Welcome Sign, DubboCredit: Destination NSW
Welcome to Dubbo: where adventure is on the horizon
#lovensw #newsouthwales
Whether you’re travelling for adventure, luxury, family fun or a history lesson, the regional city of Dubbo, about a 4.5-hour drive northwest of Sydney, will charm you with its unexpected surprises.
Fun-seeking families
One of the region’s greatest attractions, Taronga Western Plains Zoo is a safari-style park filled with exotic animals — you’ll encounter black and white rhinoceros, zebras, giraffes, elephants, cheetahs, lions and Sumatran tigers here. Navigating the 5km circuit is all part of the fun and is best done on a bike or by electric car. Or hop aboard a safari truck to take an African Savannah Safari, see big cats in the Lion Pride Lands, and let the kids play in the Waterhole Precinct, which opened in 2020 and offers a waterplay area and outdoor café, close to the meerkat mob. To keep the adventure going, check in to the Zoofari Lodge for an overnight stay.
Luxury lovers
If you want to stay in the city centre, book The Repose — this humble two-bedroom worker’s cottage has been lovingly restored in a calming palette. Beds feature luxe linen, the fridge is filled with complimentary breakfast supplies and French windows overlook a private courtyard. The original claw-foot bath is the treat you need after a day of exploring.
Or for a quintessentially country experience, stay at The Fleece. An hour’s drive from Dubbo, this restored shearing shed sleeps four and sits on a century-old working farm known as Cora Lynn. Mobile reception is limited and there is no television or wifi — the idea is to totally unwind and do little more than enjoy the fresh air and spectacular views.
Dubbo Highlights Credit: Destination NSW
Postcard footage of Dubbo
#lovensw #newsouthwales
Dubbo Highlights Credit: Destination NSW
Postcard footage of Dubbo
Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo Credit: Taronga Western Plains Zoo
Giraffes and zebras on the Savannah at the Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo.
#lovensw #newsouthwales
Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo Credit: Taronga Western Plains Zoo
Giraffes and zebras on the Savannah at the Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo.
Adventure addicts
Located along the Macquarie River, 10 minutes out of Dubbo, the Terramungamine Rock Grooves are of important historical significance. Made by the Tubba-Gah Wiradjuri people as they sharpened their tools and spears, the grooves are believed to be between 2,000 and 5,000 years old. There’s a campground nearby, so you can take the time to explore the area.
For an exhilarating night-time experience, take the 90-minute drive to Warrumbungle National Park. This is the southern hemisphere's first and only Dark Sky Park, meaning it’s internationally recognised for having exceptional starry nights. Take full advantage by camping in this beautiful park.
Also 90 minutes from Dubbo, Coolah is the gateway to the Coolah Tops National Park, known for its giant gum trees, towering eucalypts and stands of huge snow gums. Walking trails wind past waterfalls, dedicated mountain-bike trails traverse the paths, and remote campsites are ideal for gazing at the starry skies.
History buffs
Visitors to the Old Dubbo Gaol are invited to travel back in time to experience the harsh prison life of the 1840s. Learn the escape stories that have made their way into the site’s history, spend a short stint in solitary confinement and engage with the dressed-up staff as they take on the characters of pick-pocketing prisoners and strict guards.
The Great Western Plains region is filled with small historical towns in day-tripping distance from Dubbo. Gilgandra, a 45-minute drive from Dubbo, is known for its numerous windmills, as the town had no reticulated water supply until 1966. Follow the Windmill Walk through town to spot them. The Gilgandra Rural Museum traces the town’s agricultural history with an extensive range of vintage machinery, including the revolutionary Howard rotary hoe, designed on a local farm by Arthur Clifford Howard in 1920.
Trangie, an hour from Gilgandra and part of the old Cobb & Co coach trail, is known for its authentic country pubs dating back to the early 1900s and serving hearty meals. The Wungunja Cultural Centre houses a large collection of Aboriginal artefacts sourced from around central NSW, including tools, ochre, axes, boomerangs, rubbing stones and two large carved burial trees.
Dark Sky Park, Warrumbungle National Park Credit: Destination NSW
The night sky filled with bright stars over the dark sky park in the Warrumbungles.
#lovensw #newsouthwales
Dark Sky Park, Warrumbungle National Park Credit: Destination NSW
The night sky filled with bright stars over the dark sky park in the Warrumbungles.
Old Dubbo Gaol, Dubbo Credit: Destination NSW
Family enjoying a visit to the Old Dubbo Gaol.
#lovensw #newsouthwales
Old Dubbo Gaol, Dubbo Credit: Destination NSW
Family enjoying a visit to the Old Dubbo Gaol.
More Inspirational Stories
Centennial Vineyards, BowralCredit: Destination NSW
Woman walking through the scenic grounds of Centennial Vineyards, Bowral.
