettable way of seeing the cityscape of Brisbane (and beyond) from a breath-​taking perspective. It is only one of three possible bridge climbs in the entire world, (with Sydney & Auckland being the other), so feel the fear and do it anyway!
There are four types of climbs available; dawn, day, night, and twilight, and the climbs happen all year round, regardless of weather. Unless they advise of changes, assume that the climb will go ahead! Communication with SBAC is pretty good so they will always tell you what’s going on.
The best time to climb in my opinion is during cooler months, and the would recommend the «Twilight» climb. If the weather is clear, then its a more amazing experience as you can see even further without any cloud cover.
Once you book a climb, then SBAC will let you know what time you should be at their office, located at 170 Main Street (Cnr Wharf & Main Streets) Kangaroo Point, where all their climbs depart from. The time advised is earlier than your designated climb to ensure you are there to complete the necessary liability forms. Yep, sign your life away!
As you can imagine, climbing the Story Bridge comes with a lot of responsibility, and SBAC is really big on safety. Prior to your group starting, your guide will talk you through all the safety aspects of the climb and what you can’t bring. This includes personal jewellery, mobile phones, watches, earrings, necklaces that can’t be tucked. Essentially anything that might fall off from your person. People who complain about not being able to bring their own cameras or mobile phones during their climb may have a valid gripe, but can you imagine what would happen if you dropped something below to all the hundreds of cars crossing the bridge? Talk about a news headline! Safety first, and not just for the climbers!
Once all the safety talk is done, and introductions completed, they then take you to another room for a quick photo shoot (complete with green screen), as an optional purchase for after the climb. After which your guide will talk you through how to put on all the harnesses and equipment (such as LED light), radio equipment and headset, as well as getting the group hooked in to the safety lines in readiness for the ascent on the bridge.
Then its one big deep breath, you are ready! As you begin your ascent, the guide will talk through the radio, which everyone in the group should be able to hear, except for mine, which cut out at really annoying moments. Others in the group also experienced similar problems. Its especially annoying, when you are intensely listening to key facts on the history of the Story Bridge, only for your radio device to drop out on names, and dates. Unfortunately the radio device attached to you is only one way communications. So you can’t just ask, «can you please repeat?»
The climb takes about 2 hours, and there are about 3 photo stops along the way. What’s great is that our guide Tessa always checked to make sure the photo taken was a good one. Taking second or third shots if necessary. At each «stop» Tessa would explain what we were seeing, such as the Airport air tower, the mountain ranges in NSW (yes we could see that far), the buildings along the river with historical significance, as well as ask for any questions we had. There’s no point trying to explain what the views are like once you reach the apex, as its something you will have to experience for yourself.
Afterwards you have an opportunity to buy the photos taken, as well as other merchandise. Your legs may feel a little wobbly, like you’ve just done a hundred squats at the gym, but apparently this is normal. Some may say the climb is a little on the «pricey» side, but its a long climb (great exercise), the views are priceless, you learn about the history of Brisbane, and you meet great people! Totally spectacular experience and unforgettable so its worth it. Its also even better when you have a great guide like we did with Tessa.
Tip: Definitely drink lots of water before you climb, and go to the loo before, as there’s no way to stop or go back once you are ascending on the bridge. Buy the photos, its worth it!

This «adventure» is a waste of money and time. You can’t take even a mobile phone with you to take photos, because they want you to buy their photos.
Extremely boring and expensive. Seriously, you’d better have a normal stroll across the bridge.

What an awesome and unbelievable experience! Climb up the towers and suspension arms of the bridge while the traffic whizzes by underneath you and the city spreads out around you.
We took a sunset climb of the bridge and started at their headquarters on Kangaroo Point. Inside the headquarters, it’s a series of challenges to prepare for the climb. First, a sign a legal waiver. Next pass a breathalyzer test. And then it’s time to suit up for the climb! Everybody gets into a Ghostbuster/Mechanic’s style one-​piece jumper and stores any lose hairpins, jewelry, caps, etc. in a locker. Next challenge, pass the metal detector wand scan. They’re serious about not wanting you to drop something onto the roadway.
Once suited up, you head to the gear room. Your guide leads the entire group through a series of preparation steps. Put on a harness, a safety lead, a flashlight, a radio. And now you’re off!
Single file, the guide leads you to a staircase at the foot of the bridge and you climb up to just under the roadbed. There, you fit a heavy metal lead from your safety harness into a track that runs along the side of the walkways and up and down the staircases on the towers and arms of the bridge. As the guide chirps over your radio headset and gives you the history of Brisbane and the bridge, you ascend through a tunnel to the height of the roadway. Your first view from the bridge is pretty spectacular. But it’s just the beginning!
Up up up the stairs to the highest point on the bridge. The guide clearly knows what he’s doing and stops several times along the way so any enfeebled guests can catch their wind. The view of the city, the bridge, and the cars below from the top is really pretty mind blowing. It’s a once in a lifetime type thing. The walk continues, as did my amazement, down that tower, across the roadbed from high above, up the next tower, and slowly back down. We really took our time, the guide answered everybody’s questions like he was a pro (I think he was).
It’s a pretty crazy, pretty unique experience and everybody ought to try this.