Delegates from Perfect China's Leadership Seminar climb the Sydney Harbor Bridge and take a BridgeClimb hero shot. [Photo by Geoff Jones/Bridgeclimb] For more photos,here

There are many ways to explore Australia, but a spirit of adventure will take you to places and vista points unfamiliar to most who toe the tourist line, Raymond Zhou discovers.

Photos:  Adventures in Australia

Catching a wave in Australia

You can see more sights with a package tour, but you'll be rewarded with a more unforgettable experience if you get more adventurous. When I visited Sydney for the first time, I did what tourists are supposed to do: I bought a ticket for A $40 ($37) and boarded a double-decker bus.

I love the hop-on, hop-off convenience and do that ritual in almost every foreign city the first time I visit.

The bus took me to Bondi Beach where gorgeous people lie in the sun. The route also goes through some of the residential areas of the fabulous, an approximate equivalent of the special tour of Beverly Hills in Los Angeles.

A cruise around Sydney Harbor is probably on every tourist's schedule, and offers lots of photo opportunities.

What I didn't expect was to climb on top of the bridge. I thought I was simply going to walk along the pedestrian path.

But no, that would be like walking on any bridge. BridgeClimb is designed in a similar spirit as a climb on the Great Wall. As an enticement you see photos of celebrities flashing smiles and you get a certificate proving your feat.

Who can resist that? Well, my traveling companion who's afraid of heights, could.