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Things to See and Do

Many of our visitors are surprised just how much there is to see in Dubbo. Dubbo is indeed the city of unexpected attractions, home to one of the world's greatest open range zoos and boasting numerous other incredible and fascinating world class attractions.

  • Join a bus guided tour of the Zoo (Sat) and / or Dubbo sights (Sun) (ph 1300 668 779 for more info)
  • The Taronga Western Plains (Dubbo) Zoo.
  • Dundullimal Homestead.
  • The Dubbo Gaol.
  • Western Plains Cultural Centre.
  • Dubbo Regional Theatre & Convention Centre.
  • Dubbo Observatory.
  • Shoyoen Japanese Gardens & Tea House.
  • Traintasia.
  • Local wineries, (Red Earth, Boora,Tombstone, Lazy River)
  • The 27 hole Dubbo Golf Course,
  • The Western Plains Cultural Centre
  • Skate board park.
  • Powter Park BMX Track. 

Visit the Dubbo Tourism website for more information

http://www.dubbotourism.com.au

Western Plains Zoo is Australia's premier open range zoo and home to more than 1000 animals from around the world, many of them endangered species.

Dubbo's Western Plains ZooThe 300 hectare open range Zoo is divided into five geographical areas - Africa, Eurasia, North America, South America and Australia. The animals live in large open displays which reflect their natural habitat. A system of cleverly concealed wet and dry moats separate animals from visitors while allowing visitors to get as close as possible to view the animals.

Early Morning Zoo Walks are conducted by trained volunteer guides from the Zoo Friends Association. The walks are held every Saturday and Sunday morning throughout the year and during school holidays every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. A guide will take you on a leisurely tour around the back roads of one section of the Zoo visiting the nightyards and some of the African animals. The gentle walk covers approximately three kilometres, takes between 1.5 - 2 hours and allows you to view areas of the Zoo not normally seen by the public.

http://www.taronga.org.au/western-plains-zoo.aspx

Historic Old Dubbo Gaol

Old Dubbo Gaol is a well-preserved incarceration centre which was built c. 1871 (the gates and wall were added in 1887) and which closed in 1966. Now a museum, it offers an opportunity to see the way the gaol and the judicial system once operated. Features include a sizeable collection of animatronic models which tell the life stories of inmates and staff, a gallows pole with hangman's equipment (eight men were hung at the gaol), the condemned man's cell (where Thomas Moore relates his story), solitary confinement cells, a graffiti cell, a padded cell, the watchtower, the exercise yard, a display room, the bathroom, hospital, kitchen, sanitary disposal block and wood-cutting area.

http://www.olddubbogaol.com.au/


Dubbo ObservatoryDubbo's 'Star' Attraction. Dubbo Observatory is located opposite the Western Plains Zoo. This is "Big Telescope Country" with three large government observatories in the area. Dubbo Observatory is a public access observatory, boasting clear, dark skies and stunning views of the Milky Way Galaxy. The observatory has state of the art  computerised telescopes and very large binoculars. What could be better than to discover the exotic animals by day and learn to explore the universe by night?
www.visitnsw.com.au/town/Dubbo/Dubbo_Observatory/info.aspx

 

Dundullimal Homestead in Dubbo

Now owned by the National Trust, Dundullimal Homestead is one of the most sophisticated examples of a slab construction house in Australia. Built by wealthy squatter John Maughan as the head station of his 16000 acre sheep run in the early 1840s, it is one of the earliest surviving buildings in western NSW. The blacksmith's shop, farm animals, the woolshed, and the sandstone stable all combine to transport visitors back to pioneer times. (Open Tues only.)


And there are many more features to be discovered: wineries, galleries, racetrack, showground, Japanese garden, fresh produce markets and general markets, harness racing, indoor cricket, plus all the sporting facilities you could imagine.

Close to Dubbo there are observatories at Siding Springs (Coonabarabran) and the Dish at Parks, the Wellington caves, Burrendong Dam, the Warrambungles, Light Aircraft Museum and Soaring Centers at Narromine, historic Gulgong, Mudgee wine country. These are all available as day trips, using the Blue Gum as your base.

The major facilities that are located in the Dubbo and are nearby to the Blue Gum Motor Inn include:

  • Dubbo CBD
  • Shopping Mall
  • Charles Sturt University,
  • Dubbo TAFE,
  • Dubbo Airport,
  • Dubbo Rail Station
  • Dubbo Base Hospital,
  • Lourdes Hospital,
  • Dubbo RSL,
  • Lawn Bowling Clubs (Dubbo City, Railway, West Dubbo, Macquarie)
  • Dubbo Show grounds,
  • Victoria Park,
  • Apex Oval
  • Lady Cutler Park
  • Dubbo Turf Club
  • Greyhound Track
  • Sportsworld. (Indoor sports)
  • Go cart race track
  • Skate board Park

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