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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.

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.

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.

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.

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 / 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.

Wellington offers a passionate community and a thriving arts scene. The annual Arts and Sculpture Festival, Springfest and Music In Between Festival provide loads of opportunities to be involved in rich and diverse cultural pursuits.

Sit back and relax as you watch the latest international touring show in one of our theatres; or take in a local pub gig or warm up those pipes for one of the regions regular ‘muso’s nights’. Cultivate your own creative talents and join one of the region’s cultural organisations. There is a diverse range of hobby groups to suit all tastes including writers groups, theatre companies, dance troupes, arts and crafts societies, music bands and more.

Unearth our history / Explorer John Oxley passed through the region during his 1817 and 1818 expeditions and noted the rich potential for grazing and agriculture. You can almost step back through time in the Dubbo region, 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.

Where can I get mates rates?

A number of attractions and activities across the Region are ready to reward you for being a hometown ambassador and showcasing Dubbo, Wellington and the surrounding villages to your visiting friends and family. As a local resident you can access free or discounted entry at the following attractions (conditions apply):

*Conditions apply, refer to attraction websites for full terms

What can we do in the Region?

Grab your friends and family and tuck into a non-stop feast of discovery, adventure and entertainment. Scroll through our directory to create your own itinerary, or find inspiration in our ready-made itineraries:

What can we do for free?

Our Region has plenty of fantastic attractions and activities that don't cost a cent, if this is the tenth time you've hosted friends and family lately and you just want to go somewhere quiet where you can relax you may want to try:

Where should we eat?

Need to replenish and recharge? Show off Dubbo's dining hot spots to your friends and family and let them sink their teeth into an array of local dishes that will leave their tastebuds reeling.

Where can they stay?

Dubbo has more than 70 accommodation providers and over 4,500 beds to suit every budget, ranging from 5 star B&B's through to pub-stay options.

What's on?

Check out our Region's events calendar and find our what's on these school holidays. Encourage your friends and family to join you at any one of the Region's unique events - from lantern parades, farmers markets, live music and street performers, to fun runs, river paddles and major spectator sports - they'll be spoilt for choice.

You’re guaranteed a friendly smile and a wealth of information when you stop in and see the teams at one of our Region’s Visitor Information Centres.

Visitor Information

You’re guaranteed a friendly smile and a wealth of information when you stop in and see the teams at one of our Region’s Visitor Information Centres. The friendly staff at Dubbo and Wellington are always happy to point you in the right direction, help plan your to-do list and even share some local secrets to ensure you have a holiday adventure you won’t soon forget.