Harley bucket list tick – Marie 05.11.24

Marie’s son knew his 83 year old Mum has always wanted to do a Harley Davidson tour around Sydney. So when she came for a visit he organised it for her. She lives interstate and has her own motorcycle licence. Marie wrote to us after the tour; “…Loved every minute of my ride …”. The Harley bucket list tick was a huge happy tick!

Milsons Point

Our rider met Marie at Milsons Point, just over the Harbour Bridge. We emailed a map of where to meet. Milsons Point is a suburb on the lower North Shore of Sydney. It is located 3 km north of the Sydney CBD.

The suburb was named after James Milson, a free settler originally from England. Milson settled in the area near Milsons Point and established a profitable business supplying ships with stone ballast, fresh water, and the produce of his dairy, orchard, and vegetable gardens. In the early 1820s, Milson settled in the vicinity of Jeffrey Street, Kirribilli.

Blues Point Reserve

Firstly, they headed off to Blues Point Reserve for a photo of our fabulous harbour with the Opera House and Harbour Bridge as a backdrop. 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, it’s where this photo was taken.

Bradleys Head

Secondly, they rode east along a couple of back roads to Bradleys Head. While riding past Taronga Zoo to Bradleys Head, make sure you look for the koalas eating and sleeping in the gum trees. They did see a few brush turkeys running around.

Bradleys Head 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.

Mosman Wharf

Next, it was down to Mosman Wharf, with beautiful Sydney Harbour views. The first regular ferry service was arranged by property developer Richard Harnett in the early 1870s. A tram service to the wharf commenced in March 1897.

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. Already, the Harley bucket list tick tour 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!

The Spit

Then, it was 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.

Balgowlah

Next, they rode through Balgowlah. It was named in 1832 after an Aboriginal word meaning north harbour in reference to its position from Port Jackson. Firstly, they rode through Clontarf (Irish: Cluain Tarbh, meaning “meadow of the bull”), which is a lovely harbour suburb. There are some lovely views from here.

Queenscliff

The northern end of Manly Beach is actually called Queenscliff Beach. It was named in honour of Queen Victoria (England). The area was popular with holiday-makers from the early 1900s to World War I, who stayed in holiday shacks on the headland. The suburb is famous amongst the Australian surf beaches for its “heavy” waves (bomboras) that break out at sea.

Manly

Of course, they had to ride past the famous main beach of 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.

However, the 1.5 hrs was almost up so they headed west and then south over the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Pyrmont Bridge

Finally they rode to the drop off point. The Pyrmont Bridge, a heritage-listed swing bridge across Cockle Bay, is located in Darling Harbour, part of Port Jackson, west of the CBD. Yes, we have many layers of names for places 😆.

The first Pyrmont Bridge was opened on 17 March 1858, and was a wooden pile bridge with an iron centre ‘swing panel’ to allow ships to pass. In the first two weeks 20,000 pedestrians paid the one penny toll. When the NSW government bought the bridge for £52,500 from the Pyrmont Bridge Company in 1884, they abolished the toll.

Marie was dropped off near Pyrmont Bridge, at her son’s work place. In conclusion, the Harley bucket list tick was a huge tick. Marie loved the whole experience and saw parts of Sydney she had never seen before.

Design your own ride!