Dubbo is a rural service centre and tourist and entertainment hub located on the banks of the Macquarie River in the Central West Region of New South Wales. Dubbo is situated where the Newell and Mitchell Highways merge, about 390 km north-west of Sydney. Dubbo has a splendid shopping area, a thriving and friendly community and an array of heritage buildings. Dubbo is renowned for its wool and wheat production, wine and wineries, olives and boasts many education and regional facilities. Dubbo is renowned as the home of the spectacular Taronga Western Plains Zoo, that boasts 6 sq km of bushland, with animals displayed in open plains habitats. Visitors can take an Early Morning Walk Safari and experience unique feeding tours and get the chance to interact with the animals on the plains. Dubbo
has many other attractions close to the centre of town including historic homes and heritage buildings,an observatory, wineries and vineyards and a range of art and craft galleries. Visitors will love all the activities in the area including # Visiting the Old Dubbo Gaol # Learning to throw a boomerang, # Enjoying Horse Trail rides, # Bushwalking and Mountain Biking Trails, # Riding bikes on cycleways, # Relaxing parks and gardens. The Central West Wine Region, NSW includes more than 35 vineyards in seven districts: Dubbo ; Bathurst ; Forbes ; Gilgandra ; Warren ; Dunedoo ; Coonabarabran.