Dubbo
Dubbo is a city in the Central West of New South Wales, Australia.
Understand
Get in
By car
Dubbo is approximately a 4-hour drive west of Lithgow on the Great Western and Mitchell Highways, and a 4-hour drive west of Sydney.
Dubbo is accessible from Newcastle (via the New England and Golden Highways). Approximately 2-hour drive.
Dubbo is roughly half-way between Melbourne and Brisbane on the direct inland route, bypassing Sydney.
By train
NSW TrainLink[dead link]Category:Articles with dead external links operates an XPT train service between Sydney and Dubbo daily, generally departing Sydney in the morning and arriving between 2–3PM. There is an additional coach connection to Lithgow (connecting with the unbooked train service there) and a thrice-weekly coach connection to Cootamundra (connecting to the Sydney to Melbourne XPT). There are also regular coaches connecting to Broken Hill, Bourke and Lightning Ridge.
Dubbo is one of the few places in regional NSW to which it is practical to take the train without requiring transport at the other end. There is accommodation within easy walking distance of the station, from where you can explore the centre of town and the attractions there. The zoo is only a 5 km taxi or bus ride, where you can hire a bike, car or walk around the zoo.
By plane
- 1 Dubbo City Regional AirportCategory:Has map markers (DBO Category:Airport listing IATA) (on the Mitchell Highway to the north-west of town). You can get a taxi into town, or pre-book a rental car to pickup at the airport.
- Regional Express operates flights to Dubbo from Sydney and Broken Hill.
- Qantaslink flies between Sydney and Dubbo.
Get around
By bike
There is an off-road cycleway (Tracker Riley Cycleway) from the centre of Dubbo and the Macquarie River out to the Western Plains Zoo. It is an easy cycle, and then you can use your bike to cycle around the zoo as well.
By taxi
The zoo is only a short distance from town, and it is quite economical to catch a taxi there. You can rent a bicycle at the zoo to get around when you get there.
By bus
Dubbo Buslines does the trip from the centre of town to the zoo eight times a day on weekdays, and five times on Saturdays and Sundays. On weekdays, there is almost a frequent service between Orana Mall and the town centre – with five bus routes doing the trip. Limited service on Saturdays and Sundays.
There is also a scheduled bus service on weekdays to the neighbouring towns of Narromine and Wellington.
See
- 1 Taronga Western Plains ZooCategory:Has map markers, Obley Road, ☏ +61 2 6882 5888. Daily 9AM-5PM. This large open range zoo, one of the finest zoos in New South Wales, has both exotic and native animals, including elephants, giraffes, and the rare black rhinos which are the focus of a breeding program at the zoo. It is the biggest attraction of tourists to the city. The zoo is quite large, and it is both useful and fun to hire a bicycle to get around. There are variety of styles, child seats, baskets and trailers for hire at the entrance, or a cycleway loop stretches all the way from town. Admission is $45 adults, $22 children 4-15, $30 concessions and free for children under 4. Tickets are valid for entry on two consecutive days.
- 2 Dundullimal HomesteadCategory:Has map markers, 23L Obley Rd, ☏ +61 2 6884 9984. Tu-Sa 11AM - 3PM. Dubbo’s oldest building, a farmhouse built around 1840, that is open to the public. $9.50.
- 3 Old Dubbo GaolCategory:Has map markers, 90 Macquarie St, ☏ +61 2 6801 4460. An official gaol from 1859 to 1966, it is now a museum and tourist attraction. There are both guided and self-guided tours.
- 4 Dubbo ObservatoryCategory:Has map markers, 17L Camp Rd. An observatory 15 km away from Dubbo where you can see the Milky Way and take some Astrography shots.
- 5 Dubbo Visitor ExperienceCategory:Has map markers (Royal Flying Doctor Service Visitor Experience), 21 Judy Jakins Dr, Dubbo, toll-free: 1800 847 487, dubboenquiries@rfdsse.org.au. M-F 9AM-5PM Sa 9AM-4PM Su 9AM-3PM.
Do
- Category:Do listing with no coordinatesDubbo Kart ClubCategory:Has map markers, ☏ +61 2 6884 5321, +61 428 480 714 (mobile). Has hire karts available and hosts Local, State, National and International karting events.
- Category:Do listing with no coordinatesOrana Dragon BoatCategory:Has map markers, ☏ +61 408 636 273, muchomumbo@gmail.com. Orana Dragon Boat is crewed by eighteen paddlers, a sweep who steers the boat from the back and a drummer who calls time in the front. Their boat is housed near Sandy Beach and usually paddle in the straight stretch of the Macquarie River between Sandy Beach and the Weir.
