last minute Harley Davidson – Helen 23.01.24

Helen had a two days left in Sydney so wanted to do something different. The last minute Harley Davidson tour was perfect. She booked a 4.5 hour ride so she saw so much of Sydney and the outer areas – north, south and inner west. Our Harley rider picked Helen up from her hotel in the CBD. Helen loved the tours, “Pat is not only a true ambassador for the biker fraternity but also for your company, Sydney & Australia!” she wrote in an email after the ride. Firstly, they did the 3 Bridges tour.

Sydney Harbour Bridge

This meant, they rode over the Sydney Harbour Bridge first. We always tell our passengers to look up and enjoy the unique view. he 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.

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. Some photos were taken here. Already, after 15 mins, the last minute Harley Davidson ride was impressive!

The Kirribilli Loop

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.

Fig Tree Bridge, Tarban Creek Bridge, Gladesville Bridge

Continuing on, the first bridge is an old but smallish bridge – the Fig Tree Bridge. It opened in 1963 and spans the Lane Cove River. After that bridge, they continued on and crossed the second of the bridges Tarban Creek Bridge. This spans Tarban Creek, likewise, it has nice views east to the Harbour Bridge. Then they got to bridge #2 of the main 3 Bridges, the Gladesville Bridge. It has wonderful views along Parramatta River towards the Harbour Bridge and the city.

This bridge is on the main arterial thoroughfare of Victoria Road – from the western suburbs to the city (or vice versa).

Bay Run

Then, they did a detour off the main arterial road through the inner west suburbs of Rozelle, Lilyfield, Haberfield, Five Dock and Drummoyne. They followed part of the Bay Run. It is a 7km long (4.3 mi) shared use path for cyclists and pedestrians that encircles much of Iron Cove. It never deviates more than 20m from the water so the views are pretty nice.

ANZAC Bridge

Riding over our favourite bridge, the ANZAC Bridge, is an experience. We think it is incredible, a work of art and design. It is main bridge #3. Similarly, it is also great to see without a roof over your head inhibiting the view.

Most noteworthy, the stay cable design concept development and final design for the new bridge were carried out by the Roads & Traffic Authority of NSW. Finally, the bridge was opened to traffic on 03 December 1995 as the Glebe Island Bridge.

The bridge was given its current name on Remembrance Day in 1998 to honour the memory of the soldiers of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (known as Anzacs) who served in World War I. Already, the last minute Harley Davidson tour has shown Helen

Centennial Park

Centennial Park is a lovely experience, to ride through and to stop for a short break.

120 fields and venues, and 35+ different sports 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.”

Bronte Beach

Then 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.

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.

Coogee

Further on, 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’.

Maroubra

Riding south, Maroubra is one of Australia’s top surfing beaches, Maroubra is best enjoyed outdoors. An official National Surfing Reserve, the spectacular 1km-long beach is wrapped by a rocky headland and natural bushland.

The next beachside suburb they rode through was Maroubra. It is a local Aboriginal word meaning place of thunder. In 2006, Maroubra Beach became the second Australian beach to be named a National Surfing Reserve. Maroubra Beach stretches for approximately 1 km on Maroubra Bay.

Little Bay

The little known Little Bay area was first used as a sanitation camp during Sydney’s smallpox outbreak in 1881–82, to isolate the healthy contacts of sufferers of the disease. Also, bubonic plague in Sydney of 1900 and then again when soldiers returning from Europe brought the influenza virus back in 1919. Little Bay was an ideal location because it was isolated from settlements but still close enough to Sydney.

La Perouse

This beautiful peninsula in Sydney’s southeast is where Captain Arthur Phillip’s First Fleet initially landed in 1788, before deciding to settle at Sydney Cove. La Perouse is named after a French explorer who arrived in Botany Bay a week after the First Fleet. Nearby is the 1880s-built Bare Island Fort, which you might recognise from the Tom Cruise film Mission Impossible 2.

Then the rider and passenger decided to head north. So, it was through the southern suburbs, over the Sydney Harbour Bridge again. Then it was east to Manly. Wow, how good is the last minute Harley Davidson ride?

Spit Bridge lookout

They rode through a few posh suburbs to the Spit Bridge. is fun and then it was a fun ride up a windy hill to the lookout. From there, you can see great views of Middle Harbour. The Spit Bridge is a steel and concrete girder bridge with a bascule lift span. The Spit Bridge was listed on the Roads & Traffic Authority heritage and conservation register on 24 November 2003.

They continued riding along Military Road. Helen is so happy with her last minute Harley Davidson ride!

Manly

Manly has several claims to fame; it was the birthplace of surfing in Australia, the first place to legalise all-day bathing in 1903 and one of the world’s first Surf Life Saving clubs. Manly Beach was the location for the first World Surfing Championships held in 1964.

North Head

Next, they stopped at North Head near Manly, for unending ocean views and a spectacular panorama of the harbour and Sydney skyline. We never tire of looking at this wonderful view. Even on a dull day, it is spectacular.

However, the 4.5 hours was almost up, so Pat turned around and headed back into Sydney city. He dropped Helen off back at her hotel.

In conclusion, the last minute Harley Davidson tour was “the best experience ever” as Helen wrote to us in an email later.

Design your own ride!