Home of Taronga Western Plains Zoo

Dubbo is a comfortable 5.5 hour drive from Sydney, or a convenient 1 hour plane trip. Situated on the banks of the Macquarie River at the junction of three highways, it is home to around 40,000 people and services a catchment population of about 130,000.

Dubbo is best known as the home of Taronga Western Plains Zoo but residents will tell you that its relaxed lifestyle is the town's best kept secret. Just some of the other highlights enjoyed by locals include:

• Twice-monthly Farmers' Markets
• Western Plains Cultural Centre
• 500-seat Dubbo Regional Theatre & Convention Centre

Heading west, Dubbo is the last major centre before reaching the border town of Broken Hill; making it the commercial and community service hub for most of western NSW.

Dubbo has hot summers, a glorious autumn and relatively mild winters.