50th birthday surprise Harley – Emma 10.01.26

It was fun organising the 50th birthday surprise Harley ride. We love surprises! Emma’s Mum talked to us about the Harley ride and what they were thinking. After it was organised, the details changed a few times, thankfully we could accommodate, usually we can but not always.

Our Harley rider picked Emma up at Balmoral Beach, where she had just eaten breakfast with her family.

Balmoral Beach

Riding on, they rode past the lovely posh Balmoral Beach. Everyone who comes here loves it! Balmoral Beach is not so well known by visitors and tourists, but the stunning natural beauty of the beach and surrounds make it well worth a visit. The Beach Beauty trike ride was showing our passenger some beautiful and unique places and views!

Balmoral Burn

Amazingly, the Balmoral Burn is the next experience. Phil Kearns AM, came up with the idea of running up Mosman’s Awaba St as a way to raise funds. It was to say thank you to the Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH) after one of his sons received emergency care, for suspected meningococcal. It started 22 years ago and is now called The Balmoral Burn.

At its steepest the gradient is nearly 30%, and over its length it rises about 70 metres (230 ft). So far, $33.7 million has been raised! Wow!

Taronga Zoo

They stopped at Kirribilli for a look but couldn’t do the usual Kirribilli Loop. Then they rode past Taronga Zoo. They stopped to watch the koalas feeding in the trees – this won’t happen on every tour. Taronga Zoo, officially opened in October 1916, began as a project of the NSW Zoological Society in 1881, eventually moving to its current location on Mosman in Sydney Harbour. The zoo’s history extends back to 1884 when the first public zoo in Sydney was established at Billy Goat Swamp in Moore Park.

Taronga has an absolute commitment to the conservation of wildlife in Australia and around the world.

“We are committed to the conservation of native species, with active involvement in breed and release programs, habitat recovery and the rehabilitation and release of injured or orphaned wildlife.”
Taronga is a not-for-profit. Every dollar you spend saves wildlife.

Interestingly, Taronga is an Aboriginal word meaning “beautiful view”. Divided into various zoogeographic regions, the 28-hectare (69-acre) Taronga Zoo Sydney is home to more than 5,000 animals of approximately 350 different species. Well worth a visit!

Bradleys Head

Continuing on, they rode down the hill to Bradleys Head. It has wonderful views across Sydney Harbour to the Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge and the CBD. It’s in the suburb of Mosman and is one of Sydney Harbour’s most prominent natural features. First Fleet officers observed and named it, almost every ship entering Sydney Harbour has sailed past it. It possesses Aboriginal, military and naval associations, and it has for many years been the location of various recreational activities. The 50th birthday surprise Harley ride was a fun, memorable and interesting experience.

The Spit

Then they headed backand past Balmoral Beach. Through Spit, which is a suburb in its own right. It protrudes off Beauty Point and is home to the Spit Bridge, a bascule bridge opened in 1958 over Middle Harbour. The bridge opens at set times to allow yachts with high masts to pass. Crossing the Spit Bridge is fun, it has great views of Middle Harbour.

The Spit Lookout

Up the hill from the Spit Bridge is a fab lookout, it’s where this photo was taken. It has beautiful views over Middle Harbour towards the Heads.

However, the 1 hour was almost up, so the rider took Emma back to her family at Balmoral Beach. In conclusion, the 50th birthday surprise Harley ride was the best present ever. It was a fun experience and unique experience.

Feel the Freedom!

Check out a description of the ride here. Don’t forget every tour is unique so may not be exactly as stated but you will always see the icons mentioned (unless something like the Sydney Fireworks are about to happen, when roads are closed).

or just email trevor@trolltours.com.au and tell us what you would like to do.