3 hour Gift Voucher – Alan + Joan 18.01.24

The 3 hour Gift Voucher was given to Joan and Alan for three special reasons! It is their 70th birthdays, their 50th wedding anniversary and it’s a Christmas present. They are from the UK, in Sydney visiting a son who has just had a child. So all their kids thought it would be the perfect gift. Originally they thought a Harley ride each was the way to go. However, Joan and Alan wanted the trike so we organised Fred on the yellow trike.

Straight after the ride Joan rang us, even before our rider got back. “…it was amazing…”. She and Alan had a wonderful time on the trike and saw some interesting and beautiful places.

Coogee

After being picked up at a hotel in Coogee, firstly they rode to both the south and north end of Coogee Beach. At the southern end is Wylies baths (open 365 days a year), as well as McIver’s Baths, which is the only remaining female-only ocean pool in Australia (dating back to 1886).

😆 The name Coogee is derived from the Aboriginal word ‘koojah’ which means ‘bad smell’ or a ‘stinking place’.

Bronte-Coogee Aquatic Reserve

Next, it was to the Bronte-Coogee Aquatic Reserve. This extends from the southern end of Bronte Beach to the rock baths at Coogee Beach and out to 100 m offshore. It covers an area of approximately 40 hectares and includes 4,000m of coastline.

The objectives of the aquatic reserve is:

1. conserve the biodiversity of fish and marine vegetation
2. protect fish habitat
3. facilitate educational activities
4. facilitate scientific research.

Clovelly Beach

Then it was to Clovelly Beach. Clovelly Beach is a small and tranquil beach, located the mouth of a narrow bay between two rocky ridges. It is where the photo was taken.

Bronte Beach

To the southern end of Bronte Beach which sits on Nelson Bay, surrounded by Bronte Park. Bronte offers scenic cliff-top walking paths south to Coogee via the Waverley Cemetery and north to Tamarama and Bondi Beach.

Queens Park

They headed west, past Queens Park which is a 26-hectare urban park, set in a natural amphitheatre at the foot of dramatic sandstone cliffs, with panoramic views of the Sydney region. It’s right next to the famous Centennial Park so they rode through it. Already, the 3 hour Gift Voucher trike tour was showing them some interesting and pretty sights.

Centennial Park

A lovely experience it is, to ride through the huge Centennial Park. They rode about 2/3s of the 3.8km cirucit and then exited out onto Oxford St. Make sure Fred tells you about the eels that live here.

120 fields and venues, and 35+ different sports are played in the Centennial Parklands. It is the largest community sports precinct in Australia! The history is also interesting: “Originally a swamp and then set aside as land for the water source for Sydney. Centennial Park was reconstructed as a public park and opened in 1888. Sir Henry Parkes’ vision was to create a ‘People’s Park’ in which the citizens of Sydney could ‘take in the air’ away from the Sydney town centre.”

Oxford Street

Then, it was along Oxford St., the western section of Oxford Street, which runs through the suburb of Darlinghurst, is widely recognised as Sydney’s main gay district. Oxford Street is closed to traffic once a year in early March for the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

Chinatown

Further on is Chinatown. Sydney isn’t the only global city with a Chinatown, but this one is bigger, better and boasts more than most thanks to the Chinese immigrants who started arriving in the 1800s. Dixon Street is the main street for Chinatown, with many shops and Chinese restaurants in a pedestrian-only street. In the 1980s business owners raised funds for the ceremonial Chinese archways found at the entrance.

Barangaroo

Through 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!

The Rocks

Interestingly, the most historic place in Australia is 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.

Sydney Harbour Bridge

This led to the next icon so 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 a bridge in Canada was completed in 2012.

Blues Point Reserve / McMahons Point

Continuing on, they rode on through Milsons Point, did a left hand turn and rode up a few streets. This lead to Blues Point Reserve. The views over Blues Bay towards the Sydney Opera House, the Harbour Bridge and the CBD are just stunning. All the more stunning because of the lovely weather. Another perfect place for photos.

Kirribilli

Famous for its views, Kirribilli is also famous because of Kirribilli House. Kirribilli House is the secondary official residence of the Prime Minister of Australia. Further on is Admiralty House. It is the Sydney residence of the Governor-General and one of the most historic and important residences on Sydney Harbour. The house – originally called ‘Wotonga’ – was built in the mid 1800’s.

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.

Macquarie Street + Opera House

Then, it was back over the bridge and they rode 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. The 3 hour Gift Voucher trike tour certainly showed them all the iconic and famous parts of Sydney.

Then, it was 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.

Woolloomooloo, Harry’s and Garden Island

Heading east, to the inner eastern suburb of Woolloomoolloo. Woolloomooloo is known for Finger Wharf, an old cargo dock that attracts a trendy clientele with fine dining, hip bars and water views on all sides. It also has the famous Harry Cafe De Wheels which has been serving customers for over 80 years. They make delicious pies, hotdogs and more. Lots of interesting photos are on the walls, mostly of famous celebrities who have visited over the years. They rode past Garden Island which is the location of a major Royal Australian Navy base. Then it was up the hill and into Potts Point.

Kings Cross

Continuing on, they rode through the infamous Kings Cross, though it has calmed down a lot since it’s heyday – home of the famous and huge Coca Cola sign. Kings Cross is also home to nightclubs and ladies of the night though it is not nearly as raunchy as it was in the 1970s (apparently). Even now, the passengers are still loving their 3 hour Gift Voucher trike tour.

Eastern suburbs

They headed east through the posh suburbs of the eastern suburbs of Sydney, including the Bays: Rose Bay, Double Bay and Rushcutters Bay. They called into the Rose Bay car park for a look around. Sound a strange thing to do, doesn’t it 😆. It’s where some seaplanes live, so it’s interesting to see them and the boats, there is always something interesting to see.

Bondi Beach

Next, they rode south and past the world famous Bondi Beach to the south side. Here, there is a lovely view overlooking the whole of Bondi Beach. This is the beach where Bondi Lifeguards of the Bondi Rescue TV series is filmed. When in Sydney it is one of the places you should visit. The beach was made extra famous by the TV series “Bondi Rescue”. Bondi Beach is one of the most visited tourist sites in Australia. Bondi Beach is recorded by the Australian Museum that Bondi means place where a fight using boondi sticks (nullas nullas or fighting sticks) took place. The 3 hour Gift Voucher trike tour was almost up but the passengers were the first to say what a fabulous time they were having.

Tamarama + Bronte

Riding further south, along more beautiful, though possibly less well known, beaches. The suburb of Tamarama has a small ocean beach about 1 kilometre south of Bondi Beach and a couple of hundred metres north of Bronte Beach. It is an extremely narrow beach and deceptive for its size. Tamarama Beach is often referred to as Glamarama (or Glamourama), owing to the alleged abundance of glamorous people who sunbathe (often topless), on what must be one of the smallest strips of sand in the state (Wikipedia).

Bondi Junction

However, the 3 hours was up. The passengers wanted to do a but of shopping, so our trike rider dropped them off at the huge Bondi Junction shopping centre. Bondi Junction was originally called Tea Gardens after a local pleasure ground on the site of the present Tea Gardens Hotel. The tramline to Bondi opened in 1884, creating a “junction” with the line already operating to Charing Cross, hence Bondi Junction came into being.

In conclusion, the 3 hour Gift Voucher trike tour was the best present ever! The time went so quickly, Alan and Joan saw so much and had fun at the same time. Feel the Freedom!

Buy a Gift Voucher here.