Whether your trip to Dubbo for the Koori Knockout extends over the three-day October long weekend or a whole week, there are plenty of places to see and things to do throughout Dubbo, before and after the annual rugby event.
Here are the top 10 ‘must-do’ experiences in Dubbo and beyond from Destination NSW.
1. Get your ‘zoofari’ on
No trip to Dubbo is complete without a visit to the famous , home to hundreds of rare and endangered animals including giraffes, rhinos, elephants, lemurs, monkeys and big cats.
You can stroll around the park or take a ride around the zoo's six-kilometre circuit on hired bikes or carts.
Photo courtesy of Destination NSW: VisitNSW.com Source: Photo courtesy of Destination NSW: VisitNSW.com
Those wanting to stay a little longer in the park can book overnight accommodation on-site and wake up in the wild at the Savannah Cabins, Zoofari Lodge or Billabong Camp.
Zoo tickets are valid for two consecutive days. Daily keeper activities are included in the cost of admission and special tours are also available.
2. Visit ancient fish traps
Enjoy a guided tour of the unique and culturally significant , estimated to be over 40,000 years old and one of the oldest man-made structures on earth.
Built by ancient Indigenous tribes and used to catch fish as they swam upstream, the traps feature an elaborate network of rock weirs and pools that stretch for around half-a-kilometre along the riverbed.
Guided tours of the traps are available but advance bookings are essential.
3. Explore local Indigenous culture
Visitors to Dubbo can indulge in the best of local Indigenous tourism with a .
The tours have been created with local traditional owners and take place across Dubbo, Narromine, Dandaloo, Pilliga and Baradine.
Participants will experience Wiradjuri and Kamilaroi/Gamilaraay Country, hear stories by traditional owners of the land, eat bush tucker and walk where the ancestors walked hundreds of years ago.
Photo courtesy of Destination NSW: VisitNSW.com Source: Photo courtesy of Destination NSW: VisitNSW.com
4. Keeping colonial history
is a National Trust colonial slab hut-style homestead, located about seven kilometres south of Dubbo on Obley Road and the Macquarie River.
Built in the early 1840s as the head station of a 6,500 hectare squatting run, the homestead is Dubbo’s oldest building open to the public.
Visitors can inspect its sophisticated interior, completed with a sitting room, a master bedroom with an iron bed and a campaign chest, and working areas including the blacksmith's forge, coach room, sunken cool room, stores and stables.
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5. Rocky histories
Recognised as an Aboriginal burial ground, is a part of a wider complex of sites that are culturally important to local Aboriginal people. These include carved trees and grinding grooves.
The site of the ancient Terramungamine Rock Carvings, situated along the Macquarie River, is an area rich in local Indigenous history. Containing 150 carvings, it was used by the Tubbagah people as a meeting place and by the Wiradjuri Tribe to shape tools and spears.
Traditional owners give tours of Terramungamine, displaying to the public its cultural importance to Aboriginal people.
Photo courtesy of Flickr: Philippe Put
6. Taste the local drop
Wine lovers can visit the on Camp Road, Dubbo, for a taste of the local drop and a cheese platter in the garden from Thursday to Sunday.
The estate recommends visitors try the chilled Riesling on a warmer day or a warm tawny if the weather is cooler.
Free camping is available at the vineyard for visitors with a caravan or motorhome who are looking for a quiet, peaceful place to camp overnight.
Photo courtesy of Flickr/Ben Stassen
7. Pick your dining style and fare
is a Dubbo attraction that was voted ‘Best Restaurant, West of the Blue Mountains’ by the .
The modern Australian restaurant, located inside the Cattleman's Country Motor Inn, boasts a wide ranging menu from seafood platters to buffet breakfasts.
Visitors can find other places to eat and drink using the comprehensive Time to Eat .
The to Dubbo fare includes a map, and the names, addresses and opening hours of 32 local places to eat.
8. Ghosts and ghouls
Experience the eerie silence of solitary confinement and discover their crimes and sentences at the fully restored 1800s gaol.
Photo courtesy of Destination NSW: VisitNSW.com Source: Photo courtesy of Destination NSW: VisitNSW.com
Animatronics and hologram exhibits bring to life the stories and atmosphere of this relic.
Twilight and Beyond the Grave Night Tours are available for group bookings of 10 or more but bookings are essential.
9. Gaze at the stars
Discover the Milky Way and zoom into the moon and solar system at Dubbo , equipped with high-tech telescopes and audio-visual aides.
Guided astronomy sessions are conducted at night and during the day and there is an 18-hole astronomy-themed mini golf course to enjoy.
'Star': By Tom Hall (Flickr) Source: Flickr
The observatory is located adjacent to the Taronga Western Plains Zoo.
Flickr/Migle
10. Fresh is best
Showcasing regional produce from the Macquarie Valley and beyond, you will find fresh fruit and vegetables, herbs and plants, bread, a selection of local meets, preserves, wine, nuts and more on offer for tasting and purchasing.
The markets are located on the corner of Macquarie Street and the Newell Highway, Dubbo.
ABOUT THE KOORI KNOCKOUT ...
The 45th NSW Aboriginal Rugby League Knockout, hosted by 2014 winners Walgett Aboriginal Connection, will be held at Caltex Park, Dubbo, from Friday 2 to Monday 5 October.
Keep up-to-date with all the scores via our rolling score updates on this site. Join the conversation on and using #KooriKnockout and #NITV. Watch the day's highlights at 6PM on Friday and Saturday and the finals live on Sunday and Monday - channel 34 (144 on Foxtel).
NITV online will also feature highlights and try-lights from the Queensland Murri Carnival finals on Sunday 4 October and from the NSW Koori Knockout finals on Monday 5 October.
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