# Taronga Western Plains Zoo Guide | Dubbo Open-Range Zoo
Canonical: https://bookfromowner.com.au/guides/nsw/central-west/dubbo/taronga-western-plains-zoo/
Type: AttractionGuide
Location: Dubbo, Central West, NSW
Last updated: 2026-06-01

> A complete guide to Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo — how to get around (drive, cycle or walk), what to see, the two-day ticket, Zoofari Lodge and the best times to go.

## Quick Answer
- Best for: Families & wildlife lovers
- Price range: Zoo entry (2-day ticket)
- Vibe: Open-range safari feel
- Distance: 5 min from Dubbo centre

## 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: How do you get around the zoo?
A: Drive your own car, hire bikes or an electric cart at the entrance, or walk. Cycling is the most popular and rewarding way to do the open-range loop; carts suit those who can't cycle, and the car works for grandparents and very young children.

Q: How long is a zoo ticket valid?
A: Tickets are valid for two consecutive days, so you can spread the visit and avoid rushing.

Q: Is the zoo suitable for young kids and prams?
A: Very — bike hire includes child seats, tag-alongs and trailers, electric carts and prams work on the sealed paths, and the two-day ticket lets you plan around naps and snacks. Start early and rest in the afternoon heat.

Q: Can you stay inside the zoo?
A: Yes — Zoofari Lodge offers safari-style accommodation with after-hours access. It's popular and books out ahead, so reserve early.

Q: Is the zoo accessible for limited mobility?
A: Yes — you can drive the entire circuit from your own car, and electric carts are available to hire for those who can't cycle, so the open range is reachable without walking the full distance.

Q: What's the best time to visit?
A: At opening, when animals are most active and it's coolest — especially important in summer.

## At a Glance
- Size: 300 hectares — open-range exhibits
- Get around: Your own car, hire bikes, an electric cart, or walk
- Ticket: Valid two consecutive days
- Stay inside: Zoofari Lodge — safari-style accommodation
- Best time: At opening — animals are most active, before the heat
- Bring: Water, hat, sunscreen; or bike-hire and a picnic

## Featured
- 1. Cycle the loop — The best way around
  - Why people love it: Cycling is the detail that converts a good zoo day into a great one — riders consistently rate it the highlight of the entire Dubbo trip.
  - Don't miss: The open-air freedom of pedalling the circuit, stopping wherever the animals are.
  - Good to know: Cycling the full loop in peak summer heat with very young children — take a cart, or ride only in the cool early hours.
- 2. Early-morning animal encounters — Be there at opening
  - Why people love it: The early start is the single most-repeated piece of advice from regulars — cooler, quieter and with the animals at their most active, it transforms the day.
  - Don't miss: The first hour after opening — active animals, empty roads and cool air all at once.
  - Good to know: A lazy late start in summer, when the animals retreat to shade and you are left battling the heat and the crowds.
- 3. Stay at Zoofari Lodge — Sleep among the savannah
  - Why people love it: Being inside the zoo before and after public hours, with the savannah outside your tent, is the once-in-a-while experience that makes a Dubbo trip truly memorable.
  - Don't miss: After-hours and early-morning access to the open range, with the day crowds gone.
  - Good to know: Leaving it to the last minute — it sells out months ahead, especially for school holidays and weekends.
- 4. Use both days — Don't rush it
  - Why people love it: The two-day ticket is the quiet masterstroke — it lets families do the zoo properly and calmly instead of racing the clock and the heat.
  - Don't miss: A relaxed second-day loop back to the favourites, with the keeper talks you missed first time.
  - Good to know: Wasting the second day by trying to see everything on day one — pace it and you will all enjoy it more.

## What travellers say
- [positive] Genuinely different: The open-range, travel-through format is repeatedly described as far better than a conventional zoo.
- [mixed] Plan around the heat: Midday summer heat slows the animals and the visitors alike — early starts are the consistent advice.
- [positive] What a recent visitor said: 
- [positive] What a recent visitor said: 
- [positive] What a recent visitor said: