Casey is in Sydney for a holiday. She’s from Melbourne and came up to see Phantom of the Opera and wanted to see more of Sydney. So she picked us to do the 3bridges Harley tour.

Our Harley rider Phil, met her at Central Station and off they went.

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Firstly, they rode over the Sydney Harbour Bridge. We always tell our passenger to look up and enjoy the unique view. The more than 6,000,000 rivets are so interesting and the arch is so iconic.

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

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.

They continued riding on through North Sydney and Crows Nest before joining River Road. It is a fun road to ride on. River Road leads to Burns Bay Road which, in turn, leads to another bridge but not one of the main three.

Fig Tree Bridge, Tarban Creek Bridge, Gladesville Bridge

The Fig Tree Bridge 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. They travelled along for a short while before turning off into the inner west suburb of Drummoyne. Following the shoreline of Iron Cove, which is part of the Parramatta River, they saw some lovely water views. It is part of the 7 km long Bay Run. So far, the 3bridges Harley tour was a great experience.

ANZAC Bridge

Our favourite bridge is the ANZAC Bridge. 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.

However, the hour was up so Phil dropped Casey back at The Rocks. In conclusion, the 3bridges Harley tour was a big success and a lot of fun. Casey saw so much that the average traveller to Sydney doesn’t.

https://www.trolltours.com.au/product/three-bridges-trike-tour/

Frank’s daughter Sinead organised the Eastern Suburbs Beach tour for her father and his partner. From Ireland, they had been on holidays here in Sydney to visit family.

While waiting for their plane to take them home, Sinead thought it would be a great idea for them to do a trike tour. They had done one with us 5 years ago while out here. They had loved it then and they loved it today!

The Rocks

Fred our passengers up from the Rocks. He took them under the southern side of the bridge. The Rocks 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.

Barangaroo

Then it was to the Barangaroo waterfront and 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. The new Crown Casino is here and there are plenty of restaurants.

Fred continued driving through Circular Quay, as close to the Opera House as is legally possible in a vehicle. Then it was along Macquarie St, home to many medical specialists offices. NSW Parliament is also here, founded on 22 May 1856.

St Mary’s Cathedral, Woolloomooloo and Kings Cross

Past St Mary’s Cathedral which 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. Next, they rode through the inner eastern suburb of Woolloomoolloo and past the famous Harry Cafe De Wheels. Harry’s Café de Wheels has been serving customers for over 80 years. They make delicious pies, hotdogs and more. Then it was up the hill and through Kings Cross.

Eastern suburbs

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). After there, they headed east through the posh suburbs of the eastern suburbs of Sydney, including the Bays: Rose Bay, Double Bay and Rushcutters Bay.

Watsons Bay and The Gap

North through some upper class suburbs, they rode to “The Gap” and stopped for photos. The view towards North Head and out to the South Pacific Ocean. Watsons Bay sits on the end of the South Head peninsula. This is where the photo was taken.

North Bondi and Brighton Lookout

There are a couple of lookouts at the North Bondi headland. They all offer beautiful views of Bondi Beach and out to the Tasman Sea, part of the South Pacific Ocean. Fred stopped there for a few photos and so they could admire the view. So far, on the uncle + nephew trike tour they have seen some great views and scenic sights. So far, the Eastern Suburbs Beach tour was a lot of fun.

Bondi Beach

Next, they drove past the world famous Bondi Beach to the south side. Looking from the two ends of the beach give a different perspective. 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 is seriously nice (but not our favourite) and we usually stop near the lifeguard station, made 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.

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).

Bronte Beach 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.

Centennial Park

Riding through the huge Centennial Park is a lovely experience. 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.”

However, the 1.5 hours was up so Fred dropped them back at The Rocks. Here they could continue exploring our wonderful city. In conclusion, the Eastern Suburbs Beach tour was a lot of fun, a great way to spend time while waiting for their flight home.

https://www.trolltours.com.au/product/eastern-sydney-panorama-trike-ride/

Geoff turned 80 – congratulations! His (and Sheila’s) daughter organised the surprise 80th trike ride with us. Our trike rider Fred, picked them up from their house in the inner west of Sydney.

