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Visiting the Taronga Western Plains Zoo has been Zed’s dream for the past year (along with finding opal!), so we surprised him with a visit for his birthday recently.
The Taronga Western Plains Zoo is located at Dubbo, New South Wales and is home to hundreds of animals in large, open enclosures that mimic their natural environment.
The 6km circuit meanders through the zoo, which you can complete by foot, bike, golf cart or your own car. You can bring your own bikes, or hire bikes or a golf cart onsite at the zoo. We chose to hire a golf cart for this visit!
Your ‘safari’ through the zoo will bring you face-to-face with giraffes, rhino, elephants, zebras, lions, cheetahs, hippos, ostriches and so much more! The cleverly concealed fences and moats give the feeling of there being nothing between you and the animals, adding to the experience.
There are various keeper talks and feeding times, so make sure you mark any you want to attend on the map and make your way back there in time. We enjoyed our highly informative and entertaining keeper talks and feedings with the meerkats, giraffes and cheetahs.
We recommend arriving at opening time if you only have one day to see everything in the zoo, otherwise your entry ticket grants you entry for two consecutive days if you want to return again.
Where: Obley Road, Dubbo
Opening Hours: 9:00am – 4:00pm, every day of the year.
Cost: From $121.60 for a family of 4. Save up to 20% by purchasing tickets online.
Website: https://taronga.org.au/dubbo-zoo
Wake up on the savannah – Zoofari Lodge
Going on an African safari is a bucket list item for us, however at the moment it is just a dream. So you can imagine our excitement when I discovered that we could stay onsite at Taronga Western Plains Zoo at the Zoofari Lodge.
Nestled in the zoo surrounds, Zoofari accommodation consists of safari-style lodges. The Animal View lodges overlook the the savannah and sleep up to four people, while the Bushland View lodges are tucked in behind the Animal View lodges and sleep up to six people. As a family of 5, we booked a Bushland View lodge for our stay, which was roomy and warm, even on a freezing cold winter’s morning!
All accommodation is within an easy walk of the Zoofari Lodge Guest House, where you can relax in the pool, order a drink from the bar or play chess in the lounge area, as well as enjoy both the African-inspired dinner and breakfast during your stay. The food is delicious and plentiful!
The package also includes afternoon and morning tours where you can get up and close with some of the zoo’s residents, including giraffe feeding, plus evening wine tasting and canapes`, two days entry to the zoo and more.
For more information on Zoofari Lodge including rates and package inclusions, visit the website here.
Read more about our time in Dubbo, including things to do and see with the family!
