The Tocal Field Days is an annual event held at Tocal Agricultural College in the Hunter Valley. It is an opportunity for suppliers to display their latest products and services to the farming industry. It is also an opportunity for people to display their skills and produce to the general public.
Parking is well set up with officials directing vehicles where to go. Each row of cars is numbered so it is easy to find your way back, unlike some events where you can get lost in a vast field of cars.
Tocal Agricultural College
As expected, manufacturers of farming equipment had displays of their latest products. There were many rows of tractors and other farm gear.
Tractors on Display
Farming Equipment on Display
We were in time to see a cow milking demonstration and my wife was able to fulfil a lifelong dream of milking a cow.
Jersey Cow Ready For Milking
Cows Were Everywhere
Cows Were Everywhere
We watched a piglet race where 6 pigs race around a track, there was a bowl of food as the end, which they aim for. They ignore barriers and tend to jump fences to get to the end first. It was all good fun and they seemed to enjoy the run. We loved watching them!
Piglet Races
Llamas
There was a large llama display by the Llama Collective with a number of the animals present. Despite a reputation for spitting, they were all very well behaved and great to pat. There was even a llama kissing booth! A small alpaca was present, and you were able to see the difference between the two. If you are interested, the difference is the shape of the back and ears, with llamas having curved versus an alpaca’s straight ears.
Llamas on Display
Llamas on Display
Alpacas
Llamas Kissing Booth
Other Animals
Apart from the usual animals, there were colourful chickens and several bison, which made a nice change to the usual displays.
Colorful Chickens
There were even Bison
What Did We Think of the Tocal Field Days?
We had a great time looking around the displays, watching the pig races, patting the llamas and milking a cow. It was a nice way to spend a day, slowly wandering around and looking at the displays.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
The Sydney Royal Easter Show is held over a two week period at Olympic Park. If you purchase entry tickets online the cost of public transport to the show is included for free. We took the train changing at Strathfield and again at Lidcombe although there were direct Strathfield to Olympic Park depending on timing.
At the gate there was a quick security bag check and we were inside. Not being interested in the rides or slideshows we gave that section a miss although it was popular withe the kids in attendance.
Animal Pavilions
We went to the animal pavilions and checked out the sheep and cows. We had no idea that there were so many different breeds of cows. Another surprize was seeing the prized cows having a shampoo and blow dry before being judged.
Cows Relaxing
Cow 1151
Cow Waiting For the Competition to Start
Champion Sheep
Inquisitive Goat
Food Hall
Passing through the food hall we had a look at the displays put together from the different areas displaying their produce. The artistic effort to arrange the fruit and vegetables was amazing. You also get to vote on which one you feel is best!
Produce Display
Produce Display
Wood Chopping
Next to this hall was the wood chopping competition. We spent an hour here watching the male and female competitors cutting sawing and chopping through timber. These are some very strong athletes who don’t seem to get the recognition they deserve. We honestly loved sitting and watching!
Woodchopping Competition
Show-Bags
Last stop was the showbag hall to get some presents for the kids who had given us a list of requirements and a bertie beetle one for the wife. We had never seen such a huge variety of show bags available. This is a place where the unwary parent could spend a fortune.
Bertie Beetle Showbag
What did We Think?
We had great day out seeing the livestock on display and the wood chopping. The free transport getting there was a great bonus too.
We had a great day out watching wood chopping and seeing the best of NSW agriculture. Even for adults there is a lot to see and do as the show isn’t all about rides and sideshow alley.
Horse and Buggy Competition
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
There was nothing to do last Sunday afternoon, so we decided on a two and a half hour drive down to Sydney to visit Taronga Zoo. The only tricky bit with driving was making sure you were in the right hand of three lanes when exiting the Warringah Freeway, so as to be able to get onto Military Road towards the zoo. If you are using Google Maps, it takes you to the staff entrance for the car park. Just turn left, and you will see the undercover multistory public car park. Take your ticket with you as you will need it to pay for parking before returning to your car. There is not an option to use a credit card at the gate.
If you are in Sydney, the best way to get there is by ferry. There is one that goes direct from Circular Quay to the zoo and return with no other stops, so you will not get lost.
Zoo Entry
Entry From the Car Park
Entry is through the beautiful old building in the photo below. You can go through the ground level entrance to the right of the steps.
Taronga Zoo Main Entrance
Inside the entrance to the right is a ticketing office, toilets and information booth. You can wander around a large area here without buying a ticket, including the cafe and gift shop.
