Southern Spectacular family tour – Horsburgh Family 10.04.25

The Southern Spectacular family tour on 3 trikes was so much fun. Graeme organised it for himself, his wife and 4 grandchildren. He had been on one of our trike tours before and thought it was a great experience. They were all in Sydney for a holiday. Our trike riders picked them up from a hotel in the Rocks, the kids got a huge surprise!

The Rocks

Firstly, they rode through the Rocks, such an interesting place in/of Sydney. It’s the most historic place in Australia! It 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.

Secondly, they rode through the city, down the Eastern Distributor and into the southern suburbs of Sydney.

Captain Cook Bridge

Next, they rode over the Captain Cook Bridge. This bridge has good views of the river. It is a road bridge that carries Taren Point and Rocky Point Roads across the Georges River. It’s often called the Taren Point Bridge. It consists of seven spans totalling 475 m in length, with a 506 m long deck that is 27.5 m wide with six traffic lanes and two shared bicycle and pedestrian paths. Its foundations extend as deep as 67 metres (220 ft) below water level to its sandstone base. The bridge was opened on 29 May 1965.

Sutherland

Sutherland Shire is located at the southern border of the Sydney metropolitan area, 26km from the Sydney CBD. It is home to one of Sydney’s longest surf beaches. Moreover, Kurnell within the Sutherland Shire was the original landing place of Captain James Cook on 29th April 1770, making the Shire the birthplace of our modern nation.

the Royal National Park

After that, they rode along some other roads and through the historic Royal National Park. Established in 1879 it is Australia’s first national park and the world’s second oldest national park – after Yellowstone in the USA. It features unique heritage attractions, along with fascinating plants, birds and animals.

Originally known as just National Park, it was renamed Royal National Park in 1955, in honour of Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Australia in 1954. It was added to the Australian National Heritage List in 2006.

Stanwell Tops

There were so many hang gliders around today, so they stopped for a coffee and stretch at Stanwell Tops. They hung around longer than usual because it was so interesting to watch. They stopped for a coffee/drink and a stretch.

Stanwell Tops rests on the Illawarra escarpment, overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the neighbouring village of Stanwell Park. It is bounded on all sides by state-forest reserves and other forested crown lands. Already, the Southern Spectacular family tour on trikes is showing our passengers some interesting and unique sights.

Bald Hill Lookout

Above all, a part of Stanwell Tops, Bald Hill Lookout not only has excellent views but the area is also internationally known as a major hang-gliding point. It was on the beach below Bald Hill that Lawrence Hargrave, an Australian pioneer of flight, made a successful flight with his box kite, on 12 November 1894. A memorial cairn dedicated to him has been erected at the peak of the hill near the car park.

Bald Hill overlooks the iconic Sea Cliff Bridge which is where we are heading after here.

Stanwell Park

After that, they drove down to Stanwell Park and saw the beautiful beach. So far, the Southern Spectacular family tour on the trikes was impressive. Our passengers had seen some beautiful views and ridden through the lovely National Park. Something not many people experience.

The area was originally inhabited by the Wodiwodi Aboriginal clan of the Tharawal people. It was traversed by 3 shipwrecked sailors in an epic journey of survival along hundreds of miles of coastline until rescued at Wattamolla, north of Stanwell Park. Two of their companions were unable to negotiate the Coal Cliffs where the Sea Cliff Bridge is today, and their remains were found by explorer George Bass, who also reported on the rich coal seam apparent in the cliffs.

Coalcliff

Coalcliff is beginning of the famous Sea Cliff Bridge coming from the North. It is a suburb of northern Wollongong at the base of the Illawarra escarpment. Founded in 1797 when survivors of a wreck set out to find Sydney and found coal here, which they used to make a fire for warmth.

Explorer George Bass was then sent by Governor Hunter to investigate, and found several seams that extended for some distance.

Sea Cliff Bridge

Continuing on, we rode onto the Sea Cliff Bridge and along the coastline. The 665 metre long Sea Cliff Bridge is a highlight along the Grand Pacific Drive – an award-winning drive which takes is a 140 kilometres worth of coastal scenery from the Royal National Park, Loftus down to Nowra.

Bulli Pass

Next, they rode north up the Bulli Pass. The original Throsby track, which lay less than a kilometre to the south of today’s Bulli Pass road, was used from 1815 to 1844. In 1867 today’s Bulli Pass was built, the maximum grade on Bulli Pass is 14.6 per cent. Wheeled vehicles began using the road in 1863.

Sublime Point Lookout

At the top is Sublime Point Lookout which offers 180 degree views over the sea, the rainforest and the 17 beaches that span the coastline to Wollongong.

Princes Highway

Instead of riding back on the motorway, the riders took them along the Princes Highway. It runs parallel to the motorway but is quieter and has a nicer atmosphere. However, the 4.5 hours was up so they kept riding and dropped the passengers back at their hotel. In conclusion, the Southern Spectacular family tour on trikes was a success. A memorable experience and a lot of fun. Not to mention the beautiful scenery they saw along the way.

Check out the Southern Spectacular tour here!

or just email us: trevor@trolltours.com.au