Two-Wheel Coastal Sightseeing's a Breeze
By David Ellis with Mike Smith
For as long as he likes to remember, Wollongong's Steve Melchior has had a
passion for motor cycles, especially those with the Harley-Davidson badge.
With the wind whistling through his handle-bar moustache, Steve has little
hesitation to announce "I just love this job".
And why not, when you consider that eight years ago he swapped an engineering
maintenance job at Qantas to turn his love into a career, taking guests on
chauffeured Harley-Davidson sightseeing rides along such spectacularly scenic
routes as Lawrence Hargrave Drive linking Royal National Park with Wollongong,
and the amazing Grand Pacific Drive.
Wollongong: View from Sea Cliff Bridge
Steve wasn't exactly born to be wild. However, he couldn't think of a better way
to spend a day than to put on a helmet, don an ex-Police leather jacket, and go
for a ride.
His company - Just Cruisin' Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Tours - has a selection
of privately-owned bikes at its disposal for a ride on the back of, or in a
sidecar. A Trike, if you are after a bit more stability, can also be booked for
one of his informative and entertaining road trips.
With the NSW South Coast turning on a clear day we opted to take a Harley
pillion ride behind Steve ($100 per hour) through the southern reaches of the
Royal National Park. This is Australia's oldest national park, with shaded
pockets of rainforest and breathtaking views from Bald Hill, site of a memorial
to pioneering aviator Lawrence Hargrave who experimented with flying box-kites
and other flying machines here in the 19th century, and popular today with hang
gliders and paragliders.
Wollongong: Steve Melchior
Ideally located nearby is Pauline Smith's long established Otford Pantry, a
popular spot for a coffee and her famous homemade apple pie.
A couple of minutes south is the jewel in the region's crown, the Sea Cliff
Bridge, which meanders like a large serpent for 665 metres, jutting out over
rocky platforms and the waters of the ocean - a far safer alternative to the
previous cliff-hugging single lane highway that was regularly closed by rock
falls and landslides.
On the southern side we park and jump off the bike for a leisurely walk across a
section of the bridge as do many on a sundrenched weekend. To join Steve on his
sightseeing ride is one of the pleasurable reasons to visit Wollongong and the
scenic coastal strip.
Book a night or two at the centrally-located beachside retreat of Novotel
Northbeach, and you will have the chance to experience a city which offers a lot
more than at first meets the eye.
Wollongong Novotel Northbeach
And maybe at some stage swap the motor cycle for a pushbike through such
companies as Mobile Bike Rental, and so combine some exercise with sightseeing
along a dedicated path from Wollongong north to Bulli, at times with the beaches
just over your shoulder.
You may even try your hand at the tandem hang gliding from Bald Hill or
skydiving from North Wollongong before or after driving to the top of the
escarpment to walk along Illawarra Fly Treetop Walk with its far-reaching views
of the coast.
While the views are many, so too are the dining options, including an inviting
Samuel's at Thirroul, a smart boutique style restaurant where the service is
warm and friendly and the dishes so varied and tantalisingly listed that the
most difficult part is in the choosing.
Wollongong Diggies: Sunday Morning
In a prime location overlooking the protected waters of Wollongong Harbour and
just a five-minute stroll from the lighthouse, is the renowned Harbourfront
restaurant, its speciality of fresh Santorini prawns a highlight as an entrée,
or try the tempura prawns and scallops.
A chilli and prawn linguini is also popular both as an entrée or a main course,
and so too the black mussel and crab risotto. And, of the mains, the John Dory
is a tasty choice - but be prepared to dine on portions more generously sized
than you'll find in many a capital city restaurant of the same standard.
For breakfast, Diggies on the beachfront at North Wollongong is a favourite
among locals, and doesn't burn a hole in the pocket. And to explore such
eateries provides as much food for thought as joining Steve on his ride along
the Grand Pacific Drive.
Details: Check out these sites:
www.tourismwollongong.com; www.grandpacificdrive.com.au; & www.justcruisintours.com.au
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Wollongong Coast from Bald Hill
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