DUBBO NAMED AUSTRALIA’S NINTH BEST TOWN

Western Plains Zoo

Dubbo has been recognised as Australia’s ninth best town as online booking site Wotif announced the winners of its 2019 Town of the Year earlier this week.

The awards put the spotlight on 10 deserving locations across Australia. 

In the heart of the Macquarie Valley, Dubbo is a vibrant regional city with many wonderful experiences, from the Taronga Western Plains Zoo to museums and tasty delights.

In the heart of the beautiful Macquarie Valley, Dubbo is a vibrant regional city by the majestic Macquarie River. You’ll discover many wonderful experiences, from the award-winning Taronga Western Plains Zoo to marvellous museums, gorgeous gardens, tasty delights and fun activities.

Bring your bicycles or hire them and ride along the riverbank. You can pedal to the open-range zoo on the Tracker Riley Cycleway, a 12.5 km loop. Near the river in the city centre are attractions such as the heritage-listed Old Dubbo Gaol, which has Australia’s largest collection of hangman’s knots.

The magnificent Western Plains Cultural Centre is both a gallery and a museum. Entry is free and among the many highlights is Aboriginal artist Michael Riley’s evocative Cloud series and an intact 1915 Australian Hero wool wagon that was used to transport wool from the sheep farms to trains.

Other memorable things to do include exploring ancient Aboriginal grinding grooves in the Terramungamine Reserve and stargazing through Dubbo Observatory’s powerful telescopes. Another great attraction is the iconic Royal Flying Doctors, where you can board a flight simulator.

You’ll find plenty of accommodation options to suit various budgets – you can even stay at the zoo. Check out the exciting events calendar for festivals, shows and exhibitions. The Dubbo Heritage Walk is a great way to admire ornate architecture and explore the stories of pioneers and bushrangers.

There are delicious places to eat. Stop by one of the classic country pubs for refreshments, such as the 1882-built Milestone Hotel. There are quality restaurants like the Sail in the Blue Lagoon and charming cafes – try the gourmet pies at the Village Bakery Café, family operated since 1918.

The valley support farms, graziers and vineyards. You can visit the cellar doors at the Red Earth Estate Vineyardand the Tombstone Estate Vineyard and taste elegant red and white wines. Savour fresh produce at Dubbo Farmers Market and browse gifts and mementos at the Riverside Markets.

Getting to Dubbo is easy. The city is where the Newell, Mitchell and Golden highways meet in the Great Western Plains region of NSW. The drive northwest from Sydney is five hours. You can also fly to Dubbo or take a scenic train trip and arrive at the heritage-listed station, which opened in 1881.

To plan your Dubbo experience visit http://dubbo.com.au/