In the Dubbo Region we love to be home town heroes! You can get involved and share the great treasure trove of local gems on offer – from the wide open spaces of Taronga Western Plains Zoo to the underground wonderland of the Wellington Caves, a wealth of adventure is waiting.
When friends and family visit we love to share the exciting things to see and do in our region. Explore your new home and be a home town hero! A number of attractions and activities are ready to reward you for being a home town ambassador and showcasing our region to your visiting friends and family by offering local residents free or discounted entry.
Take a walk on the wild side and explore Taronga Western Plains Zoo, home to hundreds of animals from around the world, with a 6km circuit that you can drive, cycle, run or walk through natural bushland and around large open style exhibits. As a local resident*, you can access discounted Taronga Western Plains Zoo entry or if you plan to visit more regularly invest in a Zoo Friends annual pass.
Discover an underground wonderland at the Wellington Caves and Phosphate Mine! You will be transported back millions of years in time as you journey through two limestone show caves and the beautifully preserved mine. Enjoy 50% off all tour ticket prices if you are a local resident*.
The history buffs among us love the Old Dubbo Gaol, a state heritage listed must see. This remarkably complete and intact gaol operated for 119 years from 1847 to 1966 and is still nestled in the main street of Dubbo. If you are a local resident* then your admission into the Gaol during the day is free!
Touch down into the world of heroic doctors, nurses, pilots and outback communities with the Royal Flying Doctor Visitor Experience. Live each moment as they deliver urgent medical care across a 7.69 million square km ‘waiting room’ - the Australian outback. As a local resident of the Dubbo LGA you enjoy 25% off the regular RFDS Visitor Experience ticket price**.
You will love getting lost in the beauty of nature at Burrendong Botanic Garden and Arboretum, which houses one of the largest collections of Australian plants in cultivation. Over 50,000 flowering plants, shrubs and trees from more than 2,000 species are growing on 164 hectares overlooking the beautiful Lake Burrendong. A favourite of many residents is the lush simulated rainforest known as Fern Gully.
Thrill seekers and leisure lovers alike flock to Lake Burrendong just outside of Mumbil. With a capacity three times that of Sydney Harbour this picturesque water playground is a haven for fishing, water sports, camping and relaxation year round.
Unleash your creative soul and enjoy world-class touring and in-house exhibitions at the Western Plains Cultural Centre, the largest gallery space west of the Blue Mountains and one of the few regional galleries to regularly host the Archibald.
Unearth our history with many fine examples of heritage architecture including the National Trust’s Dundullimal Homestead, built in the early 1840s and believed to be Australia’s oldest timber slab homestead and Dubbo’s oldest building open to the public.
* Photo ID is required to access special rates. Valid for postcodes 2818, 2820, 2821, 2822, 2823, 2827, 2830, 2831, 2842, 2868, 2869.
** To receive this discount please buy these tickets directly at the centre. Proof of residency in postcode 2818, 2820, 2821, 2822, 2823, 2827, 2830, 2831, 2842, 2868, 2869 must be shown at the time of purchase.
Make a day trip of it
Great big adventures begin in Dubbo and the Great Western Plains. Dubbo’s anchor location and network of transport links makes it the perfect base from which to explore some of the most unique destinations Australia has to offer. Hit the road and in an hour or two you could discover some of the best hidden gems regional NSW has to offer.
Image credit: Destination NSW