Top Towns for 2022: Insider tips to the best of Dubbo

By Carla Grossetti
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Bridget Kaitler wakes before dawn each day to start work at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo. The zoo is one of the top reasons why you voted Dubbo no. 46 in the Top 50 Aussie Towns. Here, Kaitler shares her top tips for exploring the town.

Find the complete list of the Top 50 Aussie Towns.

I relocated from Melbourne in 2015 to complete my Certificate III in Captive Animals and have worked as a zookeeper for the past six years. I love my work. When I first arrived at the zoo, my favourite animal was the lion. That’s since changed. Working on the conservation breeding programs has given me a greater appreciation for endangered animals such as the greater one-horned rhino, and our own greater bilby and the Tassie devil.

Zookeeper Bridget Kaitler in Dubbo Zoo

Zookeeper Bridget Kaitler at work. (Image: Taronga Western Plains Zoo)

I love the way the Tassie devil growls. And I love how cute and charismatic they are. A highlight of working here is hearing the primates do their territorial calls in the early morning. And watching the herd animals moving in packs. It’s an exciting place to work.

I work in Division 2 at the zoo which is mainly the Aussie fauna, big cats and primates. My shift starts at 7am. I start the day with a coffee at The Waterhole, which is near to the meerkat exhibit, which I have to rake out each day. If I’m in town, The Harvest is where I go to for coffee and breakfast. The Dahab Cafe or Short Street Store are where I go to for lunch.

Meerkats at Taronga Western Plains Zoo

Grab a cup of coffee from the Waterhole near the meerkat exhibit. (Image: Taronga Western Plains Zoo)

If I have friends visiting Dubbo from out of town, I take them for a picnic along the Macquarie River or to the Warrumbungle National Park. The Shoyoen Japanese Garden is a nice place for a picnic, too.

Shoyoen Japanese Garden Dubbo

Pause for a picnic in Shoyoen Japanese Garden.

Being from Melbourne, I’m an AFL fan so I go to the South Dubbo Tavern to watch the footy when it’s on. The Pastoral Hotel or The Commercial Hotel are great fun pubs, too. If I’ve got a mate visiting from Melbourne, I take them to the Royal India Restobar, which is a favourite with locals. It’s fun. It’s got a nice atmosphere. Lots of ornate wallpaper, Art Deco chandeliers. I’d then steer them to the Monkey Bar, Down The Lane, or The Establishment Bar, which is a sort of speakeasy. The Devil’s Hollow Brewery is another excellent spot for a beer. It’s housed in a big shed in the industrial estate. It’s got great pizza.

Old Dubbo Gaol streetview

Visit the Old Dubbo Gaol. (Image: Destination NSW)

The Old Dubbo Gaol is also really cool. It’s a great venue for pop-up events and festivals. Dubbo is halfway between Melbourne and Brisbane and the zoo gives road-trippers a great reason to stop.

Living in Dubbo has been great. The people are so down-to-earth and friendly. I love it here.

Explore more of Dubbo in our travel guide or find out which other towns made it into your Top 50.
Carla Grossetti avoided accruing a HECS debt by accepting a cadetship with News Corp. at the age of 18. After completing her cadetship at The Cairns Post Carla moved south to accept a position at The Canberra Times before heading off on a jaunt around Canada, the US, Mexico and Central America. During her career as a journalist, Carla has successfully combined her two loves – of writing and travel – and has more than two decades experience switch-footing between digital and print media. Carla’s CV also includes stints at delicious., The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Australian, where she specialises in food and travel. Carla also based herself in the UK where she worked at Conde Nast Traveller, and The Sunday Times’ Travel section before accepting a fulltime role as part of the pioneering digital team at The Guardian UK. Carla and has been freelancing for Australian Traveller for more than a decade, where she works as both a writer and a sub editor.
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Australia’s largest African-style savannah experience coming in 2026

    By Kassia Byrnes
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    A new resort is set to transport guests to the Serengeti at Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo.

    In my humble opinion, Dubbo’s Taronga Western Plains Zoo is the best in the country, possibly in the world. Besides the sheer size (and the novelty of riding a push bike, or driving, from enclosure to enclosure), it does amazing work for wildlife and habitat conservation. And the current open plain African Savannah habitat is a bit of fun. But it’s about to get an ambitious makeover with Australia’s largest African-style experience, Serengeti Resort.

    Serengetti room interior render Taronga Western Plains Zoo

    Watch African wildlife from the comfort of your room.

    Set across 55 hectares of grasslands in a previously unused area of the zoo (that’s five times the size of the current savannah habitat), the Serengeti Resort will be an immersive experience. In the middle of it all will be a central hub complete with a function and events centre, a cafe restaurant and an infinity-edge pool, all surrounded by diverse accommodation options. And the views? Watch roaming African wildlife – including giraffe, rhinoceros, zebra and antelope – right from your resort room window.

    “The Serengeti Resort will be a game changer for Taronga Western Plains Zoo and for tourism in regional NSW,” said Taronga Chief Executive, Cam Kerr. “Designed with families in mind, it brings the beauty and excitement of an African safari to our own backyard, right here in Dubbo“.

    “This is more than just a place to stay; it’s an unforgettable experience that blends Taronga’s world-class wildlife expertise with the warmth of regional hospitality. It will firmly cement Dubbo as a must-do holiday destination for every Australian family”.

    Serengetti resort pool render Taronga Western Plains Zoo

    The resort builds on the zoo’s current Savannah Experience.

    The Serengeti Resort will offer a Taronga Western Plains Zoo experience that can last multiple days and is expected to inject an estimated $391 million into the local visitor economy over the next 20 years.

    “Taronga does incredibly important work in the wildlife conservation space. Both nationally and internationally, they are renowned for their breeding programs, research facilities and animal hospitals,” said Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Penny Sharpe. “This new facility will help visitors connect with nature in a whole new way, whilst boosting revenue for the zoo and the local economy”.

    Construction has begun, with the resort expected to open in the second half of 2026. Watch this space.

    Serengetti room exterior render Taronga Western Plains Zoo

    Look for updates in 2026.

    While you’re waiting, discover some of Sydney’s best zoo experiences that are open now.