Located next to the Orana Shopping Centre, the Dubbo Regional Botanic Garden is a green oasis in a sometimes hot dry central west. A large car park provides ample space to leave your car, with only a short walk to the entrance.
Dubbo Regional Botanic Garden
Japanese Gardens
Wandering through the Japanese gardens on a hot day was refreshing because of the running water and quiet surroundings. Waterfalls, a lake with Koi, sculpted dry gardens and beautiful trees make this a beautiful place to visit.
We loved the lake and fish because they were very relaxing to watch from the shade of a willow tree.
Waterfall in the Japanese Gardens
Waterfall in the Japanese Gardens
Willow and Lake in the Japanese Gardens
Lake in the Japanese Gardens
Pond in the Japanese Gardens
Japanese Gardens
Japanese Gardens
Sensory Garden Dubbo Regional Botanic Garden
You can enjoy this section of the gardens with all five senses because the design uses different plants for each. Colour, texture and smell are obvious, but sound comes from rustling leaves and running water, while taste comes from strawberries (or did during our visit).
This was an interesting section to visit, because it engaged all of the senses. With several areas to sit and relax, it’s a peaceful place to visit.
Part of the Sensory Garden
Oasis Valley
Oasis Valley displays plants from dry rain forest environments. A board walk winds through and over the plants, allowing great views of them. A nice surprise was the sculptures located here. Made from sandstone and depicting Australian wildlife, they are a great addition to the area.
The board walk continues into the Biodiversity Garden, providing a continuation of the local plant life.
Boardwalk Through Oasis Valley
Platypus Rock Sculpture
Wombat Rock Sculpture
Frog Rock Sculpture
Lizard Rock Sculpture in the Biodiversity Garden
Biodiversity Garden
The Biodiversity Garden is a living model of the major vegetation communities that thrived in this region before European settlement. The trails take you through grassy white box woodlands, past wetlands and climbs up a rocky, volcanic slope via a boardwalk. This is great because it lets you see endangered local plant life without going to difficult to find places.
What Did We Think?
This was a relaxing places to visit, especially the wonderful Shoyoen Japanese Gardens, which were beautiful.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
Located in the centre of the Dubbo CBD, Old Dubbo Gaol which operated from 1847 to 1966 is now a tourist attraction. As it is heritage listed , it is one of the more popular places to visit in Dubbo.
Not only are the buildings preserved in excellent condition, but displays and information boards give an insight into the gaols operations and how prisoners were treated.
Entrance to Old Dubbo Gaol
Controller General’s Office Plaque
Buildings inside the Prison Complex
Male Prison
The section of the gaol used to house male prisoners is the first building you see on entering. A long dark corridor with heavy metal doors along the walls greets you as you walk through the main door.
Looking through the doors reveals how spartan the cells were, containing only a basic bed and little else. Several cells contain displays of manacles restraints used on the prisoners. Others display manikins dressed as inmates, with explanations of their crimes.
Male Prison Building
Gaol Cell
Male Prison Building Interior
Female Prison
A section used for female prisoners located at the rear of the gaol, shows that their conditions were no better than the men. Concrete floors and wooden beds were all that furnished the rooms.
Women’s’ Cell
Women’s Exercise Yard at
Watchtower Overlooking Old Dubbo Gaol
The watch tower, located near the female prisoners’ cells, can be accessed via a modern stairway. The short climb is worth it because you get great views over this part of the gaol. An audio recording plays inside the tower explaining its use to visitors.
View From the Watchtower
Watchtower
Washing Area
The area where prisoners washed and did laundry now contains an exhibit of prisoner information forms. Printed on bed sheets and laid out as drying laundry they give a great insight into the people imprisoned here.
Prisoner Information Sheets
Infirmary
Condon’s at the infirmary were better than the general prison, with wooden floors and better beds, but still primitive. Built from sandstone blocks like several other buildings at the prison, the infirmary is a very solid building.
Infirmary Building
The Infirmary
Gallows
Standing near the exercise yard, the gallows remind you that prisoners were executed here. Interesting to look at but a grisly reminder of the past.
The Gallows
What Did We Think of Old Dubbo Gaol?
As one of Dubbo’s main tourist attractions, this is a must see for visitors. We found it a fun place to visit, mainly for the history. Situated in the middle of town it is easy to get to, making it an easy place to see. Whilst we were there maintenance going on at the end of the female prison, so this little part was out of bounds.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
Located near Dubbo in the central west of New South Wales, Taronga Western Plains Zoo is one of Australia’s premier zoos. The zoo is home to over 5,000 animals from over 350 species, many of them rare and endangered. Taronga is part of an international breeding and conservation program to ensure these animals survival.
