CaravanAnd4WD.com

Hi All
We arrived at The Big 4 Caravan Park at Dubbo Tuesday arvo only to find that the site was so far out of level I had to have the jockey wheel fully up and with 2x50mm blocks under it just to get it close, other than that the park was immaculately maintained.
Wednesday morning we visited the Old Dubbo Goal, it was great, we really enjoyed it, the displays were excellent and very informative, also they put a bit of a show on about 10am each day where a prisoner tries several ways to escape by outwitting the warder, well worth the price of entry.
We arrived at the zoo around 12.30 on Wednesday arvo, unfortunately it was a hot day that made the visit a bit uncomfortable but not unbearable. You have a choice of ways to get around, you can drive your own car, hire a push bike or hire an electric buggy that will set you back $65 for a 4 seater, we opted to drive our own vehicle but the buggy would be the best choice IMO, especially if you have kids.
Once you set out on your journey you travel in a clock wise direction (some didn't, can you believe) for 6 kilometres stopping at the displays as you go, most of the displays are just a short walk from where you park so toddlers should handle it ok, we checked them all in the one afternoon but probably best to make a day of it.
Even though our visit was rushed we really enjoyed it, I guess if I had a beef it would be because the animals were very inactive and at times you have to scan every piece of scrub to find them, however I later found out that if you go in the morning as soon as they open the animals are at their best, also if you are sensitive to the heat try and do it during the cooler months.
Thursday we visited the Wellington caves and the phosphorous mine, the caves are not as grand as the ones at Jenolan but worth a look, the mine also was good and worth a look, they are all in the same complex.
Friday was supposed to be a visit to the Military Museum then rest up for the trip home (6.5 hours with pit stops) but unfortunately it was closed for maintenance so the day was spent checking out the shopping centre and the river that runs through Dubbo.
One thing to consider is that Dubbo has 3 major highways running through it and the Big 4 is on one of them so it can get very noisy at times, we got used to it pretty quickly and didn’t lose much sleep because of it, most of the accommodation we seen were on one of these highways so a quiet spot may not be an option.
We had dinner at the Dubbo Bowling club two nights and found the food and service to be excellent but beware if you order a “well done” T Bone, that’s what you will get, just short of charcoal but still tender and sweet, also the view over the river adds to the experience.
Over all our visit to Dubbo was very enjoyable and would recommend it especially if you take in some of the other attractions as well as the Zoo.

Teg, great trip report,I think you sold the deal for us,We will plan a trip to dubbo,And make it a full day at the zoo.
also go to all the other tourist places to.

That sounds good happy,Will be after the wife has the baby so we were thinking september or october.
So that the baby is at least a couple of months old.And be better in the cooler months to see the animal,s
as they won't be trying to get out of the heat.Plus we need to save the $$$.

Hats and sticker's did i order some lol

cruiser wrote:That sounds good happy,Will be after the wife has the baby so we were thinking september or october.
So that the baby is at least a couple of months old.And be better in the cooler months to see the animal,s
as they won't be trying to get out of the heat.Plus we need to save the $$$.

Maybe around the October long weekend. If you get it up there the same time as us

just when you think you'r back on track,and can start to save.good old bill comes for another visit

happy wrote:

cruiser wrote:That sounds good happy,Will be after the wife has the baby so we were thinking september or october.
So that the baby is at least a couple of months old.And be better in the cooler months to see the animal,s
as they won't be trying to get out of the heat.Plus we need to save the $$$.

Maybe around the October long weekend. If you get it up there the same time as us

Yes happy sound's good,We were just talking about the trip and decided we will probably go down to smelbourne first for a few day's first(wife's grandmother is not to well)so we will stop in and say G'day to admin first And then make our way back over to dubbo,I think we will take the easy way out and book a cabin,(new born )We will let you know more at a later date.If you are still keen.