View from interior Savannah View Lodge, Zoofari Lodge, Taronga Western Plains Zoo Dubbo
Dubbo
In the heart of the beautiful Macquarie Valley, Dubbo is a vibrant regional city by the majestic Macquarie River. Discover wonderful experiences, from the award-winning Taronga Western Plains Zoo to museums, gorgeous gardens and fun activities.
Things to do
The Taronga Western Plains Zoo is home to hundreds of rare and endangered animals including rhinos and big cats. You can walk, drive or ride around the Zoo's five kilometre circuit and enjoy daily keeper activities.
In the city centre is the heritage-listed Old Dubbo Gaol, which has Australia’s largest collection of hangman’s knots. The magnificent Western Plains Cultural Centre is both a gallery and a museum and the Dubbo Heritage Walk is a great way to admire ornate architecture and explore the stories of pioneers and bushrangers.
Explore ancient Aboriginal grinding grooves in the Terramungamine Reserve. You can take a tour to the site with Senior Wiradjuri Elder Peter Peckham on First Lesson Cultural Tours, as well as visiting a Scarred Canoe Tree and learning about bush medicine and bush tucker.
Go stargazing at Dubbo Observatory and see the constellations through powerful telescopes. You can also join a astrophotography session and take beautiful pictures of the stars. Another great attraction is the iconic Royal Flying Doctors, where you can board a flight simulator.
Eating and drinking
Stop by one of the classic country pubs for refreshments, such as the 1882-built Milestone Hotel. There are quality restaurants like Veltd and charming cafes – try the gourmet pies at the Village Bakery Café, family operated since 1918. You can also enjoy wine tasting at the Red Earth Estate Vineyard
Getting there are where to stay
You’ll find plenty of accommodation options to suit various budgets – you can even stay at the zoo. The city is located where the Newell, Mitchell and Golden highways meet in the Great Western Plains region of NSW. The drive northwest from Sydney is five hours. You can also fly to Dubbo or take a scenic train trip and arrive at the heritage-listed station, which opened in 1881.
Flying into Dubbo City Regional Airport
Dubbo Airport is only 5km from the city centre. Use the taxi services available at the front of the terminal for the short trip to the city centre. Alternatively, rent a car from the hire services at the airport and explore the Great Western Plains region at your own pace.
Choose from around 200 scheduled flights a week. QantasLink operates daily direct flights between Dubbo and Sydney. Regional Express flies direct from Sydney five days a week between Dubbo and Broken Hill five days a week. Link Airways operates direct flights from Dubbo to Brisbane six days a week and Dubbo Melbourne four days a week. Fly Pelican flies to Newcastle four times a week.
Things to Do and Places to Stay
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