Getting Around Taronga Western Plains Zoo
Being an open range zoo allows the animals to move freely, which is spread out over a huge area. The circuit road is five kilometres long, with numerous sidetracks showing various exhibits adding many kilometres. We managed to walk over 14km during our visit.
If you don’t feel like, or are unable to walk around the zoo, there are option including drive your own car, hire a bike or golf cart. Each of these has its own appeal, depending on your circumstances and the weather.
The tables at the Waterhole are next to cages with meerkats. This is nice, because you can eat while watching them play. If you have children, this area has a small water park and play equipment, allowing them to play while you relax.
Throughout the park are several vending machines and water refill stations, which is great for that quick snack.
If you bring you own food, picnic areas are available, so you to eat surrounded by animals.
The Animals of Taronga Western Plains Zoo
With so many animals to see don’t rush, take your time. This way you will have a great visit while seeing lots of different animals.
Cheetah
We were lucky at the cheetah enclosure because they had just been fed. They were playing a game of tug with a piece of food, even though there was another piece lying nearby.
Cheetahs Fighting Over Food
Cheetah
Lion
Lion Enclosure
Female African Lions
Female African Lion
Sumatran Tiger
More tigers are located in Taronga’s Sydney Zoo, but this one looked very relaxed by itself. Taronga is proud to be part of a regional conservation management plan for Sumatran Tigers including breeding, research, fundraising and community action to support sustainably produced palm oil, which we all know has ruined the tigers natural habitat.
Sumatran Tiger
Rhinoceros
The zoo has three species of rhino on display. Each has its own large enclosure, where you can view them. It was great to see all three species, especially the critically endangered black rhino.
Black Rhinoceros
The black rhinoceros is classified as critically endangered, due to hunting and habitat loss.
Black Rhinoceros
Black Rhinoceros
Southern White Rhinoceros
The Southern white rhinoceros is the most abundant of the rhino sub-species, with around 20,000 living mostly in South Africa.
White Rhinoceros
White Rhinoceros
Greater One Horned Rhinoceros
The greater one-horned rhinoceros is native to the Indian subcontinent, and is listed as vulnerable, with under 4,000 animals globally.
Greater One Horned Rhinoceros
Camels
Dromedary camels
Hippopotamus
The hippos were active while we visited, munching grass while slowly walking around.
Common Hippopotamus
Taronga Western Plains Zoo Giraffe Herd
Seeing a herd of giraffes was great, as they acted like a family group[ with adults and calves moving together.
Giraffe
Ostrich
Ostrich
Emu
Two enclosures hold emus, including the walk around Australian section, where you can get up close to one. If you would rather see them from a distance, a large enclosure nearby has a flock of them walking around.
Emu
Emu
Swamp Wallaby
Swamp Wallaby
Banteng
Banteng
Addax
Addax
Eland
Eland
Bongo
These vividly striped animals were eating breakfast, so we were able to see them up close.
A Vividly Striped Bongo
Bongo
Takhi / Przewalksi’s Horse
Taronga Western Plains Zoo holds a large herd of Takhi or Przewalksi’s Horse. The story of the Takhi is told on information boards, inside building resembling Yurts, because the horses come from Mongolia.
Sunning themselves on the grass, the family of otters were sleepy but curious about the people looking at them. Several are staring at the camera while the photo was taken.
Otters
African Wild Dog
African Wild Dog
Galapagos Turtle
The last exhibit before you exit the park is the Galapagos turtles, what a great sight they are. We have seen them on TV shows, but to see them up close really lets you grasp how large they are. They are also very old, with the male around 50 and the female over 100 years old.
Look at the exhibit behind the turtles, because there are several young ones there, around five to seven years old when we visited.
Galapagos Turtle
Galapagos Turtle
Interesting Statues, Sculptures and Buildings at Taronga Western Plains Zoo
Silhouettes at The Pride Lands
Wildebeest Silhouettes
Vulture Sculpture
Lion Sculpture
Rhinoceros Sculpture
Entry to the Fallow Deer Enclosure
What Did We Think?
Taronga Western Plains Zoo is a great place to visit, not just for the animals you see, but because of the understanding you get about how fragile their existence is. On your trip around the zoo, you learn about their endangered environments. At the same time it is enjoyable and kids have great fun here.
To see what else there is to do in New South Wales, please see some of our other stories.
