The Long Climb

It’s a long way to the top, as Rupert Reid discovers when he climbs over Sydney Harbour

Bridge.

When he was growing up in Sydney, travelling across the world-famous Sydney Harbour

Bridge was a part of everyday life for Blue Heelers star Rupert Reid.

Living on the city (or southern) side of the bridge, Rupert would travel across it by train

to his school in nearby North Sydney.

"It was the best thing about going to school," reminisces Rupert. "We would open the

doors of the train and sit and look at the harbour. It was an amazing sight, and we would

suddenly feel OK about everything."

Home for Rupert these days is in Melbourne, as he continues into his second year as Jack

Lawson in the Seven Network’s Blue Heelers - but when TV WEEK gave him the

opportunity to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge on a recent visit to his old stomping

ground, he jumped at the chance.

"My mum has climbed the bridge," he says. "I saw the photo and thought ‘Cool!’

However, this bridge climbing business only started after I left Sydney, so I have never

really had the chance before. I wasn’t about to pass it up this time."

During the adventure, with qualified bridge-climber Carlos Do Carmo as his personal

guide, Rupert ventured 134 metres to the top of the bridge and saw his home city from an

entirely new perspective.

"It was pretty amazing," Rupert says. "In fact, I think people should climb it more often. I

think people should be climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge and not climbing Uluru, but

that’s my point of view.

"I climbed the Eiffel Tower in Paris at Christmas, and that was scary. This was pretty

laid-back - you could almost relax!

"But you’ve got to watch your step every step of the way," adds Rupert, emphasising that

people should climb the bridge only with expert guidance.

"Once you’re at the top, it’s a really tranquil experience in the midst of a very busy city."