Leave Cobar around 10:15 AM, following the Kidman Way east before joining the Mitchell Highway towards Dubbo. Allow roughly three hours of driving, plus a short stop at one of the signed roadside rest areas—this is open, dry-country driving with limited services, so top up fuel and carry water before leaving. On arrival, check into a Dubbo property with powered caravan sites; Discovery Parks – Dubbo and Dubbo City Holiday Park are practical options, but confirm powered-site availability ahead of time and ask about late check-in if the drive runs over.
After settling in, head to the Dubbo Regional Botanic Garden in South Dubbo for an easy 45-minute stretch of the legs. The themed gardens are best enjoyed at an unhurried pace, and entry is generally free; allow about 10 minutes by car from most caravan parks, with parking near the gardens. Continue into the CBD for Old Dubbo Gaol, where an hour is enough to see the restored cells, courthouse displays and evocative historic buildings. Check the seasonal closing time before setting out—hours can vary in winter and spring—and allow around 15 minutes to drive from the gardens, with street parking nearby.
If you still have energy and Dundullimal Homestead is open, make that your final heritage stop, allowing about an hour for the homestead and grounds. It lies south of town, roughly 10–15 minutes by car from the gaol, and is particularly worthwhile for its remarkably intact Victorian interiors. If you arrive too late for the last entry, visit first thing tomorrow instead; it is better appreciated without rushing.
For dinner, walk or drive into central Dubbo for The Establishment Bar & Kitchen, a relaxed modern choice where mains and a drink will usually come to about A$35–60 per person. Book ahead if visiting on a weekday evening during school holidays, and ask for a table rather than relying on walk-in space. From the CBD, allow 10–15 minutes by car back to your caravan accommodation; keep the evening easy, as tomorrow’s drive to Tamworth is a longer day.
Start early at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, allowing three to four hours for the loop. It is spread across a large circuit, so a car is the easiest option; bicycles and the zoo shuttle are also available, subject to availability. Arrive around opening time—typically 9:00 AM, but check the September timetable before leaving—and take water, sunscreen and comfortable shoes. A general adult ticket is usually around A$55–65, with family pricing available online. The African and Australian animal areas are particularly enjoyable in the cool morning, when wildlife is generally more active.
Leave the zoo at about 12:30 PM for Tamworth, following the Newell Highway north before joining the Oxley Highway east near Coonabarabran. Allow 4½–5 hours, with fuel and a simple lunch stop around Coonabarabran or Gunnedah; services can be widely spaced, so top up whenever the tank is comfortably above half. Expect country highway conditions, occasional heavy vehicles and wildlife near dusk. On arrival around 5:00–5:30 PM, check into your accommodation, then drive to the Tamworth Regional Playground beside the Peel River for an easy 45-minute stretch of the legs. It is free, family-friendly and best treated as a relaxed riverside wander rather than a major sightseeing stop.
Continue to Tamworth Marsupial Park in East Tamworth, roughly a 10-minute drive from the riverfront. Allow about an hour for the native-animal enclosures and the lookout views across town; check closing time before setting out, as it can vary seasonally, and avoid arriving too close to dusk. Finish in the CBD at The Workshop Kitchen, where contemporary Australian dishes generally run about A$35–60 per person. Book ahead if visiting on a Wednesday evening, and allow a little time afterward for a short walk through the central streets before turning in.