Family destinations to please everyone Discover DUBBO!
BURSTING WITH FUN ACTIVITIES AND BUSTLING ATTRACTIONS, THIS REGIONAL NSW TOWN TICKS ALL THE BOXES
Finding a holiday destination that keeps everyone happy can be tricky. From pleasing the little ones to fulfilling the foodie or satisfying the history buff, it’s rare everyone gets what they want. Cue a trip to Dubbo. Just a five-hour drive from Sydney, this regional city has it all when it comes to family-friendly fun.
FOR THE ANIMAL LOVER
If there’s one thing Dubbo is famous for, it’s Taronga Western Plains Zoo – and there’s a reason this attraction is such a hit with both big and little kids. Forget everything you know about your usual zoo, this next-level interactive experience sees you bike, golf buggy or drive around 300 hectares of bushland to encounter more than 500 animals, ranging from adorably playful meerkats to exotic Sumatran tigers.
Love giraffes? The Giraffe Encounter is a must, letting you handfeed a horde of hungry friends. The same goes for the Savannah Safari, where you’ll climb into a truck and drive among free-roaming rhinos, zebras and giraffes (taronga.org.au/dubbo-zoo).
If you want to get even closer to the animals, head to Quentin Park, where friendly owner Amee will introduce you to the fun and fabulous 130 alpacas and llamas taking up residence on her farm. Book in for a meet and greet and you’ll be swarmed by them (Amee knows all their names!) as they enjoy a feed and a pat (quentinparkalpacas.com).
FOR THE NATURE FIEND
One of the best things about heading away from the big smoke is the cascade of stars you can clearly spot in the night sky, so take full advantage of this with a trip to Dubbo Observatory.
Sit back and bask in the stellar show and learn a few things with the Night Sky & Telescope Show, where you’ll be fascinated by a chat explaining the stars, planets and galaxies, before hopping behind a telescope to take them in for yourself (dubboobservatory.com).
If exploring underground is more your thing, take a trip to Wellington Caves. Located a 45-minute drive from Dubbo, the Cathedral Cave Tour will see you descend into darkness to take in evidence of marine life from 400-million years ago and marvel at limestone and crystal formations. Bonus: the kids will love it! (wellingtoncaves.com.au)
FOR THE FOODIE
Rethink everything you’ve heard about regional towns, because Dubbo will more than satisfy even the pickiest restaurant-goer. For a long day of sightseeing, fill up empty tummies at the Village Bakehouse (villagebakehouse.com.au).
For a more leisurely
brunch, head to Short Street Store (shortstreetstore. com.au). Quaint interiors instantly calm and relax, while the delicious food and super-friendly staff won’t fail to impress. If it’s classic pub grub you’re after, head to the newly renovated Pastoral Hotel (pastoralhotel.com. au). There’s even an enclosed kids area so you can let the little ones loose!
Fancy a bit of American nostalgia with your meal? Take a drive to Wellington to tuck into Milky Daze’s (facebook. com/milkydaze) epic hamburgers, and follow it up with one of their old-school banana splits.
FOR THE HISTORY BUFF
Sure, you’ve heard of the TV show, but a trip to the Royal Flying Doctor Service Visitor Experience proves truth is better than fiction. Explore the history of this incredible service of doctors, nurses and pilots providing medical care to outback
communities and get up close to aeromedical aircrafts (dubbo.experience. flyingdoctor.org.au)!
Take a trip down penal memory lane at Old Dubbo Gaol. Time your visit right and you’ll even catch a performance of characters in costume trying to outsmart the gaol warder (olddubbogaol.com.au).