More reason to visit Dubbo when travelling is allowed again.
Dubbo is a city that blends the charm of rural Australian life with rich Victorian colonial history and the wild adventure of an African safari and, with such a diverse theme, it is no wonder that Dubbo hosts more than half a million visitors each year.
As one of Australia’s fastest-growing inland cities, Dubbo offers a range of unique attractions, including the highly popular African savanna of the Western Plains Zoo and the eerie heritage-listed Old Dubbo Gaol prison.
While staying at your Dubbo accommodation, you can also enjoy local, seasonal festivals and events, along with delicious farm-to-table dining options against a backdrop of lovely scenery. Next time you’re in Dubbo, consider these 10 things for your itinerary.
1. Taronga Western Plains Zoo
Take the family on a safari and see more than 4,000 rare and endangered animals on this 300-hectare open range sanctuary. The best way to enjoy your zoofari trip is to hire a bicycle from your Dubbo accommodation (why not stay at The Palms Motel, Dubbo and be centrally located in comfort?) and ride around the 6km circular track. If the summer heat is too hot for cycling, you could hop on a Mini Moke available at the park for a more leisurely pace.
The Western Plains Zoo is divided into 5 zones: Australia, Africa, Asia, North America, and Eurasia. Africa is a fabulous highlight as it features the most crowd-pleasing species such as zebras, cheetahs, giraffes, elephants, camels, lions, eland, oryx etc. The zoo also breeds rare and endangered species such as the bison, Galapagos tortoise, southern white rhinoceros, and the Przewalski’s horse of Mongolia.
One of the park’s special treats is an overnight stay at the Zoofari Lodge or Savannah Cabins. Here, you can walk around the park at dusk and dawn for an up-close encounter with the animals minus the daytime crowd.
2. Old Dubbo Gaol
Travel back in time at Old Dubbo Gaol. This well-preserved prison is a heritage-listed site that takes you to the dark moments of the old Australian judicial system.
Built in 1871, Dubbo Gaol is now a museum featuring animatronic models of inmate life, a gallows pole where eight men were executed, the condemned man’s cell of Thomas Moore, solitary confinement cells, a graffiti cell, the watchtower, and the exercise yard.
3. Royal Flying Doctor Service
The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) of Australia is a non-profit that provides emergency and healthcare services for those living in remote areas of the Outback. If you book accommodation in Dubbo, sign up for the RFDS Dubbo Visitor Experience to immerse yourself in an interactive world of heroic doctors, nurses, pilots and Outback communities. See how the team works and why the Flying Doctor continues to be an important part of Australian Outback life.
4. Western Plains Cultural Centre
Western Plains Cultural Centre is the creative soul of Dubbo. This state-of-the-art facility houses the Dubbo museum, a regional art gallery, and a modern café. The highlight of every visit is the special carved tree which has great cultural significance to the local Aboriginal people, and the largest and best-preserved wool wagon in Australia, and it is just 1km from The Palms Motel, a great choice for affordable but comfortable accommodation in Dubbo.
5. Burrendong Botanic Garden and Arboretum
Your Dubbo NSW accommodation also lets you take in the beauty of nature with a quick stop at the Burrendong Botanic Garden and Arboretum. Sprawled across 164 hectares of greenery overlooking the beautiful Lake Burrendong, this garden houses one of the largest collections of Australian flora, including 50,000 flowering plants, shrubs and trees. So, pack a picnic hamper and step into your walking shoes for a relaxing day of birdwatching.
6. Dubbo Regional Adventure Playground
If you are staying at an accommodation in Dubbo with your family, an enjoyable trip to the playground should be included in your itinerary. This family-friendly park features more than 40 play elements, including the flying fox, basket swing, a giant slide, and the wheelchair-accessible Liberty Swing.
The adults can pick up a few sweet and savoury bites at the Adventure Playground Café while the kids are at play. Meanwhile, the young at heart can break a sweat at the senior’s fitness area – making it the ultimate playground for all ages and abilities.
7. Mount Arthur Reserve
Located just a stone’s throw away from Wellington, the mountainous 2,123-hectare Mount Arthur Reserve offers scenic views of the surrounding valley. This Crown Reserve is recognised on the Register of the National Estate for its natural values. It offers bushwalking, picnicking, horse riding, and bike riding opportunities for the perfect day out.
8. Dubbo Observatory
Before heading back to your Dubbo accommodation, drop by the Dubbo Observatory for one magical night of astronomical exploration. Sign up for one of the night-sky tours to view the stars, planets, constellations, and galaxies through six different telescopes.
Don’t forget to bring your DSLR camera to capture spectacular images through the 17-inch telescope. Book in advance from your accommodation in Dubbo. The night show lasts for 75 minutes.
9. First Lesson Cultural Tours from Native Secrets
Native Secrets organises First Lesson Cultural Tours for Dubbo visitors, focusing on Wiradjuri culture with Senior Wiradjuri Elder Peter Peckham as a guide. This two-hour cultural tour includes visits to sacred sites such as the Scarred Canoe Tree, Axe Grinding Groove, Ochre Pit, Bush Medicine plants, and Bush Tucker plants. Walk where our ancestors walked hundreds of years ago and immerse in a genuinely unique Aboriginal Australia experience.
10. Toyama Osawano Japanese Garden
Around eight kilometres off Wellington is the beautiful Osawano Japanese Garden – home to 1,500 individual plant specimens. This scenic garden is the perfect spot to enjoy an outdoor lunch or stroll in the afternoon. Stop by the water pavilion and watch a pond full of koi fish swimming leisurely or a flock of ducks waddling around while you rest your legs.
When in Dubbo, Stay at The Palms Motel
There are plenty of things to do in Dubbo that staying for one day is never enough. So, it’s best to explore the region’s biggest attractions from an accessible Dubbo NSW accommodation.
The Palms Motel Dubbo lets you relax in spacious air-conditioned rooms, with amenities such as a salt-water pool in the middle of towering palm trees for the ultimate tropical feel. Get the best deals when you make a reservation today. Call us today on +61268818155 or send an email to bookings@tpmd.com.au for enquiries.
