Go West Young Man to Dubbo Zoo
05 June 2023 / Story: Brian Clayton, Rose Smith, Anda Clayton, Brigid McCarthy; Photos: Rob Wilko, Anda Clayton, Rose Smith
Go West Young Man to Dubbo Zoo
16-19 May, 2023
This was our second attempt after aborting the run last year in the middle of the floods.
Disappointingly, not all of last year’s adventurers were able to attend due to other commitments. A parallel run by Illawarra chapter also reduced the potential numbers. Notwithstanding, 4 cars and 6 adventurers set out for our 4-day expedition.
The Driving Experience
Our agreed meeting place was Goulburn, with a coffee stop along the way, so our early driving was along regular highways. The interesting stuff starts on the road to Crookwell and beyond.
Many of us have driven this road, some multiple times and, apart from some flood damage in parts, the drive is one of the best country roads in the state and one you never tire of doing. The road consists of many sweeping bends, crests which open magnificent vistas of the countryside, and some tighter twisty stuff, particularly on the entry and exit to the Abercrombie River valley. The road stays interesting all the way to our overnight stop in Millthorpe. We arrive tired but happy after a long day “in the saddle”.
The road to Orange is mostly highway but taking the less travelled road from Orange through Wellington provides a lot more interest for the drivers of an MX5. More sweeping bends and hills to crest until the approach to Dubbo when the road straightens out for the last few K’s into town.
The return journey was planned to travel through Parkes and Eugowra to Cowra. Unfortunately we selected the Newell Highway which provided an hour or so of boring straight roads .. oh well, time for cruise control and some music. How fortunate for two of our party who turned right instead of left at the Dubbo Zoo and had a far more interesting run through Molong and Canowindra. A good road full of bends was the report .. next time. Meanwhile, on the road from Eugowra to Cowra "some of us" enjoyed an adventure along the way. After missing a turnoff, we struck a road closure resulting in a detour for a number of kilometres down a dusty unsealed road in our little car.. it will now be in urgent need of a wash once we arrive home! The scenery was, however lovely!
The run from Cowra to Boorowa is well known to most and was another delightful experience.
All up the trip provided an ample number of sweeping bends, delightful vistas and some great twisty MX5 driving.
Brian Clayton
The Zoo Experience
- Overnight
Our Zoofari time at Dubbo Zoo was truly a bucket list experience. This carefully guarded birthday surprise had been kept by Anda and I, from the time this trip was first suggested, until Rob’s birthday last year, which was just a week before our Take 1 attempt. The fact that this was Take 2, made it all the sweeter.
After arriving in Dubbo on the Wednesday morning and a fascinating wander through Old Dubbo Gaol, we farewelled the group at a local café and headed out towards the zoo to check-in. There was the obligatory stop for the Sooty photo at the main zoo entrance. Armed with directions and our gate access code, we continued further down the road to the Zoofari entrance. In our little cars, with our roofs down (as always!), there was some trepidation about us accessing the wrong gate. That soon melted away when we spotted the giraffes gracefully feeding beside our final access gate. Rob still laughs when he remembers my excited squeals over the radio.
We were met at the Zoofari lodge by the lovely Trinity. A local girl from Gilgandra and a fully trained chef, with a contagious passion for wildlife and conservation. She introduced us to our surroundings and explained our itinerary. After a quick unpack in our glamping tent (air conditioning, fully contained bathroom and a special goodies box isn’t exactly camping….), we were off to the viewing area to take in the late afternoon Savannah view. Ostrich calls mingled with giraffes and zebra feeding, while Willy Wagtails sat atop white Rhinos. And this was all before our Giraffe Experience and Safari Sunset Tour.
There aren’t words to describe feeding carrots to a giraffe. Those soft eyes, graceful arching neck and twisting purple tongue. Such majestic creatures. Just when I was thinking it couldn’t get better, we headed to meet the lion families. Watching these predators’ familial bonds as they hunted down chicken wings was incredible, as were their chilling stares through the perspex barriers. Next was the graceful Cheetah and then the White Rhino. Trinity shared the history of each animal, their names, birthdays and family connections, whilst fielding our many and varied questions.
We were returned to the Lodge, welcomed by a blazing fire, sumptuous African inspired dinner and wonderfully attentive staff. Rob and I finished our incredible meal by the fireplace with Amarula and rooibos tea.
An early start the next morning for our Safari Morning Tour was equally well worthwhile. Our drive through the Savannah enclosure bought us up close and personal with zebras, rhinos, giraffes and African plains inhabitants. We were then introduced to the Black Rhinoceros and watched the elephants enjoying their morning bath. Yes, every elephant enjoys this daily pampering at Dubbo Zoo. We were welcomed back to the lodge with a freshly cooked breakfast and a paw print emblazoned cappuccino. With a heartfelt thank you and farewells to an incredible team, we checked out and headed to the main zoo entrance to continue exploring for the day.
Swapping four wheels for two, backpack and camera gear strapped on, with Rob wondering how many decades it had been since he rode a bike….. we pedalled off for day 2 at the zoo. Our day was bookended by the Meerkats (Rob’s favourites) but included so many amazing animals – lemurs, otters, tigers, oryx, bongo, eland and so many more.
Seriously, if you’ve thought about doing this but are still wondering…..DO IT! In Rob’s words: - “a truly remarkable experience”.
Thanks, Anda and Brian for orchestrating such a great trip (as always) and special thanks to Anda for being such a willing and wily birthday surprise keeper!
