Our Adventure around OZ - 2011 - Dubbo

Tarongs western Plains Zoo and Old Dubbo Gaol

02.08.2011

We left the Warrumbungle’s at about 11am……no hurry…….nice to have the air conditioner on warm!! Stopped at Coonabarabran and stocked up on some food and the Sunday Telegraph. Funny to see a line of caravans and cars parked outside Woolworths on the side street, think everyone had the same idea. Decided to stay overnight at Terramungamine reserve, 10 kms north of Dubbo, as we pulled in there were already about 8 vans and campers set up there, so no worries about safety! Free, and toilets as well. Lovely place on the river. Had our first drops of rain since we left through the night, but woke to the usual blue sunny skies. Next morning headed into Dubbo to the Big 4 Parklands tourist park. We are Big 4 Members and we had a $10 voucher from the Sydney caravan show as well……..we were there at 9.30am and they let us in, so straight to the laundry we went. Three loads of washing later….decided to stay two nights as it is very relaxed and a well laid out park. With the extra night it averaged out at $25 per night, so a good deal for a nice park. Went for a drive into town after lunch, Andy had a work colleague to catch up with, then we filled up with fuel. Went to UHF place where we replaced our antenna, which decided to leave our car at the Warrumbungle’s…….we had retrieved it but decided we needed something a little more sturdier! Went to Repco and got some spare parts……secret men’s business, cause Andy took a very long time in there…….back to the park, where I caught up with the managers, I used to work with Deidre at Port Macquarie police station, nice to see her again.
Andy’s mate turned up and we sat outside and had drinks, then cooked some streak on the BBQ. Next morning we headed to the Taronga western Plains Zoo, what a great place to visit. You have the option of walking, it’s about 10 kms full circuit, drive your own vehicle, or hire bikes or electric type golf carts. We opted to drive and walk, so we parked the car in a central spot and walked from there. There weather was about 24c, absolutely beautiful, we couldn’t believe we were in Dubbo in winter!! We had packed a thermos for coffee and sandwiches for lunch so had them along the way. We had to make a bit of a 4wd tour, somehow we ended up at the exit gate, we hadn’t seen all we had to see, and the circuit is one way for cars, so we took a short cut, on a dirt track through the bush…… think it was a walking track!! We ended up at a picnic ground, and a lovely man moved his car so we could get out!! So note for next time………see all you want BEFORE the exit gate!! .We left about 2.30pm, as we thought we may be able to squeeze a visit to the Old Dubbo Gaol. Got there about 3pm, the gaol is in the centre of Dubbo’s main street. $15 each for entry and we wandered around loving all the history. The guy at the front entry came up and told us there was a talk in 5 minutes on escapes from the gaol, so we wandered over, and there he was, all dressed up as a prisoner telling stories of escapee’s. It was so funny, he had the other two couples in fits of laughter as well, and it really made the visit more informative. Back to the park and our “home” for a BBQ dinner, the place has really filled up, it is a transient park, where people only stay a night or two. The young family next to us is from Adelaide, and when I told them we were heading to Waikerie, she couldn’t believe it, as that’s where they were heading to pick up their dog. She said “no one has ever heard of Waikerie haha!” We love talking to people and hearing where they are going and what they have done. There is so much to see and do here in Dubbo……..but we must move on.