Dubbo family-friendly travel guide

Being a predominantly dry inland city with no wet season, Dubbo experiences pleasant cool winters and warm summers, making it a suitable year-round destination. During spring and autumn temperatures generally reach the mid to high 20s while nights are mild, making it the perfect time for families to visit.

Summer is between the months of December and February and has an average temperature of 32 degrees Celsius and an average monthly rainfall of 55 millimetres.

Autumn is between the months of March and May and has an average temperature of 25 degrees Celsius and an average monthly rainfall of 46 millimetres.

Winter is between the months of June and August and has an average temperature of 16 degrees Celsius and an average monthly rainfall of 46 millimetres.

Spring is between the months of September and November and has an average temperature of 25 degrees Celsius and an average monthly rainfall of 48 millimetres.

The Dubbo City Regional Airport is five kilometres from the CBD. A flight from Sydney to Dubbo takes about one hour.

Enjoy the scenery outside your window as it evolves from urban jungle to open paddocks. The Dubbo XPT train runs daily from Sydney to Dubbo, while the NSW TrainLink runs daily to Lithgow, where you can get a connecting coach to Dubbo.

Residents in Canberra and Sydney can drive to Dubbo in four to six hours. It lies at the junction of three highways, the Mitchell, Golden and Newell.

If you’ve driven to Dubbo, getting around will be super easy. Alternatively, you can hire a car when you arrive from Avis, Budget, Hertz or Thrifty. The lack of parking meters in Dubbo is a welcome surprise for all drivers.

Dubbo Buslines can also get you from point A to point B with a tickets for a minimum of $2.30 for an adult single fare and minimum of $6.90 for an adult daily fare.

If you’re craving a particular type of cuisine, head to Dubbo Hanoi Corner, Rose Garden West Dubbo Thai Restaurant or Bellotti’s Italian Dining.

For both indoor and outdoor dining options, head to CSC Restaurant and Bar or Two Doors Wine and Tapas Lounge.

Other favourites include Old Bank Restaurant & Bar, One 7 Eight at the Dubbo RSL and Veldt Restaurant.

If you’re looking for a shopping centre, head to Orana Mall, Dubbo Square or Riverdale shopping centres.

Dubbo also has some cute boutiques, including Frank & Enid for homewares and The Book Connection bookshop.

Make sure to stop by the Zoo Shop while you’re at the zoo to pick up some souvenirs of your trip.

Tipping is appreciated, but not expected in Australia.

Attire-wise, anything goes in Dubbo. However, in the summer months make sure to wear sun safe clothes, especially if you are spending a long day outdoors at the zoo.

Mains voltage in Australia is 230V AC, 50Hz. Use a two-pin (shaped like a “V”) or three-pin adaptor (different to British three-pin adaptors).

No special immunisations or vaccinations are required to visit Australia unless you have come from, or have visited, a yellow fever infected country within six days of your arrival. However, regulations and medical advice can change at short notice, so check with your doctor and the Australian Department of Health before you leave home.

Tap water is generally safe to drink in Australian cities.

Unsurprisingly, Western Plains Zoo is the most photographed place in Dubbo. With so many exotic animal on display, who wouldn’t want to take a few photos?

Other photo spots include main attractions like the Old Dubbo Gaol, natural beauties like the Macquarie River and the  Shoyoen Japanese Garden in the botanic gardens, and the wineries dotted around the region, like Red Earth Winery and Lazy Rivers Estate.