Adventure and Sports

You’ll find plenty of outdoor activities in Dubbo and the Great Western Plains, a wonderful family holiday destination in NSW. Kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and cycling are just a few of the many fun adventures, as well as mountain bike trails in beautiful nature reserves and national parks.

The Macquarie River

The majestic Macquarie River meanders through Dubbo. Walking and cycling tracks are on both sides of the tranquil river, and there are pretty riverside parklands with picnic tables, free barbecues, kids’ playgrounds and other amenities.

The river is one of the main inland rivers in Australia and is named after Lachlan Macquarie, a colonial governor of NSW from 1810 to 1821. You can hire kayaks and SUPs from Adventure Craft Hire at Ollie Robbins Oval, next to the river and cool off with a dip at Sandy Beach.

The Macquarie River snakes northwest from Dubbo past the towns of Narromine and Warren into the Macquarie Marshes, wetlands internationally recognised under the Ramsar Convention. There are kayak tours in the sanctuary where herons, cormorants, spoonbills and other waterbirds breed. 

For stunning aerial views of the river and beyond, joy flights are available in Dubbo and Narromine. With Warrior Warbirds in Dubbo, fly in a vintage aircraft over the magnificent Macquarie Valley. At the historic aerodrome next to the Narromine Aviation Museum, experience the thrill of soaring above the valley in a sailplane.

Watersports

A scenic drive southeast of Dubbo is Wellington and Lake Burrendong, a picturesque waterway perfect for water sports such as kayaking, SUP, fishing and waterskiing. Or take the kids for a free splash about at Elston Park Water Park or to the Aquatic Leisure Centre for the water slides.

Hiking and Biking

Just north of Wellington are mountain bike trails and walking tracks in the Mount Arthur Reserve. For more mountain biking and bushwalking, visit spectacular national parks such as the Coolah Tops, a day trip east of Dubbo.

Want to cycle by the river to the zoo? Well, the Tracker Riley Cycleway is part of a delightful 12.5km loop of the city centre, zoo and 1840s-built Dundullimal Homestead, Australia’s oldest timber slab homestead. The visitor information centre on Macquarie Street has bike hire options and maps.