Alan 24.03.19 – Harley Manly Patrol ride

Our passenger is from the UK and was given this present by his son. They are both over here in Australia for a holiday. The Harley Manly Patrol ride was their choice and it was a good one.

Harley Manly Patrol ride

Perry picked Alan up from Wynyard Station and took him on a fun experience. Firstly they rode over the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge to Blues Point Reserve. There they stopped for photos and a look at the beautiful view towards the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.

They continued on through the lovely lower north shore suburbs. This includes checking out Balmoral Beach and riding over the Spit Bridge. They rode on to Manly and past the famous Manly Beach.

The northern beaches really are spectacular, one of our favourite areas of Sydney. The coastline is magnificent. They rode along the coastline for a while until they reached Narrabeen Lakes. From there they rode along the treelined Wakehurst Parkway.

So they came back to Sydney a different way. Alan was able to see a lot more of Sydney than he would have as a typical tourist. The Harley Manly Patrol ride is a great tour to see many of the beautiful beaches which are hard to see unless you have a vehicle.
https://www.trolltours.com.au/product/design-your-own-ride/

Manly Beach is a beach situated among the Northern Beaches of Sydney, Australia in Manly, New South Wales. From north to south, the three main sections are Queenscliff, North Steyne, and South Steyne.

So I have just found an interesting tidbit: The beach was named by Capt. Arthur Philip for the indigenous people living there. Philip wrote that “[the indigenous people’s] confidence and manly behaviour made me give the name of Manly Cove to this place”.

Wakehurst Parkway’s ghost

Another interesting theory, it makes the area a lot more interesting!
https://www.9news.com.au/2018/10/30/19/46/haunted-roads-wakehurst-parkway-sydney-northern-beaches-ghost-kelly-halloween

Jennifer + Sam 23.03.19 – surprise 60th birthday Harley tour

Jennifer emailed wanting to organise a surprise 60th birthday Harley tour. It was for her husband and she decided to go as well. Yes, we certainly could arrange it.

Jungle and Phil picked them up at their hotel in North Sydney. They firstly did the Kirribilli Loop. This meant they stopped at Jeffery St Wharf for photos. It is a very memorable place to stop as the views across Sydney Harbour to the Sydney Opera House and Sydney city are beautiful.

The Kirribilli Loop then means we take our passengers under the northern end of the Harbour Bridge. It gives a very different but fun perspective to the usual travelling on top view.

Next they rode to Bradleys Head. This means they ride down the hill past Taronga Zoo. Often you can see the koalas sleeping or eating as you go past. The bottom of the road at Bradleys Head is another wonderful view across the harbour.

The next destination was Balmoral Beach. A very well known area which most Sydneyites know about. You need to be wealthy to live here. It has a nice swimming beach and views across the the Sydney Heads.

Their time was nearly up so they turned around and headed back to North Sydney and their hotel. The surprise 60th birthday Harley tour was a real success. Sam got a huge surprise and loved every minute of the experience. https://www.trolltours.com.au/product/design-your-own-ride/

Bradleys Head

is a headland protruding from the north shore of Sydney Harbour, within the metropolitan area of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is named after the First Fleet naval officer William Bradley. The original Aboriginal inhabitants belonged to the Borogegal clan of the Eora nation, and was known as Borogegy, Booraghee, Booragy or Burrogy. Also on the headland is an active lighthouse, Bradleys Head Light, constructed in 1905

Simone 21.03.19 – Harley tour through Sydney city

Our passenger really wanted to do a Harley tour through Sydney city before she left our wonderful city. She rang us yesterday to organise the ride for today. We have many Harley riders so the short notice wasn’t a problem, though we do prefer more notice if possible.

Jungle George picked her up from her hotel in Darling Harbour. They rode over the Sydney Harbour Bridge to Blues Point. It has a great view over Sydney Harbour to the Opera House and the Sydney CBD. They continued on around the northern suburbs before heading back over the bridge into the city.

They then rode around the Domain – Yurong Precinct. It rides past the most easterly edge of the Royal Botanical Gardens. The view westward is wonderful. It is towards the Sydney Opera House and the Sydmey Harbour Bridge.

