If you’re looking for a fresh way to see Brisbane, strap on a harness and head up the Story Bridge. Yes, that bridge. The one that quietly carries 65,000 cars a day across the Brisbane River while everyone forgets it’s climbable. Until you do it, that is.
I took on the day climb with Jasper as our guide. He managed to dish out a full history lesson while keeping things casual and cracking a few jokes along the way. He was an open book for questions and never once made us feel like we had to rush.
If you’re picturing something stressful or terrifying, it’s not. Unless you’ve got a full-blown fear of heights, it’s surprisingly calm.
You move at your own pace, the harness feels secure, and it’s not a fitness test. More of a scenic wander upwards.
The climb is open to anyone aged six and up. Children aged six to sixteen do need an accompanying adult, with a one-to-one ratio for the youngest climbers. While it’s accessible for most people with moderate fitness, it’s not currently suitable for wheelchair users or those who can’t manage stairs.
The Story Bridge was built during the Great Depression and officially opened in 1940, providing employment for more than 400 workers. It’s named after John Douglas Story, a senior public servant and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Queensland, who played a key role in getting the project off the ground.
These days, it offers more than just a commute across the river. From the top, you get sweeping views of Brisbane that make every step to the summit worth it.
At check-in, we turned out to be the only Australians in the group. The rest were travellers from the UK, the Netherlands and the US, which gave the whole climb a bit of an international vibe.
The views are, without question, the highlight. From the summit, you can see the city stretch from the Glass House Mountains in the north to Moreton Bay in the east and the Scenic Rim to the south. The Brisbane River curves through the landscape, with CityCats cruising beneath you. The skyline stands tall in the distance, and on a clear day, it’s hard not to be impressed by just how far you can see.
The bridge itself weighs roughly 13,000 tonnes and is held together by more than 1.25 million rivets. Climbs run all year, though mornings and late afternoons are ideal for cooler weather and the best photo light.
Speaking of photos, the summit is where the real magic happens. A camera set-up captures both group and individual shots against the stunning city backdrop. One high-resolution group photo is included in your climb, but it’s well worth paying extra for the full photo package. These aren’t just tourist happy snaps. They’re genuine keepsakes of a memorable day spent high above the city.
The whole experience takes around two hours, including gear-up and safety briefings. Once your feet are back on solid ground, you’re in prime position to grab a bite or a drink at Howard Smith Wharves. Tucked directly under the bridge, it’s packed with restaurants and bars and is still a bit of a hidden gem, even for locals.
If you’ve ever looked up and thought “I should climb that one day,” now’s the time. The Story Bridge is one of only three bridges in the world you can climb, and it just happens to sit in one of Australia’s most laid-back cities. Not a bad way to spend your morning.
