Fresh off the exhilarating high of our Sydney Harbour Bridge climb, but disappointed that the Brisbane Bridge Climb didn’t work out due to weather/lightning, we found ourselves in Auckland, New Zealand, and couldn’t resist the opportunity to experience another iconic bridge from a unique perspective. This time, it was the Auckland Harbour Bridge, and we opted for the Bridge Climb offered by AJ Hackett Bungy. While it didn’t quite reach the dizzying heights or offer the same panoramic sprawl as its Sydney counterpart, it was still a neat experience, made all the more memorable by the fact that we ended up being the only two people on our scheduled tour!
Booking was straightforward through their website which we did the night before, and we chose a daytime climb to take in the Auckland cityscape and the Waitematā Harbour. The initial briefing focused on safety and we were out the door. The Auckland Bridge Climb was simpler in that you just walked, no ladders or complex movements.
Our guide, was friendly and provided interesting commentary about the bridge’s construction and the surrounding area. The views were certainly pleasant, showcasing the bustling harbor, the Auckland skyline, and the volcanic cones that dot the landscape. However, compared to the expansive 360-degree vista from the Sydney Harbour Bridge summit, the Auckland view felt a bit more contained.
What truly set this experience apart was the unexpected bonus of being the only participants on our tour. It felt like a private guided exploration of this iconic structure! We were able to take our time, ask more questions, and enjoy a more personalized interaction with our guide.
Adding an extra layer of intrigue (and a healthy dose of “no thank you” from our side!) was the AJ Hackett Bungy operation that also calls the Auckland Harbour Bridge home. During our climb, we had a front-row seat to the heart-stopping spectacle of someone plunging off the inside of the bridge on a bungy cord. The sheer adrenaline radiating from the jumpers was palpable, the screams echoing across the water. While it was certainly a thrill to witness, especially the impressive rebound, it solidified our firm stance against voluntarily leaping from such heights! That particular brand of adventure is definitely not in our travel repertoire.
The Auckland Bridge Climb offered a different kind of appreciation for a major infrastructure landmark. It was less about conquering a towering height and more about getting a unique perspective and a closer look at the engineering involved. The unexpected private tour aspect made it a more personal and relaxed experience. While it didn’t quite match the grandeur of the Sydney Harbour Bridge climb, it was still a worthwhile and interesting way to see Auckland from a different angle – and provided some entertaining (if not personally tempting) bungy jumping action!