They continued on through Woolloomooloo and the infamous Kings Cross. Simone was so happy with the ride she wrote on Facebook almost before Jungle got back.

“Definitely the most amazing experience I’ve ever had. First time on a Harley, loved every second even though it was raining today.
Jungle George was the most friendly and very capable tour guide. Couldn’t of asked for a better bloke. I will definitely return to troll tours when ever I’m in Sydney and request jungle George to take me again for sure.
Jungle George picked me up right outside my accommodation and took me back to my hotel door step.
Highly recommended for anyone young or old.”

A Harley tour through Sydney city really is a wonderful experience that is hard to beat. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact us to ask it.

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

Port Jackson, consisting of the waters of Sydney Harbour, Middle Harbour, North Harbour and the Lane Cove and Parramatta Rivers, is the natural harbour of Sydney,

Arnie + Sandra 18.03.19 – 70th birthday trike tour

A 70th birthday trike tour was organised for Sandra. Arnie her husband came along for the ride as well.

The 70th birthday trike tour

Craig picked them up from a hotel in Redfern and rode up the famous Oxford Street. This is where the Mardi Gras Parade goes along. They then went to Centennial Park and loved it. It is a lovely, large park with plenty of wildlife and usually horses as well.

Next they rode to South Coogee Beach and then north past the lovely eastern beaches – Clovelly, Bronte and Bondi Beach. They returned to the drop off place via the posh Rose Bay and Double Bay.

Their daughter wrote to us, ” they had a great time, they loved the trike, said the driver Craig was lovely and were just grateful that the weather cleared up so they could ride”. A 70th birthday trike tour is a great present, something memorable and fun to do. The Seniors can do it easily as once they are on the trike they don’t need to walk or get off until the end.

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

A little about two places they rode through

Centennial Parklands was 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.

“Bondi” or “Boondi” is an Aboriginal word meaning water breaking over rocks or noise of water breaking over rocks. The Australian Museum records that Bondi means place where a fight using boondi sticks (nullas nullas or fighting sticks) took place. Bondi Beach is a popular beach located 7 km (4 mi) east of the Sydney CBD.

Christine + Sonja 09.03.19 – 14th birthday surprise ride

Grandma organised a 14th birthday surprise ride! Sonja just didn’t know what was happening. She sure was happy though. Christine had organised the surprise ride earlier in the week and was so happy we could do what she wanted.

Craig picked them both up from grandma’s place. This was in the inner west of Sydney. They did the 3 Bridges ride.

Testimonial

Even before the rider (Craig) got back Christine wrote to us: “Thank you for the fabulous Troll Tour with Craig for my Granddaughters birthday. Will recommend this to all.” We love happy customers!!

The 3 Bridges ride

The 3 Bridges ride is a good one. Firstly Craig rode them over the Sydney Harbour Bridge. As we have previously mentioned, we love it! It is a wonderful structure to ride over. We love to lift our head up to see the arch in all its glory. We aren’t talking about the riders though, they keep their sight firmly on the road.

First stop is Kirribilli. As you can see by the photo this is a great place to look across the harbour. The view really is impressive. The first thing you will see is the Sydney Opera House and the CBD. if you look right you will see a different perspective of the bridge.

Then they started their adventure again by riding into the lower north shore suburbs. This led them into the inner western suburbs where the record building Gladesville Bridge is. It is the second main bridge on the 3 Bridges ride.

The next place they rode to was ANZAC Bridge (a cable-stayed bridge). BUT, there was a detour though. A really good one which always happens on the 3 Bridges ride. The detour was the “Bay Run”. It is a 7km footpath for walkers and pushbike riders which travels around ‘Iron Cove’. This is a very scenic inlet of Sydney Harbour.

After the Bay Run they rode over the wonderful ANZAC Bridge and back to home in the inner west. A 14th birthday surprise ride was the perfect present for a teenager! Grandma loved it also.
https://www.trolltours.com.au/product/three-bridges-trike-tour/

Ellie + Mohsen 03.03.19 – Valentine present Harley ride

On Valentines Day Mohsen gave Ellie flowers but also promised a Harley ride. So the idea of a Valentine present Harley ride was born. He made good his promise today!