- Dubbo History Walking Tour. +61 404 238 209. dubbopubhistory@hotmail.com. Discover Dubbo, 'the hub of the west' on a 2-hour self guided walking tour. Explore its oldest hotels & pubs and hear the stories behind the first settlers.
Buy
- Farmer’s Markets There are farmers' markets every month in Dubbo. They are on the first and third Saturday of every month, near the Tourist Information Centre. Fresh produce, poultry, coffee, jams, preserves, olive oil, sourdough bread, etc.
Eat
- Category:Eat listing with no coordinatesAmazing ThaiCategory:Has map markers, 36 Cobra St, toll-free: +61 2 6882 8889.
- 1 Dahab CafeCategory:Has map markers, 197 Brisbane St., ☏ +61 2 6884 5320.
- 2 Ming HingCategory:Has map markers, 248 Macquarie St., ☏ +61 2 6871 2107. A BYO Chinese restaurant.
Drink
There are a number of pubs and bars in Dubbo, with the Commercial Hotel, the Pastoral Hotel, Milestone, Western Star, Macquarie Inn and Dubbo RSL attracting quite a few locals and tourists on weekends.
- 1 Milestone HotelCategory:Has map markers, 195 Macquarie St, ☏ +61 2 6884 8230. Built in 1881, it became a mixed-use premises until returning to its original purpose as a pub and hotel in 2005. One of the favourites among the locals.
Sleep
Dubbo is a popular stopping off point, and has a large range of accommodation. Except at the busiest times of year, it's possible to get motel accommodation on a drive up basis on the main roads into town.
- Category:Sleep listing with no coordinatesCascades Motor InnCategory:Has map markers, 147 Cobra Street, ☏ +61 2 6882 3888. All rooms equipped with queen-sized bed, telephone, television, A/C, Wi-Fi. Rates start at $112.
- Category:Sleep listing with no coordinatesAberdeen Motor InnCategory:Has map markers, 25 Cobra St, ☏ +61 2 6884 1700, info@aberdeendubbo.com.au. Rooms, suites and family apartments.
- Category:Sleep listing with no coordinatesBlue Gum InnCategory:Has map markers, 109 Cobra Street, ☏ +61 2 6882 0900. Has several kids rooms 2a and 3 kids.
- Blue Diamond Motor Inn is walking distance to the station, if you are arriving by train and want a nearby place to stay.
- 1 Discovery ParksCategory:Has map markers, 154 Whylandra St, ☏ +61 2 6884 8633, dubbo@discoveryparks.com.au. Clean, quiet and spacious.
- Category:Sleep listing with no coordinatesFountain View MotelCategory:Has map markers, 113-115 Cobra St (opposite Elston Park), ☏ +61 2 6882 9777. Affordable accommodation.
- Category:Sleep listing with no coordinatesQuality Dubbo InternationalCategory:Has map markers, 165 Whylandra St, ☏ +61 2 68824777. 60 rooms including suites, kitchen suite, family rooms, interconnecting rooms, and special designed rooms for guests with a disability. These rooms all have remote control television units, tea and coffee facilities, iron and ironing board, Free wireless broadband Internet, independent air conditioning units and Foxtel TV. All of the rooms have an electronic coded door locking system.
- Category:Sleep listing with no coordinatesAustralian Heritage Motor InnCategory:Has map markers, ☏ +61 2 6884 1188, bookings@australianheritagemotorinn.com.au. A 4-star rated accommodation standard with 23 suite motels and 4 cottage style units. Cnr Brisbane and Cobra Streets. Rates start at $128.
- Category:Sleep listing with no coordinatesCattlemans Country MotelCategory:Has map markers. Has an unimaginable number of rooms.
- Category:Sleep listing with no coordinatesEndeavour Court Motor InnCategory:Has map markers, 94-98 Bourke St (850 metres from the train station), ☏ +61 6881 1000, reservations@endeavourcourtmotel.com.au. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 10AM.
Go next
Only an hour and a half away (or 128 km ESE) from Dubbo, Mudgee offers a fantastic historical heritage and a host of great small wineries.
Wellington Caves and phosphate mines make a good day trip. Wellington is a pretty town, and well worth a visit itself.
If you're coming from Sydney, your halfway towards the outback, and you can keep travelling out towards Cobar and Broken Hill Category:Central West (New South Wales)Category:All destination articles
Category:Usable citiesCategory:Usable articlesCategory:City articles Category:Has Geo parameter