ANZAC Bridge

Firstly, they rode over this fabulous bridge, our favourite bridge is the ANZAC Bridge. 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.

Barangaroo

Then it was 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. With the arrival of European settlers in 1788, it was here that the convicts first set up house and shop.

Crown Casino

They drove past Crown Sydney (also referred to as One Barangaroo), is a skyscraper in Barangaroo, Australia. It stands at a height of 271.3 m (890 ft) with 75 floors, making it the tallest building in Sydney and 4th tallest building in Australia. Construction first began in October 2016 and was completed in December 2020.

Harbour Bridge Southern Side

Then it was along Hickson Road and under the southern end of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, where this photo was taken. What a wonderful view! They continued on down George St and into Circular Quay. Further on they came close to the Sydney Opera House from a different angle. Even as “forever Sydneyites” we never get tired of looking at the Opera House. So far, the surprise 80th trike ride was so much fun.

Hyde Park + Chinatown + Wentworth Park Greyhound Racing

Further into Sydney, they rode past the lovely Hyde Park and into Chinatown. Sydney, and the colony of NSW, experienced Chinese migration as early as 1828. The first group of Chinese labourers from Amoy (modern day Xiamen) embarked for NSW in 1848.

However, the hour was almost up so Fred rode them past the Wentworth Park Greyhound Racing track. Greyhound racing first appeared on Wentworth Park land in 1932. Past the Sydney Fish Markets (best in Australia and we know!), over the wonderful Anzac Bridge again to drop off in the inner west. In conclusion the surprise 80th trike ride was a huge success.

Semi testimonial ?

Hi Katrina,

They had a great time, they absolutely loved it and Fred was wonderful, so patient with us getting them ready for the ride and they said he had excellent knowledge of the places he showed them. Will definitely write a review…

Thank you
Aggie

https://www.trolltours.com.au/product/design-your-own-ride/

What to do in Sydney? That’s a great question. Our passengers are from the UK and were in Brisbane when they did a “what to do in Sydney?” search. We came up, so they booked a tour with us yesterday while they were on the flight to Sydney. Well, we started talking before the flight and finalised it afterwards.

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

Harbour Bridge Southern Side

Then it was along Hickson Road and under the southern end of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. What a wonderful view! They continued on down George St and into Circular Quay. Further on they came close to the Sydney Opera House from a different angle. Even as “forever Sydneyites” we never get tired of looking at the Opera House. ?

Then they drove along George St (a major road in Sydney), past Circular Quay to St Mary’s Cathedral.

St Mary’s Cathedral

Past St Mary’s Cathedral which 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.

Mrs Macquarie’s Point

Luckily, there was still time left so they rode along Art Gallery Road, past the Royal Botanical Gardens to Mrs Macquarie’s Point was next. It has beautiful views looking west towards the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge. They ride past Mrs Macquarie’s Chair. Mrs Macquarie’s Chair is an exposed sandstone rock cut into the shape of a bench, on a peninsula in Sydney Harbour. It was hand carved by convicts in 1810, for Elizabeth Macquarie, the wife of Major-General Lachlan Macquarie, Governor of NSW. The Art Gallery of NSW is also along this road, it’s beautiful historic sandstone buildings were built between 1896 and 1909.

Woolloomooloo and Kings Cross

Next, they rode through the inner eastern suburb of Woolloomoolloo and past the famous Harry Cafe De Wheels. Harry’s Café de Wheels has been serving customers for over 80 years. They make delicious pies, hotdogs and more. Then it was up the hill and through Kings Cross.

Eastern suburbs

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). After there, they headed east through the posh suburbs of the eastern suburbs of Sydney, including the Bays: Rose Bay, Double Bay and Rushcutters Bay.

Watsons Bay and The Gap

North through some upper class suburbs, they rode to “The Gap” and stopped for photos. The view towards North Head and out to the South Pacific Ocean is amazing. The Gap is a spectacular place to lookout from, and it boasts an eclectic selection of flora and fauna for visitors to discover. The cliff itself is made from Sydney Sandstone, making it a part of the Sydney Basin and home to numerous bird and animal species.