Ellie loves Harleys but was terrified of getting on motorcycles. Jungle and Perry calmed her down and she got on a Harley. Eventually she started to relax and loved it. They both want to do a Harley ride again.

Our passengers live in Sydney but caught the train in to Wynyard. This meant they could actually see more of the city than if we started outside the CBD. Perry and Jungle picked them up at Wynyard and took them for a fun ride. They rode over the Sydney Harbour Bridge, an experience we never get tired of. First stop was Kirribilli for photos and to see the beautiful view across the the Opera House and the CBD.

Kirribilli route

They did the Kirribilli route which means riding under the north side of the Harbour Bridge, past the Luna Park face and the North Sydney Olympic Pool. A short ride around North Sydney before heading back over the bridge to the Domain. Then they rode past the edge of the Royal Botanical Gardens to Mrs Macquarie’s Point.

There are wonderful views from there: North across Sydney Harbour to Kirribilli Point and west to the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. Next they headed into Woolloomoollo and the infamous Kings Cross. The riders then took them back to Wynyard for them to catch the train back home.

Valentine present Harley ride

The Valentine present Harley ride was the best present ever! Ellie has conquered her fear of being on the back of a Harley.
https://www.trolltours.com.au/product/design-your-own-ride/

Sydney Harbour is amazing. Here are eleven things you probably don’t know, I didn’t. For example: One Sydharb is an official Australian unit of measurement: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-04/11-things-you-should-know-about-sydney-harbour/5714612


Mardi Gras 02.03.19 – Mardi Gras Parade trike

For the last six years we have supplied a Mardi Gras Parade trike. Each time it has been for gay people with a disability. They absolutely love it. We organise with our customer a pick up place and time. It depends on where their float is in the parade as to what time we turn up.

We rode around the city to Hyde Park where the parade starts from. This year we were the fourth float so we arrived early. Steve was our rider this year and he was kept entertained by the other participants in the parade.

Oxford Street

The parade takes about 1 hour, it meanders up Oxford Street at quite a good walking pace. At the end of the parade the floats disperse and most participants stay up and party all night.
https://www.trolltours.com.au/product/design-your-own-ride/

Mardi Gras Parade trike

A Mardi Gras Parade trike is a great vehicle to use. Our passengers can wave and can be seen by the onlookers lining the road.

History

On a cold night in Darlinghurst, Sydney in 1978, a small group of protestors formed to contribute to the international Gay Celebrations, the resulting police violence and arrests created a defining night in not only Sydney’s GLBTQI community but Australia’s cultural heritage.

“You could hear them in Darlinghurst police station being beaten up and crying out from pain. The night had gone from nerve-wracking to exhilarating to traumatic all in the space of a few hours. The police attack made us more determined to run Mardi Gras the next year.”

Over the months that followed, more protests and arrests took place – and the actions of the authorities came to be seen as heavy handed. By April 1979 the Parliament of NSW repealed the NSW Summary Offences Act legislation that had allowed the arrests to be made. As such that first Mardi Gras march was a major civil rights milestone beyond the gay community. Up to 3,000 people marched in an incident-free parade in 1979.

Here is a link to the history of the Sydney Mardi Gras.
http://www.mardigras.org.au/timeline

Maggie + Zenti 01.03.19 – birthday trike tour present

It was Maggie’s trike tour birthday present and it was a great present! Our trike rider Steve picked them up from their home in the upper north shore of Sydney. Not wanting to go near the city due to Friday afternoon traffic we organised a different route.

They rode along Mona Vale Road and down to Coal & Candle Creek. They then continued along through the Wakehurst Parkway. It’s a great road for a ride with trees lining it. For a short time you could think you are in the country. It used to be more fun when the speed limit was 80km/h but it has been reduced due to construction work on a new hospital. They continued into Roseville and then back to drop off.

