Dubbo Zoo

I had bought a yearly ticket for the zoo which includes Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, so after having my bike tyre replaced I spent a great 3 hours riding around the zoo.

Much improved on my last visit here probably some 15 years or more. The animals were all out in full view and it is good to see them in the open.

Meerkat

Giraffe 

Eland 

Hippopotamus. 

Dubbo has statues of hippos along the streets and these two were standing so still that for 5 mins I thought that they were statues and I was trying to find the "real" hippos .

White Rhinoceros 

Cheetah 

Elephant 

Zebra 

Bongo 

Sumatran Tiger 

Addax 

African Lion 

Camel 

Indian Rhinoceros 

Siamang Ape 

Galapagos Tortoise 

It is also a good spot for native birds.

Apostle Bird 

Australian Reed-Warbler 

Dubbo

I got to Dubbo for a late lunch and then went for a drive to a few of the riverside reserves along the Macqaurie River.

A few short walks here chasing birds.

The next morning I rode my bike along The Tracker Riley Loop. This follows the river out to Dubbo Zoo and then loops bake around into town. 

A pleasant 14klm but after a flat tyre 2/3 of the way around I was stopping every klm to reinflate. Great service and a new thicker tube and tyre from "The Bike Shoppe" in Darling St and I was back on the road in just over an hour.

While waiting I went and had a walk around the Botanic Gardens .

Goonoo National Park

Goonoo National Park is just north of Dubbo and is conserves forests of the Brigalow Belt. Dominant trees are ironbark and cypress pine,

I had a 14klm bike ride along the forest trails around Rileys Dam and then sat and watched the birds and wildlife come in to drink at the dam.

Huge old ironbark tree. Full of Noisy Friar Birds.

White-eared and Yellow-faced Honeyeaters

Goat and kid

Noisy Friar Bird