The staff at the ticket office took our money ($46.00 each) and handed us a receipt. Keep this handy as it is your entry ticket and you will need it later. The information booth can provide you with a map of the zoo’s layout. Quite good maps, with the suggested trail to follow marked on. Even better, the trail is marked on the walking paths as big green circles.
Just down from the entrance is a series of manned gateways which is the entry to the zoo proper. The friendly staff will ask for you ticket and stamp your hand. Then it’s off to explore.
Entry From the Ferry
The ferry wharf is near the lower entry gates, where you can either take the chair lift, or enter through the gift shop. If you choose the chair lift, it will take you to the upper section of the zoo and you can walk back down. There is an option to take the chair lift from the upper level to the start if you don’t want to walk back.
Lower Entrance
The Animals at Taronga Zoo
The zoo is built on quite a steep piece of land near Sydney Harbor. Some of the pathways can be a bit of a climb, but there are plenty of rest areas and things to look at, so no need to rush and tire yourself out.
The first animal we saw was this gorgeous tree kangaroo up in its tree. It was not very active and looked like it had either just woken up or was about to go to sleep.
Tree Kangaroo
Reptile House
Not far from the tree kangaroo was the reptile house. Basking outside was a Komodo Dragon. A very impressive representative of the world’s largest species of lizard. The rest of the reptile house has many cages and cases with numerous snakes, lizards and turtles.
Komodo Dragon
Iguana in the Reptile House
Giraffes
Not far from here were the giraffes. They were very active, eating and walking around their enclosure.
Giraffes
Giraffe
Squirrel Monkeys
The squirrel monkeys are in a large open cage, where small groups of visitors can walk through on a board walk. The monkeys wander around, climbing and eating and generally ignore the people. It was excellent to be able to get close to them without bars or perspex in the way. A guide accompanies you into the cage, answers any questions you might have and makes sure you all exit before the next group is admitted.
Squirrel Monkeys
On a detour from the main path of green circles, we went to see the Barbary Sheep, Bongo, Zebras and Himalayan Tahr.
Himalayan Tahr
Meerkats
Taronga Zoo has a nice little meerkat display. It was still early and they were all out scratching around the cage. The front of the enclosure is perspex, so you get a really good view of them. Many of them come right to the perspex.
Taronga Zoo Merekat
Walking towards the elephant display, we by-passed the Australian section, as we have seen many kangaroos and wallabies over the years. Next stop was for a snack at the View Restaurant.
After a coffee and cake we headed for the seal show. The presenter was overly enthusiastic, and we soon realized the show was tailored for kids. Nothing wrong with this and the kids there were certainly enjoying themselves. However, we decided to give it a miss and went to see the Condor, deer and seals (those not at the show). From the pathways, there are some spectacular views of Sydney Harbor.
View of Sydney Harbor
Gorilla
Gorilla
Elephants
From the seals we took the rain forest trail back up. This is a nice leafy area, and would be very nice on a hot day. This trail exits near the elephants. Two of them were having their morning baths and checkups with staff. This was an excellent opportunity to get quite close to them, and talk to staff. Even better, the young male trumpeted as he was leaving. This was one of the highlights of the day, as we had never heard an elephant before,
Taronga Zoo Elephant
Baby Elephant
Taronga Zoo Tigers
Part of the redevelopment of the zoo, the tiger enclosure is well laid out and spacious. To ensure that visitor numbers are controlled, a line outside, only permits a limited number of people in at once. This is great and the viewing areas were not crowded and everyone there as able to see. Large perspex windows allow you to get up close to the tigers as they wander around.
Tiger
Looking Through the Perspex Window at a Tiger
Tiger
Chimpanzees
Home to a large group of chimpanzees, this enclosure is a fun pace to stand and watch as the chimps play and wander around the area.
Chimpanzee
Leaving the Zoo and Heading Home
After four hours, we decided it was time to leave for the car trip home. Car parking fees were $18.00. Getting home was straight forward. The only tricky part being (if you are heading north) is to make sure you are in one of the two right hand lanes when leaving Military Road for Falcon Street, as they turn right onto the freeway. If you get stuck in the left two lanes, keep going until you reach the Pacific Highway and turn right.
What Did We Think?
What did we think? Not too bad. Entry price was what you expect to pay. Parking is expensive as is the food. We loved the new tiger enclosure and International tourists will be going to see the Australian section, which looks extensive. Locals will want Australian and international animals. Overall a fun day out.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
