Sydney Sightseeing Bus Tour Historical

Oh deer. In 2000 when the Super Metrobuses were first imported from Hong Kong this very young man came to visit them in our Arncliffe depot and inform us that he would get a licence and drive them for us.

Who remembers this one?

Mr Braker. Driving but not in control.

How many staff still working on sightseeing tours in Sydney can remember Ted Stocks, one of the original City Sightseeing Sydney controllers?

State Transit Authority, the original operators of the Sydney and Bondi sightseeing services celebrated 85 years of service and showed off by putting a service bus in their old Explorer livery.

In December 2010 more than a little rain fell on the City Sightseeing depot in Banksmeadow cementing the decision to put a roof over the yard. Today all of the buses shown here were either scrapped or moved to the operation in Darwin.

7 years ago today City Sightseeing Pty Ltd purchased the Explorer Sydney and Bondi services from State Transit Authority. Immediately they stopped operating the 'City Sightseeing' service and began operating both services as 'Explorer' in open top double deck buses. This created an Australian brand that covered Sydney and Bondi, Brisbane, the Blue Mountains, Hobart, Perth and Darwin.

Sydney sightseeing buses have always stopped at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month for a minutes silence to remember those who gave their lives for our freedom. Lest we forget.

City Sightseeing Pty Ltd purchased the single deck Explorer service from STA and modified the 15 double decker bus fleet livery overnight in November 2010. Here we see 430 in it's new livery. The first CS Ankai on the 'new' Explorer first day.

Christmas day 2012.

A small part of Sydney's sightseeing bus history that didn't last very long.

Tuesday 25th April 2017 is ANZAC DAY, this is Australia's day of rememberance to those who have served our nation and continue to do so in our defence force.
The traditional ANZAC DAY march will take place in Sydney along Elizabeth St, this march attracts thousands of people young and old who line the street to pay respect.
Our Sydney and Bondi services will operate all day with our normal shedule with a couple of minor detours due to road closures for the march.
... The Sydney tour will not be able to access stop 2, Elizabeth St until after 4pm.
The Bondi service will not be able to access stop B, Bathurst St all day.
With our respect, we wish all those participating or attending the march a wonderful day.
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Yes the Big Bus Sydney and Bondi Explorer services are operating all day every day. Have a happy Australia Day.

$45 each is far too much. Harbour and skyline views spruiked in the commentary are obscured by tall houses and trees. I think they forget trees grow. Not all stops were stopped at and usually we didn't even know where we were. Bus stops are not labelled clearly enough or even at all that they were Explorer stops. The maps are deceptive and unhelpful. The ticket lady was rude and unprofessional. She was smoking at the bus stop which is illegal. Then she made me wait to buy my ticket while she took a personal call, using body language and tone of voice that came across as accusing me of being in the wrong for being a customer. Then after being seated I discovered we were supposed to have been offered headphones for the commentary. This same woman then apologised for not issuing them while she was standing at the door of the bus smoking again! This service was hard to use for native English speakers, I can only imagine the difficulties for non-English-speaking people. Do not be suckered into this tourist trap. For $15 a day on Opal cards on ordinary city buses you see more, do more, can go more places with more freedom. Highly disappointing and not recommended.

$45 each is far too much. Harbour and skyline views spruiked in the commentary are obscured by tall houses and trees. I think they forget trees grow. Not all stops were stopped at and usually we didn't even know where we were. Bus stops are not labelled clearly enough or even at all that they were Explorer stops. The maps are deceptive and unhelpful. The ticket lady was rude and unprofessional. She was smoking at the bus stop which is illegal. Then she made me wait to buy my ticket while she took a personal call, using body language and tone of voice that came across as accusing me of being in the wrong for being a customer. Then after being seated I discovered we were supposed to have been offered headphones for the commentary. This same woman then apologised for not issuing them while she was standing at the door of the bus smoking again! This service was hard to use for native English speakers, I can only imagine the difficulties for non-English-speaking people. Do not be suckered into this tourist trap. For $15 a day on Opal cards on ordinary city buses you see more, do more, can go more places with more freedom. Highly disappointing and not recommended.

$45 each is far too much. Harbour and skyline views spruiked in the commentary are obscured by tall houses and trees. I think they forget trees grow. Not all stops were stopped at and usually we didn't even know where we were. Bus stops are not labelled clearly enough or even at all that they were Explorer stops. The maps are deceptive and unhelpful. The ticket lady was rude and unprofessional. She was smoking at the bus stop which is illegal. Then she made me wait to buy my ticket while she took a personal call, using body language and tone of voice that came across as accusing me of being in the wrong for being a customer. Then after being seated I discovered we were supposed to have been offered headphones for the commentary. This same woman then apologised for not issuing them while she was standing at the door of the bus smoking again! This service was hard to use for native English speakers, I can only imagine the difficulties for non-English-speaking people. Do not be suckered into this tourist trap. For $15 a day on Opal cards on ordinary city buses you see more, do more, can go more places with more freedom. Highly disappointing and not recommended.