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It is one of the most popular destinations in regional NSW and with so much to see and do, it’s easy to understand why Dubbo is high on the list for frequent travellers.
For many of the more than two million visitors who head west from the eastern seaboard every year, the Taronga Western Plains Zoo is a major drawcard with its open range access to exotic animals spread among 300 hectares of bushland.
Here you’ll have close encounters with more than 700 animals including giraffes, elephants, tigers and rhinos as you navigate the six kilometres of parkland by car, bicycle or electric carts.
This unique attraction draws rave reviews from visitors and is open every day from 9am-4pm. And there are overnight stay options as well.
The Zoo might be the big ticket item but Dubbo has plenty more to offer.
The Old Dubbo Gaol – replete with gallows and hangman’s array – is another popular spot (open 9am-5pm daily) and for history buffs, the Dundullimal Homestead is a wonderfully preserved relic of Australia’s colonial past. The timber slab building is the country’s oldest surviving structure of its type.
For garden-lovers, Dubbo’s Regional Botanic Garden – and its traditional Japanese Garden in particular – are superb and offer 10 hectares to enjoy including some wonderful picnic spots along the way.
This thriving NSW community of 40,000 residents really does have something for everyone.
Whilst a number of regional airlines service Dubbo and the drive from Sydney or Canberra is around 400 kilometres, undoubtedly, the most relaxing way to get there is by train.
Departing Sydney’s Central Station shortly after 7am every day, the NSW TrainLink Western XPT service has you arriving at 1:45pm (return journeys depart 2:15pm) with plenty of time left to start exploring on your first day.
Tip: If you hold a NSW or ACT Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card or Government-issued Seniors Card, you could even travel to Dubbo free or at half fare. See how here.
And being the transport hub of the central western region of NSW, there’s plenty of rail and coach connections linking you to other parts of the State and as far west as Broken Hill. (See our Broken Hill story here). Many travellers visiting Dubbo include Bathurst, Orange or Wellington as part of the trip along the way.
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When you arrive, if you want to discover more about the region and its history, the Western Plains Cultural Centre boasts more than 5000 artefacts including significant items of local Aboriginal history.
And after every big day out, there’s plenty to love about the dining scene.
One of the regions to truly embrace the ‘paddock-to- plate’ concept of meat and produce sourced locally and served fresh in innovative ways, you’ll discover plenty of high quality dining options right across town.
To browse some of Dubbo’s best restaurants, click here.
For all enquiries about travel on NSW Regional services, visit NSW TrainLink or call 13 22 32.
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