The trike tour birthday present was a fun way to celebrate a birthday and to start the weekend. https://www.trolltours.com.au/product/design-your-own-ride/

Coal and Candle Creek is a creek located in the northern beaches area of Sydney. It is a tributary of Cowan Creek which flows into the Hawkesbury River. The Hawkesbury River (also Hawkesbury-Nepean River), is a semi–mature tide dominated drowned valley estuary. It is located to the west and north of Sydney,. The Hawkesbury River and its associated main tributary, the Nepean River, virtually encircle the metropolitan region of Sydney.

The Hawkesbury River has its origin at the confluence of the Nepean River and the Grose River, to the north of Penrith and travels for approximately 120 kilometres (75 mi) in a north–easterly and then south–easterly direction to its mouth at Broken Bay, about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from the Tasman Sea.

The “Upper North Shore” usually refers to the suburbs between Roseville and Hornsby, north-west of the Sydney CBD.

David 01.03.19 – Harley ride 40th present

David was given a Harley ride 40th present from his in-laws. They bought a Gift Voucher from us so David could choose a time and date that was convenient for him. It is a great way to celebrate and something different from the usual birthday presents.

Phil picked him up from Petersham in the inner-west of Sydney. They rode to the wonderful Anzac Bridge to start the 3 Bridges run. Next on the 3 Bridges run is the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge. After riding over the Bridge they did the Kirribilli Loop. This does a loop along part of Sydney Harbour and you can see the wonderful views towards the Opera House. It also takes you under the north end of the Bridge which is a different perspective to be on it.

Next they rode into the lower north shore suburbs until they reached the inner-west. This led them to the interesting Gladesville Bridge. It has wonderful views looking east to the city and the Harbour Bridge.

After riding over the Gladesville Bridge they joined up with a main arterial thoroughfare of Victoria Road. They travelled along it for a short while before turning off into the inner west suburb of Drummoyne and Rodd Point. They followed part of the Bay Run. This is a 7 km walking and bike riding track. People come from all over Sydney to use it. It follows Iron Cove, which is part of Parramatta River.

They then rode back to the drop off point in Marrickville. The Harley ride 40th birthday present was a lot of fun and even though David is a Sydneysider, he saw things he hadn’t seen before.

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

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a heritage-listed steel through arch bridge across Sydney Harbour that carries rail, vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic between the CBD and the North Shore. The dramatic view of the bridge, the harbour, and the nearby Sydney Opera House is an iconic image of Sydney, and Australia itself. The bridge is nicknamed “The Coathanger” because of its arch-based design

Julie + Kevin 28.02.19 – wedding anniversary Harley tour

A wedding anniversary Harley tour was a great way to celebrate an important occasion. Kevin was given the Harley ride as a Christmas present. Julie decided she’d like to do a Harley ride as well.

They are from Orange (4 hours west of Sydney) and decided to celebrate their wedding anniversary by doing the Harley ride when they came to Sydney. Phil and Perry picked them up from their hotel and took them on the experience of a lifetime.

They rode over the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge and did the Kirribilli Loop. The Loop has wonderful views across Sydney Harbour towards the Sydney Opera House and the city. It also takes you under the north end of the Harbour Bridge. This will show you a unique aspect of it.

They continued into North Sydney for a quick look before heading back over the bridge. Then they rode past the beautiful Royal Botanical Gardens. There is a beautiful view towards the west of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. Next they rode past Mrs Macquarie’s Chair, a chair carved out of stone. They rode into Woolloomooloo where the iconic and original Harry’s Cafe De Wheels is located.

They continued on through the infamous Kings Cross before heading to Circular Quay. So then they could start to explore Sydney on foot and have some lunch.

A wedding anniversary Harley tour was a great celebration of an important occasion. An experience they will never forget and one they absolutely loved.

https://www.trolltours.com.au/product/the-city-viewer/

Mrs Macquarie’s Chair (also known as Lady Macquarie’s Chair) is an exposed sandstone rock cut into the shape of a bench. It is on a peninsula in Sydney Harbour. It was hand carved by convicts in 1810 for Elizabeth Macquarie. She was the wife of Major-General Lachlan Macquarie, Governor of NSW.