I climbed the Harbour Bridge in 2007 and just wanted to reassure those who are afraid of heights like I am - yes, it is quite scary but you are completely safe and it is definitely worth doing. You get amazing views from the top of the Bridge, especially on a clear day, and the feeling of standing at the top is indescribable.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of the two main things people know about Sydney if they have never been there, the other being the Opera House. It is an amazing structure which you need to take some time to enjoy. If you don't feel up to doing the bridge climb, which can be quite expensive, then there are several ways you can enjoy the bridge.

1) BridgeClimb - Thought I'd mention this way anyway. This is by far the best way to experience the bridge. You spend about 2 hours on the bridge itself, plus another hour or so in preparation / leaving the base. You are shown something you can only experience in the climb. You see, and are told, all about the bridge and its construction as well as the surrounding area. It also provides the best views of the Harbour. Cameras aren't allowed but the climb leader has a camera with him with photos available after your climb. I highly recommend this option if you can.

2) Pylon lookout - This is a much cheaper option if you're on a budget, or really don't like heights. It's in one of the 4 pillars (pylons) that border the bridge. There is a museum which tells you all about the bridge and some really good views from the top too. You have a good view of people doing the Bridge Climb too so if you're not doing the climb but know somebody that is then this is a good place to take a photo. The views from here are great - just not as good as BridgeClimb. BridgeClimb climbers get a free ticket for the Pylon lookout so you can do both and compare them.

3) Harbour Cruise - You get some really great views of the harbour bridge from any boat on the harbour really. You can do morning coffee cruises, dinner cruises or one I found really good - a hop on hop off pass for several locations around the harbour.

4) Circular Quay - If you're on a VERY strict budget and want to see the bridge for free then walk from the Opera House around to the other side of the quay and towards the bridge - youll get some great views. Probably the best view is from the elevated highway that goes along the bottom of the quay. There is a glass elevator that takes you up there - it's a popular walking route and provides some really good views of the quay and bridge.

5) Cross the bridge - This can take some time as the walk up to the bridge itself is quite long but you get some good views of the bridge and harbour.

6) Explorer buses - the red explorer bus crosses the bridge but its really too quick to see much of it or to enjoy the view. I would recommend it though as it's a city tour,

7) Mrs MacQuaries Chair - The peninsula that contains Mrs Macquaries chair can be reached by a 20 minute walk along the bay from the Opera House or by using the explorer tourist buses. It provides some really great views of the Harbour, Bridge and Opera House and is a tourist attraction in itself.

Whichever option (or options) you decide on make sure you spend some time to just enjoy the view or you'll be missing out on something special.

We did the pylon look out as we didn't get chance to book onto the Bridge climb. The pylon lookout is only $9, so cheap to get views as fanstastic as the bridge climb itself (I'd imagine it's just not as exciting). The bridge is amazing and can give some brilliant sights of Sydney. We also walked over the bridge and the area the otherside of Syndey City was lovely and quiet. We then took the ferry across to Darling Harbour. Well worth having a wander across.

We decided to go to the Pylon Lookout rather than doing the Sydney Bridge Climb. It was only $9.50, as opposed to $179 and up for an adult ticket on the Sydney Bridge Climb. This allowed us to take as many pictures as we wanted with our own camera (cameras are not allowed on the Bridge Climb) and the views were fabulous! I have not done the Bridge Climb so I can't comment on it, but from pictures that I have seen, I think the views from the Pylon Lookout are very comparable (I've attached some of mine), so if you don't want to spend a lot of money, it might be a better option for you, as it was for us!