Family adventure around Dubbo

Kids love a trip to the zoo and one of the best in Australia is the Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, the heart of the beautiful Great Western Plains region. You can even treat the kids to a night in the zoo, staying in a tent at the Billabong Camp within the native wildlife area.

The open-range zoo is home to hundreds of exotic and native animals. Join guided tours and enjoy daily animal encounters with ring-tailed lemurs and spider monkeys, meerkats, giraffes, rhinos and big cats. You can explore the zoo in a car or hire an electric cart or bicycles to visit the animals.

Your family will also love the many other attractions in the region, from fascinating tours of the heritage-listed Old Dubbo Gaol to horseriding with Western Plains Riding Centre. The colonial Dundullimal Homestead, with a children’s play area and farm animals, is a great spot for picnics.

Tracker Riley Cycleway is a looped pathway along the banks of the enchanting Macquarie River in Dubbo. Kayaking tours are available from Adventure Watersports and check out Macquarie Valley Trails for a selection of experiences and activities in the region for the whole family.

The night sky displays the Milky Way in all its beauty. You’ll find a number of observatories in the region, including the Dubbo Observatory and northeast of Dubbo are Warrumbungle Observatory and Siding Spring Observatory, near the ancient volcanic mountain ranges in the Warrumbungles.

Southeast of Dubbo are limestone caves dating back hundreds of millions of years. There are tours of the Wellington Caves, which contain a huge stalagmite called Altar Rock. While in the area, visit Burrendong Botanic Garden and Arboretum and relax with a family picnic by Lake Burrendong.