Dubbo is located in the Central West region of New South Wales. It’s 302 km from Sydney, the most densely populated of the cities. Dubbo has a rural Australian charm and a rich colonial past.
Dubbo is not a town to be confined to, and it’s no surprise that it is the fastest-growing city in New South Wales.
While the Western Plains Zoo may be the most popular attraction in Dubbo, there is much more to Dubbo.
Dubbo is home to half a million visitors per year who come to enjoy the farm-to-table restaurants, African Safari Valleys, and family-friendly entertainment.
There are plenty of things to do around Dubbo that will keep you entertained for a weekend or longer.
Taronga Western Plains Zoo
Taronga Western Plains Zoo, one of New South Wales’s best zoos, is a must-see attraction in Dubbo. It is one of the reasons why so many tourists flock to Dubbo every year.
Taronga Western Plains Zoo, which mimics the African Savannah landscape, is home to more than 4,000 animals representing 350 different species. There is no other place in Australia where you can experience an African safari like Taronga Western Plains Zoo.
Taronga Western Plain Zoo is unique because it allows visitors to be as close as possible to the animals in a safe environment, fulfilling many people’s wildest dreams of safari without having to fly overseas.
The enclosure is part of a 5-kilometer loop that can be explored on foot, by car, electric buggy, or bicycle (which you can rent at the entrance to the Zoo).
A great option for those looking for fun things to do with children in Dubbo. They will never forget a close-up experience with a Sumatran Tiger or meeting meerkats.
Open 365 days a year, from 9 am to 5 pm. Tickets are valid for two consecutive days, allowing you to explore the entire Zoo.
The Old Dubbo Gaol
90 Macquarie St, Dubbo NSW 2830, Australia
Old Dubbo Gaol is a unique piece of Australian prison history. It allows you to experience the 19th century. This historic Gaol is listed as a state heritage and operated between 1874 and 1966. Eight people were executed for their crimes during that period.
The corrective institution, which has closed its doors to prisoners since the 1960s, still preserves colonial history and contains some horrifying artifacts.
Cell blocks are filled with recordings of prisoners screaming, which is unsettling but adds to the overall experience.
It is one of the most enjoyable things to do in Dubbo. The tour provides a wealth of knowledge, and the information panels are well presented.
Western Plains Cultural Centre (WPCC)
76 Wingewarra St, Dubbo NSW 2830, Australia
Western Plains Cultural Centre, located in the old Dubbo High School, is one of Dubbo’s best attractions for those with creative blood. The Dubbo Regional Gallery is located here, as well as the Dubbo Regional Museum and the Community Art Centre, which features a mixture of contemporary and indigenous art.
The Dubbo Regional Gallery features a variety of exhibitions that tour throughout the year. These include Dubbo in the 1940s and Dubbo’s famous residents.
The Cultural Centre aims to promote local culture to visitors while finding innovative ways to bring art exhibits to Central West New South Wales.
Dubbo Botanic Garden
Elizabeth Park, Coronation Drive, Dubbo, NSW, 2830 Australia.
Dubbo Regional Botanic Garden is a tranquil place to stroll. It has five different garden spaces: Sensory Garden, Biodiversity Garden, Oasis Valley, Wiradjuri Garden, and Shyoen Japanese Garden.
The sensory garden has been carefully designed to stimulate your senses through smell, touch, and sight. It is a wonderful learning experience for children!
The biodiversity garden features plants indigenous to Dubbo. Oasis Valley Gardens, one of the newest gardens developed, is home to species of dry rainforest that show how local bushland evolved out of the cool forests of Gondwanaland.
The botanic garden also has a cafe and an adventure play area. It is a wonderful place to bring the entire family when you’re looking for fun things to do with your kids in Dubbo.
Shoyoen Japanese Garden
Elizabeth Park, Coronation Drive, Dubbo, NSW, 2830 Australia.
Shoyoen, a Japanese garden at Dubbo Botanic Gardens, is a unique way to experience Japan.
The Shoyoen Garden is one of Australia’s most authentic Japanese gardens. It contains a lot of religious symbolism, as well as many culturally significant features.
The water features in the garden, such as streams, waterfalls, and lakes, represent human life, birth, growth, and death.
They are also known as “living flowers.”
There is also a “Chaoya” tea hut in the gardens.
Shoyoen Gardens is a great option if you’re looking for something free to do in Dubbo.
Dubbo Observatory
17L Camp Rd., Dubbo NSW, Australia 2830
The Dubbo Observatory is a great place to study the night sky in detail. The Dubbo Observatory is a great romantic activity in Dubbo.
This astronomical retreat uses the latest equipment, including a 17-inch telescope. The “Night Sky with Telescope Viewing Package” is a standard package that includes an hour-long session and a presentation by an experienced astronomer. You may be able to see Saturn and Jupiter if the conditions are ideal.
Photographers should bring their DSLRs along as there are many opportunities for Astro-photography.
Wear appropriate clothing. The shows are held outdoors, which can be cold during the winter and mosquito-infested in the summer.
It is also important to note that children under the age of 4 are not allowed due to the fragile nature of telescopes.
The website has information on what to do in case of bad weather.
Royal Flying Doctor Service visitor experience
21 Judy Jakins Dr. Dubbo NSW 2830 Australia
The Royal Flying Doctor Service, founded in 1928 by John Flynn – a reverend whose face appears on Australia’s $20 bill – provides medical care to nearly 300,000 Australians each year. The center tour is one of the most enjoyable things to do in Dubbo. It also allows you to appreciate the amazing work they do.
While the Royal Flying Doctor Service operates from many locations in Australia, Dubbo offers a more convenient option to a larger number of tourists.
Visitors can immerse themselves in an interactive experience by touching down in the world of heroic pilots, doctors, and nurses. The story of the life-saving service is told using a perfect blend of augmented and virtual reality, videos of real people who have used it, and actual equipment. You can find a replica of an aircraft outside the center, which is outfitted exactly like the real ones.
It is not only interesting to learn more about the Royal Flying Doctor Service but also how remote certain parts of Australia are. Having medical experts within a short plane ride can be the difference between life and death.