April 13th &14th, 2011- Dubbo- Terramungamine Reserve

Wednesday April 13th saw us leave the National Park to the west and then south to rejoin the Newell Highway. We stopped at the Gilgandra Tourist Info Centre to refill our water tanks. It is a beautiful info center with local products for sale, an aboriginal display, and a historical tribute to the Cooee March during the war. From there we travelled to Dubbo. Briefly stopped at temporary Tourist Info Centre (Flood Damage at the original) and travelled north to the Terramungamine Reserve. This is a lovely free campsite along the Macquarie River. Quite popular as there was several caravans there even when we arrived at just after lunch. We got a beautiful site by the river that was fairly level. Only basic Toilets with no other services.  Set up and enjoyed a relaxing afternoon visiting with many other caravaners. Got some great tips for place to see in Western Australia and Queensland.

Thursday we decided to do a shopping trip and laundry day in Dubbo. I may have neglected to mention that while lovely the Warrumbungles was quite fresh in the mornings. We got down to just above freezing on both morning there. Even with 3 blankets we were freezing! Also our aging and aching bones were having a bit of trouble with the Caravan mattress. We decided we needed some upgraded sleeping gear. We discovered a Harris Scarfe in Dubbo that had a huge Easter Clearance Sale. A few hundred dollars later we had a nice thick mattress underlay and a new wool doona (quilt for the non aussies) amongst a few other buys. Great Store with really good deals! Dubbo really impressed both Sandra and I with it's size and the amount of businesses in it. Obviously it is a major regional center. I am happy to report that we have enjoyed very comfortable and warm sleeps since our visit to Harris Scarfe.  Met some other really nice people at the campground and enjoyed a quiet, comfortable, warm night. The only other downside to report for the campground would be the hundred plus White Cockatoos that have set up home across the river. Lovely wakeup call!

We had been planning an additional day in Dubbo to visit the Zoo but we decided against it based on the cost (almost $100) and being the school holidays. We have both seen Zoo's before and didn't want to be lining up with lots of kids. As such we decided to pack up a day early in move on to Orange.