#feelnsw #newsouthwales
Pack the pleasures of a long holiday into a short break by savouring the idyllic scenery, charming villages, delectable local produce and wines, and abundant outdoor activities of the New South Wales Southern Highlands, just a 90-minute drive from Sydney’s city centre. Here’s how to make the most of your time with unmissable things to do in Bowral and its surrounds.
Have a ball in Bowral
Step back in time at the Bradman Museum & International Cricket Hall of Fame, in cricket legend Sir Donald Bradman’s hometown of Bowral, the largest town in the Southern Highlands. Immerse in interactive experiences that transport you to the 1930s and 40s and scenes of some of Sir Donald’s most iconic innings. And be absorbed by innovative displays with live game footage from around the world, touch-screen kiosks, fascinating memorabilia and a contemporary art gallery.
Relish a three-course lunch at nearby Harry’s on Green Lane restaurant, or lighter fare at Plantation Cafe Bowral, its sister café next door.Get in the spirit of yesteryear at Peppers Craigieburn, an elegant homestead just outside of Bowral that’s been welcoming guests for more than a century.
Immerse in vintage fashion – and viniculture
Indulge your love of vintage clothing and fossicking for antique treasures at Dirty Janes in Bowral, the largest indoor market in the Southern Highlands. Feel your pulse quickening as you enter its huge warehouse space and survey the extensive collection of furniture, ornaments, clothing, jewellery and collectables offered by more than 80 independent dealers and upcyclers. Wander from stall to stall before sitting down to scones, jam and cream coupled with your favourite tea at Dirty Jane’s in-house tea salon. Savour the thrill of the perfect find for longer as you explore Bowral’s ‘Green Lane’ precinct, a leafy village square dotted with homeware and gift shops.
After a few heady hours in Bowral, retreat to your room at Bendooley Estate, outside the nearby village of Berrima. Take comfort in the striking artwork, bespoke wallpaper and soothing palette of blues and whites in the bathroom of your cottage on the winery’s vast property. Lose track of time among the shelves of rare and antiquarian books at Bendooley Estate’s Berkelouw Book Barn and sample the estate’s fine wines at its cellar door – just make sure you don’t miss your booking at the award-winning restaurant Eschalot, a five-minute drive away in Berrima.
Bradman Oval, Bowral Credit: Destination NSW
Donald Bradman statue at The Bradman Oval Bowral in the Southern Highlands.
#feelnsw
Bradman Oval, Bowral Credit: Destination NSW
Donald Bradman statue at The Bradman Oval Bowral in the Southern Highlands.
Hop down to Kangaroo Valley
Connect with the people, places and produce of the Southern Highlands on one of Wild Food Adventures‘ diverse range of tours, from hiking and wildlife-spotting to fine dining and farm visits. Feel your everyday worries melt away on a hands-on adventure, from walking through pristine wilderness, cycling vast forests, learning artisan crafts, swimming in waterfalls or tasting bush foods. Paddle through majestic waterways on a Canoes, Cool Climate Wines & Canapés adventure through the scenic Kangaroo Valley, tasting native foods and award-winning wines, and dining on a decadent paddock-to-plate lunch.
After you’ve handed back your paddle, thrill to the drive along winding mountain roads from Kangaroo Valley to the pretty Southern Highlands hamlet of Bundanoon, home to the divine boutique hotel Osborn House. Settle into one of Osborn House’s lush suites – some with four-poster beds – and spruce up for a dinner of reimagined rustic dishes at the hotel’s formal dining room Dinah’s.
While away the next morning exploring Bundanoon’s sandstone buildings and fuel up for a foray into rugged Morton National Park with lunch at Potter’s Pantry Bundanoon, a short walk from Osborn House.
Linger in a foodie town
Delve into the flavours of the Southern Highlands at the Robertson Cheese Factory, a popular pit-stop for its café, dairy store and country-style emporium in the small town of Robertson, a 25-minute drive from Bowral. Savour homemade “off the farm” cheeses, a wide variety of sweets and more than 100 flavours of ice-cream, then marvel at its eclectic collection of vintage clothing, homewares, kitchenware and unique gifts.
Keep pursuing your passion for all things dairy with a three-cheese toastie, the house specialty at Pecora Cheese & Wine, or see out the sunset hours at this chic venue with an expertly made cocktail or a glass of wine as you nibble at a grazing plate of charcuterie. If you’re in Robertson at lunchtime, devour an eggplant parmigiana served with house-made ricotta at Moonacres Kitchen, also on the main street of town.
After a day of cheesy goodness, watch the shadows lengthen as the sun sets over the impeccably maintained gardens of The Robertson Hotel, a 1920s-era grand hotel a two-minute drive or a leisurely 15-minute walk from the town centre.
Highland Valley Forage, Kangaroo Valley Credit: Lumiere Creative
Highland Valley Forage in Kangaroo Valley returns.
#feelnsw #newsouthwales
Highland Valley Forage, Kangaroo Valley Credit: Lumiere Creative
Highland Valley Forage in Kangaroo Valley returns.