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

The Canberra to Dubbo Zoo2Zoo Ride is an organised three-day social group ride that rides through the countryside between the ACT and NSW whilst raising awareness and money for research, treatment, and education into 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 Canberra to Dubbo stint is a three-day ride.

Day 1 Canberra to Young (179km)
Starting in the Nations Capital this ride meanders its way from the National Zoo & Aquarium past the famous Stromlo Forest Park (home of the Scott 24hr) and into the rolling hills on the outskirts of Canberra that a few
of Australia’s Pro Tour riders (both male and female) enjoy when they are back home in the ACT.

Riders make their way through open rolling country roads with the breath-taking Brindabella Ranges as the backdrop scenery. Interstate riders always comment on how quickly this ride leaves the cities outskirts and heads into country roads, and tranquil surroundings.

Yass is the first stop for the day where riders refuel and regroup (11am and 81kms covered).  From there riders make a short dash (approx 5km) up the Federal Highway before taking the turn off to Binalong and once again enjoying 98km of winding country roads, great ascents and descents before calling it a day at the Cherry capital of Young, where Day 1 ends with a relaxing Ale at the Federation Motor Inn (arrival around 4.30pm).

Day 2 – Young to Molong (173km)
After enjoying the country atmosphere in Young, riders head out and onto Cowra. After a short climb out of Young, riders can enjoy a relatively flat stage into the majestic town of Cowra, which is best known for the largest Prisoner of War breakout in modern military history (10am and 67km covered).

Departing Cowra the riders make the 44km journey along open country roads into Canowindra for lunch at the Trading Post. From Canowindra the riders can enjoy 35km of long gentle climbs and a few descents before stopping at Cudal to refuel and embarking on the 27km ride into the picturesque country side known as Molong, where riders are cheered into the local cricket ground around 4pm. Riders are allocated their rooms, before hitting a well deserved shower. 

As with Sydney to Dubbo ride, the stay in Molong is the main-event for this ride, where the riders enjoy a great country feed, and time to sit, relax and discuss the many hills they have conquered on the past two days. The highlight of the night is the ‘Kangaroo Court’ where riders and support crew get to have some fun and hand out jovial $2 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 2 days of riding and to raise some extra donations for BDI (payment of fines is voluntary).

Day 3 – Molong to Dubbo (115km)
We say goodbye to the lovely town of Molong with a 7am departure and a nice 23km ride along the rolling hills into 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 honors in the breakfast queue.  

After a much deserved feed riders jump back on their trusty steeds for the 24km ride into Yeoval, where the riders and support 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 riders 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.

Along the ride from Molong to Dubbo the riders and support crew can enjoy the artist delights of ‘Animals On Bikes’.

This sounds like a great 3 days of riding through some beautiful rural areas with some breathtaking scenery. Plus it isn’t a  bad way to make some new friends whilst also supporting a good cause!

You’ll find other great rides, like the Canberra to Dubbo Zoo2Zoo Ride, in our online Cycling Event Calendar.

Enjoy!