Western Plains Zoo

We made good time from our camp at Boyd River to Orange via Oberon and Bathurst.  We enjoyed a leg stretch in Orange, and followed the railway line north to Wellington via Euchareena, appreciating the diversion off the main highway.  We did have a peek at Lake Burrendong, with the intention of stopping at the State Park for lunch, however we were politely told that it was $10 to enter the park.  Needless to say we wern't that desperate for lunch and drove on to Wellington, 27km to the north west.


The suspension bridge over the Bell River at Wellington

Cameron Park at Wellington is a favourite place of ours to stop for lunch, with a suspension bridge over the Bell River providing entertainment for energetic little legs. A short stint on the Mitchell Highway to Dubbo reminded us of why we enjoyed taking the roads less travelled.  Mr Red Audi was a menace to all on the road, tailgating and trying to take every chance to get past us.  We were following a truck at a reasonable distance, and whilst the Audi got past us easily enough we had the pleasure of watching his dangerous driving for the next twenty five minutes or so as we meandered into Dubbo.

For the boys the Zoo was the whole purpose of our trip north.  We booked into the Big 4 Caravan Park, just a short cycle from the zoo, and caught up with CarieNan and PaBob who had joined us from the north.  The park well laid out, and with so many kids staying with bikes to explore the zoo, they had laid out a BMX track to keep the kids amused, in addition to the jumping pillow, pool and playground. I think Jo was just happy to have a hot shower!


About to head off for our safari at the zoo!

The Saturday of our Zoo adventure dawned drizzly with a forecast of passing showers.  We gamely packed a picnic lunch into our backpack, and prepared to boys for a day on their push bikes.  As we arrived and bought our tickets the heavens opened and we started making alternative arrangements, however the shower passed and we entered to zoo on our bikes – raincoats on!


As always the play equipment was a lot of fun... the boys ride the Rhino's

While they keep clear of the real deal!

With some good friends from Gulgong with kids similar ages, we hit the zoo.   For those who haven't been, the Taronga Western Plains Zoo is an open zoo, with a 6 kilometre ring road you can drive, ride or walk around.  The animals are in large paddocks or enclosures, seperated with a mound and small electric fence, or a moat for the more energetic and athletic animals. 




The Giraffe were simply beautiful



Almost close enough to touch the bison

The lions were in their ususal pose - sleeping.  The kids were a bit disappointed in this, so somehow managed to get all the kids in the crowd to roar in unison in an attempt to get the lions to roar back.  Their attempts were highly amusing, with a little voice ringing out "One, Two, Three" and then the rest joining in "ROAR!!!".


A lazy yawn was the best they got

And then back to relaxing!

The giraffe were so ungainly, but simply beautiful and captivated Mum



I was taken by the Sumatrain Tiger

The Siamang provided a lot of laughs with their antics.

The little legs managed the 6km track remarkably well, and we appreciated being on bikes rather than attempting to get the kids in and out of the car every couple of hundred metres or so.  Little legs started to get a bit tired at the half way mark, so we cut back through the zoo, only to find they got a new lease of life at the playground.


Two new monkeys were spotted at the Playground!

Thankfully the weather held out for most of the day, so we didn't get too soaked.  The rain set in as we cycled home, and we sure appreciated being on a powered site with our little blow heater warming and drying the boys on our return.  After a little something to sustain them, their energy seemed to have no limits as they tore up the BMX track into the evening, however they were rather tired little boys when we got them to bed!

The following morning we took advantage of the two day pass that all tickets provide.  We were able to revisit our favourite animals, as well as catch the animals we had previously missed on our shortcut.  We drove through the zoo, and again had a long play at the playground.  In all we had thoroughly enjoyed our time at the zoo, however it was time to move on.
Over the next three nights we took the welcome opportunity to stay with friends and family in Gulgong and then Lake Macquarie.  Funnily enough the sunshine came out when we were staying under a solid roof, and I was tempted to open the camper in an attempt to dry out the canvas.  It was great to catch up, and the little ones appreciated company of their own age, and a new collection of some-one-else's toys to play with.

We were still a long way from home, and the holidays were far from over.  We decided that we would spend three more nights under canvas before heading home... destination Wattagan Mountains.

More photos of our adventre can be found here