Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo, NSW -An Open Range Wildlife Adventure

Taronga Western Plains Zoo, Dubbo, NSW -An Open Range Wildlife Adventure

Set on the edge of Dubbo in central western New South Wales, Taronga Western Plains Zoo offers one of the most immersive wildlife experiences in Australia. Opened in 1977 as the country’s first open-range zoo, it began with just 35 animals from six countries. Today, it’s home to more than 1,000 animals from five continents, roaming across 300 hectares of natural bushland.

This is wildlife viewing on a grand scale — wide open spaces, sweeping savannahs, and cleverly designed concealed moats instead of traditional cages, allowing animals to move freely while visitors enjoy unobstructed views.

Planning Your Visit

The zoo is open every day of the year from 9:00am to 4:00pm, and your entry ticket includes two consecutive days, giving you plenty of time to explore without rushing.

A 6-kilometre circuit loops through the exhibits, and one of the best things about Taronga Western Plains Zoo is how flexible your visit can be.

You can:

• Drive your own car

• Walk the circuit

• Ride your bike

• Hire bikes or a golf cart

This makes it easy to tailor the day to your pace — whether you’re travelling with kids or taking your time to linger at favourite exhibits.

Savannah Visitor Plaza – A Relaxed Starting Point

The Savannah Visitor Plaza is a great place to begin your adventure. This welcoming hub includes a café, gift shop, playground, and shaded seating overlooking Savannah Lake and Primate Island. Even better, you can enter this area for free, making it a lovely stop even if you’re just passing through Dubbo. From here, you can watch black-handed spider monkeys and ring-tailed lemurs swinging and playing in their island habitat.

Slender-Tailed Meerkats

Slender-tailed Meerkats have greyish-brown to light grey coats with dark bands across the body and dark eyes and nose. The black fur around their eyes acts like ‘built-in sunglasses’ to help the meerkats see in the bright sunlight. Meerkats live in an extended family group and while the majority of the group are looking for food, individuals called sentries will stand guard on their hind legs, watching for predators.

White & Black Rhinoceros

White Rhinoceros have two horns with a broad snout and a square lip. They are grazers that feed on low-growing vegetation and they can live to 35-40 years old.

Black Rhinos are smaller than White Rhinos and they are critically endangered. Black rhinos are browsers, rather than grazers, they don’t feed on low-growing vegetation, they feed on leaves from bushes and trees.

Unique Zebras

There are four different species of Zebras, and each zebra has a unique pattern of stripes as individual as a human’s fingerprint. Zebras are highly social and generally live in family groups of between five and twenty individuals.

Amazing Giraffes

Giraffes are the tallest of all the animals, with some male giraffes growing to 5.5 metres high. They also have the largest eyes of any land mammal, they have great eyesight and can see clearly up to 2 kilometres away.  They spend most of their day grazing.

Hippopotamus

The hippopotamus is the second largest land mammal, elephants are the largest. Hippos are great swimmers and can hold their breath for up to five minutes underwater. 

Cheetahs

The Cheetah is the fastest land mammal, and they can run up to 103 kilometres per hour or 29 metres per second in high-speed chases over hundreds of metres. Taronga Western Plains Zoo was the first zoo in Australasia to successfully breed cheetahs.

Asian Elephants

Elephants are the largest living land mammal, they are super smart and very social. Elephants are herbivores and spend up to 16 hours a day feeding on 75 – 100 kilograms of food and they can drink 80 – 160 litres of water a day.

Sumatran Tigers

Sumatran Tigers are critically endangered, with as few as 400 Sumatran Tigers left. Sumatran Tigers generally hunt at dusk and can travel up to 20 kilometres in one night in search of food.

A Midway Break at the Waterhole Café

About halfway around the circuit, you’ll find the Waterhole Café, a perfect spot to pause and recharge. Grab a coffee or snack while watching another group of lively meerkats nearby. Right next door is the African waterhole-themed splash area, complete with hippo and elephant sculptures. It’s a fantastic place for kids to cool off on warmer days while adults take a breather.

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Greater One horned Rhinoceros

Are the largest of the Rhino species, they have one horn and grey-brown hide with skin folds, which gives it an armour-plated appearance. They are solitary animals that graze on mainly grass.

African Lions

African Lions are the second largest of all the big cats, and they are very social, they live in a family group called a pride.

Tasmanian Devil

The Tasmanian Devil is the largest living carnivorous marsupial in the world. They are nocturnal, and for their size, they have one of the most powerful bites of any mammal.

Aussie Walkthrough

In the Aussie Walkthrough exhibit, you can see kangaroos, wallabies, koalas and emus, look closely as they are usually relaxing in the shade.

Savannah Safari – A Truly Unique Experience

For an unforgettable upgrade, consider booking a Savannah Safari. This guided experience takes you right out among the African animals, including giraffes, rhinos, and zebras, offering a rare, close-up perspective you won’t get from the main circuit. It’s an added-cost experience, but one that’s well worth it if you want something truly special during your visit.

Taronga Western Plains Zoo Is a Must-Do in Dubbo

Taronga Western Plains Zoo is more than just a zoo — it’s an immersive journey through some of the world’s most incredible wildlife habitats. With its vast open spaces, strong focus on conservation, and flexible ways to explore, it’s an experience that appeals to all ages.

Whether you’re driving the circuit, cycling between exhibits, or simply soaking up the savannah views, this is one Dubbo attraction that leaves a lasting impression — and one you’ll be glad you took the time to explore properly.

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