The Sydney to Dubbo Zoo2Zoo ride combines some of the best scenery with supporting a good cause!

The Sydney to Dubbo Zoo2Zoo Ride is an organised four-day social group ride through country NSW that raises funds for the treatment of depression and bipolar disorder.

The Z002Zoo Ride started in 2006  when a group of friends rode from Taronga Zoo to the Western Plains Zoo, with the simple goal of raising some money. Since then, the Z002Zoo Ride has evolved into a series of 5 rides held throughout the year: Melbourne to Canberra, Canberra to Dubbo, Canberra to Mogo, Sydney to Dubbo and Molong to Dubbo.

The Z002Zoo Ride is now raising money for the Black Dog Institute, which is a not-for-profit, educational, research, clinical and community-oriented facility offering specialist expertise in depression and bipolar disorder.

The Sydney to Dubbo stint is a four-day ride.

Day 1 – Taronga Zoo to Echo Point (131km)
The ride starts from the world famous Sydney Taronga Zoo gates at 7.00am (roll out time) where the ride groups make their way from Taronga Zoo in Mosman to Glenbrook for an early lunch (84km). From there the riders make their way to Springwood, Wentworth Falls where the groups will stop, refuel and get updates on any road conditions ahead. After the food stop at Wentworth Falls the groups then start the ascent to Katoomba and into Echo Point. This brings to an end of Day 1 and a total distance of 131km covered for the day. Riders make their way to a local Hotel for “First Beer in Gear”, before heading to their accommodation for a well earned shower then adjourn to dinner.

Day 2 – Echo Point to Bathurst (116km)
Riders’ farewell the beautiful township of Echo Point and enjoy 44km of rolling hills and a twisting descent into Lithgow where we will stop at the “Tin Shed” and shed their cool morning kit (weather permitting of course) in readiness for the 32km ride to Tarana. We will have lunch at the Tarana Hotel, 76km into the ride and continue into Bathurst, via O’Connell.

Day 3 – Bathurst to Molong (142km)
Riders’ farewell the beautiful city of the home of the V8 Supercar world, Bathurst. We ride 31km to Newbridge, where we will have Coffee, then onto Barry,  Blayney and into Orange where we will have lunch. We then ride another 35km into Molong. The stay in Molong will be great, as all the riders and support crew gather at the local Hotel for a great country meal, and time to sit, relax and discuss the many hills they have conquered on the past three days. Highlights of the evening are a presentation and chat with a representative from the Black Dog Institute (BDI) who gives an amazing insight into the work this great institute does, and how the money we all raise benefits those effected by mood disorders, and the ‘Kangaroo Court’ where riders and support crew get to have some fun and hand out jovial $5 fines (e.g. the most of number of punctures for a rider or group, brightest Knicks, shoes etc). The idea of the Kangaroo Court is to have some fun after a long 3 days of riding and to raise some extra donations for BDI (payment of fines is voluntary).

Day 4 – Molong to Dubbo (115km)
We say goodbye to the lovely town of Molong, and ride 24km to Cumnock for breakfast. On a good day you can smell the bacon and eggs being BBQ’d a few kilometres outside Cumnock. This enticing scent has seen some individuals within a group launch an attack (like a breakaway in the final kms of a stage of the Tour de France) on the run into Cumnock, so they can claim line honours in the breakfast cue. After a much deserved feed riders jump back on their trusty steeds for the 24km ride into Yeoval, where the groups stop for yet another caffeine break. From Yeoval the riders enjoy a 38km ride over a few good climbs, some lovely descents and picturesque country side before all the riders
regroup and refuel at Wambangalang Educational Environmental Centre for the final stretch into Dubbo. The final 30km stretch sees the all the groups come together as one peleton for the roll into the Taronga Western Plain Zoo, where family, friends and the local community cheer all the riders for their great achievement.

This sounds like a fantastic 4-day ride (if you don’t mind the odd hill or two) through some beautiful countryside with some like-minded people! Plus you will be helping to raise money for a good cause!

You’ll find other cycling events, like the Sydney to Dubbo Zoo2Zoo Ride, in our online Cycling Event Calendar.

Enjoy!