Dubbo’s Double Dozen Attractions
The city of Dubbo is just over an hour’s drive away, but a visit there can feel like it’s a world away with more than 25 attractions and activities and lots of shopping opportunities, coffee shops and restaurants. Taronga’s Western Plains Zoo is often touted as the jewel of the Central West, and for good reason. Whether you just want to cycle around the safari-like park, or get up close and personal with some of the more exotic and endangered creatures from around the globe, the zoo is a perfect way to spend a day. But there’s a lot more to explore around Dubbo than just the big
game.
The Dubbo Gaol, nestled right in the CBD, will transport you to another time. It’s an immersive experience, with costumed characters, animatronics and holographic displays bringing the prison’s barbaric 119 year history to life. If the dark cells and hangman’s rope collections aren’t eerie enough, you could book into a night tour or the ominously named ‘beyond the grave’ tour.
There’s a lot more history to uncover just a short stroll away at the Western Plains Cultural Centre, which is home to the Dubbo Regional Museum. The museum boasts a 5,000 object collection, featuring a permanent local exhibition, as well as touring exhibits. The WPCC is also home to the Dubbo Regional Gallery, which hosts curated shows, regional exhibitions, a children’s gallery and a space devoted to the moving image. The WPCC offers a great opportunity to enjoy history and high culture.
This weekend Dubbo is hosting ARTLANDS, a regional arts conference and festival. The Western Plains Cultural Centre will be awash with vibrant and creative activities. Free entertainment includes Circus performances, lively music, and the spectacular, site-specific audio-visual installation, Spark.
But a trip to the bigger smoke shouldn’t be limited to entertainment; Dubbo is a treasure-trove of shopping delights, with popular fashion and retail chains as well as a range of exclusive boutiques. Orana Mall is known as the Central West’s premier shopping mall, and with 70 stores to browse through, it’s a day-trip in itself. Fortunately, Dubbo also boasts an array of cafes and eateries. The Local Coffee Co. is the perfect place to recharge your batteries and enjoy an exquisitely made barista coffee. Or you could enjoy a lunch on Grapevine’s outdoor patio, their extensive menu has something to appeal to any palette. But if you happen to have the kids in tow, you can’t go past PK’s Bakery, which offers a tasty selection of sweet and savory pastries, and has the added bonus of a kids’ playground, so they can keep
busy while you enjoy a cuppa.