A taste of what we enjoyed in Rob’s amazing photos: Go West Young Man to Dubbo Zoo | Flickr
- The Golf Buggy
A decision on how to see all of Dubbo Zoo was first on the agenda… so many choices… walk, cycle, golf buggy or drive your car with the windows up and heater on. Brian and Anda had hired a golf buggy, so Geoff and Rose hitched a ride in the 6-seater. Brian set off at ‘hare pace’, about 15kpm, and the freezing cold wind blasted in on us through our open-air transport. Despite wearing many layers of clothing, including coats, gloves and beanies, this prompted an immediate return to ‘turtle pace’, about 5kpm. Brian was repeatedly requested to wind the windows up and put the heater on full blast..ha,ha…and some of us were dreaming of being in our cars.
The roads around the zoo were bumpy in places and combined with the lack of suspension it made for an interesting ride, hence the need for seat belts. However, what a fantastic way to see the zoo. The golf buggy was an ideal way to travel. The seating was raised, so you had a great view of the zoo paddocks and enclosures. Parking the buggy was simple and as there were no doors to open it was easy to jump out of the buggy to get a closer look at the animals. Brian was a great ‘buggy driver’ and took us wherever requested…. he even listened to the back seat drivers.
Rose Smith
The Food and Wine Experience
Our gastronomic journey commenced early, with four of us at our first coffee stop in Braidwood at Provisions Deli and Creperie, run by a French couple and specialising in anything French….ooh la la! French style savoury buckwheat flour galettes and crepes with toppings ranging from sugar and lemon, reminiscent of what our mothers used to make, to chocolate and strawberries. Is it too early for chocolate asks Rose? Heavens no, we’re in holiday mode!
Our lunch stop at Crookwell Services Club was a pleasant surprise, housed in a lovely cosy cafe, unlike any club bistro. After our indulgences at morning tea, one could not envisage a large meal. A nice warm spot to sit and catch up with our Sydney members Rob & Brigid was very welcome.
We were pleased to, this time, arrive in Millthorpe before Angullong Wines closed its doors, one of the two businesses open in Millthorpe on a Tuesday afternoon. Brian, Brigid and I treated ourselves to a wine tasting. We tasted and purchased some interesting Italian style varietals including a Sangiovese, Montepulciano and Barbera. Apparently, the soil and altitude is well suited for these grapes.
Dinner styles on our four-day driving and eating extravaganza were varied from good old fashioned pub grub at Millthorpe Hotel, where we were pleased to be offered more than just pizzas, to a delicious Thai banquet for four at Rose Garden Thai in Dubbo. The grand finale was in Cowra, Masala Library by Sid – an unusual name for a restaurant but excellent Indian cuisine. We all found the service friendly and attentive. The owner, Siddhant Kappur, formerly from Mumbai, who completed a degree in Hospitality Management at the prestigious University, Le Cordon Bleu in Adelaide and had subsequently won the prestigious Best Manager of the Year award in South Australia, showed his lifelong passion for restaurants had not waned. He spoke of plans of setting up another restaurant in Dubbo, but as with many other businesses, lack of staff is an issue. We found the food portions generous and cooked to perfection, in fact some of us commented that the entree would have been sufficient, after enjoying the restaurant’s delectable, massive samosa pyramids. Our goat curry which followed, failed to disappoint.
Our farewell lunch in Boorowa Pub was something special, the "best pub in the world", with its quirky décor and comfy lounges it is the perfect man cave! According to Brian, if he lived in Boorowa, I would never see him at home! The friendliness and joviality of the pub licensee, Mike was unsurpassed. Good old fashioned country hospitality, a delicious pub lunch, bigger than a dinner plate, and even a pat of their dog for Geoff and Rose. No wonder he has been awarded the 2023 Traditional Hotel of the Year Award. A return visit? Most definitely!
Anda Clayton
Additional Sightseeing
While the main object of the tour was Dubbo Zoo, we had the opportunity to visit a number of other sites. In Dubbo, we explored the Old Dubbo Goal, now an interesting museum in the centre of town. Some interesting exhibits, including an explore of some of the prisoner's cells, the padded cell, a foiled escape, stories of the crimes and punishments of the inmates and a look at the prisoners' hospital. Some of the medicines and treatments prescribed were astonishing, such as mercury being used as a laxative or for children during teething!!
Also on the agenda, a few kms out of town, the Royal Flying Doctor Service Visitor Experience. A film depicted the vastness of the Australian outback - it is indeed a necessary service.
Leaving Dubbo we took a rest stop at the radio telescope at Parkes, always an interesting place to visit and a convenient pit stop on the journey.
On the chilly morning which greeted us in Cowra we set out to see the local attractions. The POW Campsite is set high on a hill overlooking picturesque countryside. We could imagine the winters very cold, and summers blistering hot. Here we learnt of the Japanese POW's escape attempt in 1944, where 4 Australian soldiers and over 230 Japanese POW's were killed or committed suicide.
We paid a visit to the Japanese War Cemetery, where we viewed graves of not only Japanese soldiers, but also children and elderly set amid a traditional garden. There is also a Commonwealth War Graves site adjoining where the Australian soldiers killed in the breakout are buried.
We found time for a nice cuppa at the Japanese Gardens! The gardens were magnificent in their autumn colours.
Companionship
The beauty of a smaller group is that you get to chat to everybody. Each evening after a day’s travel we gather for “fivesies”, a time to wind down and talk about the day’s driving, family activities, cars and whatever, before heading off for dinner. Such a trip is worthwhile on your own but it is so good to share great experiences with friends. Thank you everyone for making our trip so enjoyable.
