Sydney’s Harbour Bridge tour – Amanda + Kerrie 04.11.23

Sydney’s Harbour Bridge tour was a complete success – lots of fun and the best way to reminisce. They are friends from a big town about 2 hours SW of Sydney. Here in Sydney for a short holiday and a trip down memory lane.

Our trike rider picked them up from their hotel in the Sydney CBD.

Barangaroo

Firstly, they rode past the comparatively new development of Barangaroo. A spectacular transformation from a disused container terminal on the edge of Sydney’s CBD into a spectacular 22-hectare waterfront precinct. This leads into the Rocks which is the birthplace of modern Sydney.

Harbour Bridge Southern Side

Hickson Road was next, and under the southern end of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. What a wonderful view!

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Then, they rode over the Sydney Harbour Bridge. We always tell our passengers to look up and enjoy the unique view. The more than 6,000,000 rivets are so interesting and the arch is so iconic. It’s nicknamed ‘The Coathanger’ because of its arch-based design. It is the largest steel arch bridge in the world. This bridge is the eighth longest spanning-arch bridge in the world and the tallest steel arch bridge, measuring 134 m (440 ft) from top to water level. It was also the world’s widest long-span bridge, at 48.8 m (160 ft) wide, until construction of the new Port Mann Bridge in Vancouver was completed in 2012.

Kirribilli

Next, they rode past Kirribilli House. Kirribilli House is the secondary official residence of the Prime Minister of Australia. After that, they rode around the corner to Jeffrey Street Wharf. From here, the views across Sydney Harbour towards the Sydney Opera House and the CBD are magnificent. In addition, it also has an up-close view of the side and underneath of the bridge. A perfect place to stop for photos.

The Kirribilli Loop

The loop is a fab thing to do, so they rode under the north side of the bridge and continued on their tour. The underside of the northern end of the SHB – Sydney Harbour Bridge – is very interesting. The Kirribilli Loop was finished by riding past Luna Park and the North Sydney Olympic Pool. Already, Sydney’s Harbour Bridge tour was showing our passengers some interesting and beautiful sights.

Jacaranda trees

Not far is McDougall Street, Kirribilli, one of the most beautiful streets in Sydney with canopies of jacaranda trees. For six or so weeks (usually from mid-October before a peak in mid-November) the streets become filled with beautiful purple flowers gently falling on the footpaths like purple rain… it’s just stunning (ellaslist).

The funny thing about tourists of a certain nationality, is they jump out into the middle of the road. Not to take photos of the jacarandas but of the trike 😂 :-).

Opera House

This led to the Sydney Opera House. We can’t get very close but we know some good angles which give some great scenic views. Even as “forever Sydneyites” we never get tired of looking at the Opera House. Along Macquarie Street which is famous for being home to the medical specialists. Past the gorgeous Government House which is the heritage-listed vice-regal residence of the governor of NSW.

St Mary’s Cathedral

Further up Macquarie St, is St Mary’s Cathedral. It is very impressive, even when riding past. It’s a Gothic Revival architectural building which opened in 1928. It took from 1866 to 1928 to build and has a height of 75m. So far, the Sisters Sydney trike tour has showed them so many beautiful parts of Sydney.

Mrs Macquarie’s Point

They turned off to visit Mrs Macquarie’s Point, home of Mrs Macquarie’s Chair. From here there is a gorgeous view looking towards the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Mrs Macquarie’s Point is a peninsula which was named in 1810 after Elizabeth, Governor Macquarie’s wife. She ordered a seat to be chiselled into the rock from which she could view the harbour. Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, as it’s known, is still there today. It’s in the Domain but is effectively an extension of the Botanic Gardens. It also leads past the Art Gallery of NSW, a most magnificent building.

The Rocks

Then it was through the city to the most historic place in Australia, the Rocks. It is a neighbourhood of historic laneways in the shadow of Sydney Harbour Bridge. The Rocks became established shortly after the colony’s formation in 1788 so it is the oldest residential, developed area in Australia – the birthplace of modern Sydney. With the arrival of European settlers in 1788, it was here that the convicts first set up house and shop.

However, the hour was up so our trike rider dropped the passengers at the Rocks. In conclusion, Sydney’s Harbour Bridge tour was a real success – a great trip down memory lane and a fabulous way to see the major sights of Sydney in a short time frame. Check out this tour and others here!