Travelling through inland Australia: Day 2 Cowra

Today we travelled via Forbes and Parkes along the Lachlan Valley Way to Forbes and the Newell Highway through Parkes and Peak Hill to Dubbo.

When we got up the temperature was a balmy 5 degrees with a completely overcast sky but without any wind. Travelling from Cowra to Forbes we had our first taste of flat country as we travelled through the flood plain country. Despite the gloomy sky the colours were great. Vivid green fields backgrounded the dark olive of the many stands of river red gums that shaded the road. Brown and Black earth of the ploughed paddocks and the blacks, browns and whites of the cattle and sheep.

By the time we got to Forbes and the Newell Highway, the sky was clearing the little bit of fog that we experienced was beginning to lift. The scenery changed again back to the undulating landscapes that we enjoyed yesterday.

The Newell gave us our first experience of heavy truck traffic and a speed limit of 110 kph. We did not have any trouble at all with the trucks even though we were travelling at about 90. However we did have to pass a couple of slower vans. We simply bided our time and did so when we could. The Santa Fe had plenty of power to do so despite the van on the back.

We got to the caravan park at Dubbo at about 3.30 after travelling about 240 kms in a little over 3 hrs. The car was quite thirsty by the time we got here. The trip computer was telling me that I had enough fuel for another 70 kms but the fuel gauge warning light had been shining for a while when we got here. What do you believe!! I guess I'll find out when I fill up in the morning.

We didn't do any exploring after we got here apart from a decent walk around the local area. Hence the photos are a bit ordinary.

For those of you who are interested, we are staying in the Dubbo Parklands Big 4 caravan park, not far from the turn-off to the Zoo. I have seen larger Big 4 parks, but it has everything you would expect from Big 4 and it is in very good order. At $36 per night after the discount, we would definitely stay here again.

This is a very popular park and, although there were vacancies at 4.00 pm there was quite a line at reception. So, just to be on the safe side, it might be a good idea to book ahead

Now for some photos