Last updated: June 28, 2023
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is widely considered Sydney’s most iconic landmark, and a visit to Sydney is not complete without seeing or walking across the Harbour Bridge.
There are many ways to get up close and personal with Sydney’s famous bridge, but perhaps the best way is by visiting the Harbour Bridge Pylon Lookout.
This somewhat hidden Sydney tourist attraction not only offers fantastic Harbour and city views, but it’s also home to a fun and educational museum.
| Harbour Bridge Pylon Lookout | |
|---|---|
| General Admission: | $24.95 |
| Concession: | $16.00 |
| Child: | $12.00 |
| Opening Times: | 10 am to 4 pm (7 days a week) |
| Height: | 87m above sea level (200 steps) |
| More Information: | Official website |
How to Get There
The Pylon Lookout is easy to find, but surprisingly, it’s one of the most underrated tourist attractions in Sydney. You’d be surprised how many local Sydney-siders have never actually been to this lookout and museum.
The lookout is located in the pylon on the southeastern side of the Harbour Bridge. Simply follow the pedestrian walkway on the bridge and look for the big entrance sign and door.
The entrance may look a little uninspiring and unpretentious, but both the lookout and the museum will definitely impress you.
The walkway can be accessed via the Bridge Stairs in The Rocks (see map location). Read our guide to the Sydney Harbour Bridge Walk for more details about this walkway.
About the Pylon Lookout
With amazing views of the city skyline and the Opera House, the Harbour Bridge Pylon Lookout is one of the best lookouts in Sydney.
Visiting the Pylon Lookout at the Harbour Bridge is a unique way to enjoy breathtaking views at a fraction of the cost of the Harbour Bridge Climb (more on that further below).
But it’s not just the views that attract visitors to the Pylon. It also holds a small museum with lots of interesting details about the history behind the bridge and how and why it was built.
The Pylon consists of three levels of informational exhibits and a 360-degree lookout platform at the top.
The museum part of the Pylon Lookout is very well presented, with lots of information and photos to absorb about the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Pylon Lookout Museum
In the museum, you can find out how and why the Sydney Harbour Bridge was constructed, the people behind its design and build, plus the stories and historical images of the opening celebration, including rare video footage.
It emphasises the dangerous work that was carried out in that period and the bravery that was required with the available tools.
Various displays explain why it took so long to finish the construction of the bridge and the engineering challenges that such a steel arch presented.
Observation Deck
As awesome as the museum is, most people visit the Pylon Lookout for the incredible views of the city and the Sydney Harbour. Trust us; the views from the open-air observation deck will not disappoint!
The indoor viewing area in the middle provides interesting facts about the bridge, such as how many rivets were used to make the bridge, how much the bridge cost, how much paint was used to paint the entire bridge, and so much more.
Overall, a visit to the Pylon Lookout is absolutely worth your time and money. This top Sydney tourist attraction is enjoyable as well as educational, for both adults and children.
Next Level: Climb the Harbour Bridge
While we rate the Harbour Bridge Pylon Lookout highly, climbing the bridge is an even more intense thing to do.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb is a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience, walking over the bridge’s arch all the way to the highest point, with views that are phenomenal.
Climbing the bridge certainly isn’t cheap, but it’s one of those things that you will remember for the rest of your life, which makes it worth the investment. Even better, do it together with your partner as a romantic date for an even more special experience.
There are currently four different ways to do the Harbour Bridge Climb, and you can do those climbs at different times of the day. Some sessions are during the day, whereas others are during sunset or later at night.
Go to the Sydney Harbour BridgeClimb website for more information and booking options.