The Gap also has a long history as a suicide spot for Sydney, given the easy access, combined with the flat wavecut ledge, and its dramatic location at the extreme edge of the city. A suicide was reported as early as 1863, that of Anne Harrison. She had lived at the Gap Hotel where her husband was licensee in the early 1860s. While there, her young nephew, who was visiting, accidentally fell to his death over The Gap.

She seems to have developed depression and after they had moved to the other side of the city, she took a cab in the middle of the night back to the Gap Hotel. From there she walked to The Gap to take her own life. Since then, there have been many suicides at The Gap or the adjacent cliffs, but also numerous accidental deaths from walking on the cliff top, first recorded in 1868, or from fishermen and others climbing down to the rocks below.

It became a location where someone wishing to disappear might pretend a suicide or accident, and has been used in possible murders made to look like suicides. Unrecorded are the numerous rescues by police, residents and visitors of people attempting suicide or having accidents.
https://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/the_gap

North Bondi and Brighton Lookout

Then they turned back as this is as far as you can go on South Head. There are a couple of lookouts at the North Bondi headland. They all offer beautiful views of Bondi Beach and out to the Tasman Sea, part of the South Pacific Ocean. So far, the what to do in Sydney search was a huge success. There is so much to do and see.

Bondi Beach

Next, they drove past the world famous Bondi Beach to the south side. Looking from the two ends of the beach give a different perspective. 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 is seriously nice (but not our favourite) and we usually stop near the lifeguard station, made 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.

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).

Bronte Beach 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.

Coogee

Next was Coogee Beach, another beautiful beach and slightly more famous than the previous beaches, due to a well known hotel in Coogee. The name Coogee is said to be taken from a local Aboriginal word koojah which means “smelly place”. Another version is koo-chai or koo-jah, both of which mean “the smell of the seaweed drying” in the Bidigal language, or “stinking seaweed”, a reference to the smell of decaying kelp washed up on the beach. Coogee was gazetted as a village in 1838. The first school was built in 1863, and the building was converted into the Coogee Bay Hotel in 1873 (Wikipedia).

However, the 2 hours was up and Fred dropped them off here in Coogee. Here they could continue their exploration of Sydney beaches. It was the prearranged drop off point, we don’t just stop the ride when the time is up ?. In conclusion, the passengers loved their “what to do in Sydney?” tour! They saw so much in a short space of time and had fun doing it. What great memories of their trip to Sydney they have!

https://www.trolltours.com.au/product/design-your-own-ride/

The North Shore Skimmer ride was organised by our passengers from the UK. They saw us and the tour online and asked their hotel receptionist to ring us. We organised our trike rider with just two days notice.

Phillip Street to Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Mosman, Balmoral Beach, Seaforth, Manly Wharf, Manly Beach and back to Manly Wharf

Opera House + Sydney Harbour Bridge

Firstly, 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. Then it was 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.

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

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.

lower North Shore suburbs

Continuing east, they rode through Cremorne, Mosman and down past the Taronga Zoo to Bradleys Head. Make sure you look for the koalas eating and sleeping in the gum trees. So far, the North Shore Skimmer ride is a huge success.

Bradleys Head and Balmoral Beach

Similarly, Bradleys Head has wonderful views across Sydney Harbour to the Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge and the CBD. 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. Crossing the Spit Bridge is fun, it has great views of Middle Harbour.

After Balmoral Beach they continued on past, Seaforth and Clontarf before stopping at Tania Park. Tania Park is on Dobroyd Head with stunning views looking across Sydney Harbour and through North and South Heads. Arabanoo lookout at Dobroyd Head is named in honour of Arabanoo, the first Aboriginal man to live among European settlers. It’s a great spot for whale watching, offering views over North and South Head and the Pacific Ocean. This is where the photo was taken.

Manly + Queenscliff

Then it was down the hill into Manly. They rode past Manly Beach and up past Queenscliff, which is really northern Manly. However, the hour was up so Fred turned around, drove back past Manly Beach and dropped the passengers off. There are plenty of good restaurants in Manly so they had a pick of places for lunch. Then they could explore the area before catching a ferry back to the Sydney CBD.

In conclusion, the North Shore Skimmer ride was a big success. Our UK passengers saw more than they would have by themselves.

https://www.trolltours.com.au/product/the-north-shore-skimmer-trike-tour/