# Best Walks & River Trails in Dubbo | Macquarie River & Beyond
Canonical: https://bookfromowner.com.au/guides/nsw/central-west/dubbo/best-walks/
Type: AttractionGuide
Location: Dubbo, Central West, NSW
Last updated: 2026-06-01

> The best walks and cycle trails in Dubbo — the Macquarie River and Tracker Riley Cycleway, Mount Arthur Reserve and easy family-friendly routes in the Central West.

## Quick Answer
- Best for: Easy walks & family cycling
- Price range: Free
- Vibe: Shaded river paths, big skies
- Distance: In and around the city

## Featured Properties
- Dubbo Inn: 4.9/5 (39 reviews)
  Book direct: http://www.dubboinn.com/
  Dubbo Inn — Dubbo
- Green Gables Motel: 4/5 (207 reviews)
  Book direct: https://greengables.hotelcheckin.com.es/
  Green Gables Motel — Dubbo
- Silver Oaks Motel: 4/5 (226 reviews)
  Book direct: https://silveroaksmotel.com.au/
  Silver Oaks Motel — Dubbo

## FAQ
Q: Are the walks suitable for kids and prams?
A: Yes — the Tracker Riley Cycleway along the Macquarie River is flat, sealed and shaded, ideal for prams and kids on bikes. Mount Arthur Reserve is natural, undulating ground better suited to older children.

Q: Are the river paths accessible for wheelchairs or limited mobility?
A: Yes — the riverside Tracker Riley Cycleway is sealed and largely flat, making it one of the more wheelchair- and pram-friendly walks in any regional NSW city. The bush reserves are less suited to limited mobility.

Q: Can I walk my dog?
A: Yes — the riverside paths and parks are popular with local dog walkers; keep dogs on a lead near playgrounds and wildlife. Note that dogs are not permitted inside the zoo or on the Wellington Caves tours.

Q: Is there anywhere with a view?
A: Mount Arthur Reserve on the edge of town has short trails and a lookout over Dubbo and the plains — the best easy view in the area.

Q: Best time of day to walk in summer?
A: Early morning — Dubbo summers are hot, so the cool of the morning along the shaded river is the way to go.

## At a Glance
- Terrain: Flat, sealed river paths plus a couple of bush reserves
- Best season: Autumn–spring; early mornings in summer
- Family-friendly: Yes — most routes suit prams and kids' bikes
- Bring: Water, hat, sun protection

## Featured
- 1. Tracker Riley Cycleway — The river loop
  - Why people love it: It is the easy, shaded, free river loop that works for a pram, a first bike and a grandparent all at once — the most-loved gentle walk in town.
  - Don't miss: The riverbank at dawn, with mist on the water and the birdlife at its busiest.
  - Good to know: The open, less-shaded stretches in the heat of a summer afternoon — keep it to morning or evening.
- 2. The zoo circuit on foot or bike — Walking with wildlife
  - Why people love it: It is the only "walk" anywhere where the trailside scenery is free-ranging giraffes and rhinos — exercise and a safari in one.
  - Don't miss: A section of the loop on foot at opening, with the animals active and the path quiet.
  - Good to know: Counting on it as a free walk — it sits inside the zoo and needs paid entry, and the open paths bake in the afternoon sun.
- 3. Mount Arthur Reserve — A view and some bush
  - Why people love it: It is the one easy spot to swap the flat river path for a bit of bush and a real lookout over Dubbo and the plains.
  - Don't miss: The lookout over Dubbo and the western plains, best in the soft light of late afternoon.
  - Good to know: Bringing a pram or attempting it in the midday summer heat — it's natural ground and exposed; go early or late.
- 4. Wellington Caves & reserve — Day-trip walking
  - Why people love it: It is the reliable bad-weather and beat-the-heat walking option — cool underground tours plus gentle surface trails when the city paths are too hot or wet.
  - Don't miss: The guided cave tour paired with a gentle surface walk through the reserve.
  - Good to know: Squeezing it into a packed two-day trip — save it for a third day or a hot/wet weather backup.

## What travellers say
- [positive] The river path: The shaded Tracker Riley Cycleway is the recurring favourite for an easy, pretty walk or family ride.
- [mixed] Beat the heat: In summer, walkers stick to early mornings and the shaded riverbanks.
- [positive] What a recent visitor said: 
- [positive] What a recent visitor said: 
- [positive] What a recent visitor said: