Guide to living in Dubbo, NSW

Are you considering Dubbo for your next home? Check out our guide to this NSW regional town’s property, amenity and lifestyle!

Dubbo is a bustling regional town in the heart of NSW. It’s a great place to live, thanks to its lack of traffic, strong community and great value housing. 

Might Dubbo be the ideal location for your next home? Please read on to get the low-down on the delights of Dubbo.

Where is Dubbo?

Dubbo is a regional city located in the heart of NSW, around 400 kilometres north-west of Sydney. Dubbo is known as the  regional cities of Orange, Parkes and Mudgee are each around 1.5 hours drive away. 

The Dubbo City Regional Airport offers direct flights to not only Sydney (a 1 hour, 10 minute flight) but Brisbane, Melbourne and Newcastle.

How many people live in Dubbo NSW? 

The wider region has a population of 56,000 and is predicted to rise to 66,300 by 2041, thanks to regional growth, investment and opportunity.

What is the weather like in Dubbo?

Dubbo sits on what’s known as a transition zone between the heights of the Great Dividing Range (to the east) and the open tablelands of the Darling Basin (to the west).

This means that Dubbo has a warm temperate climate with a predominance of clear skies (around 150 rain-free days a year, compared with around 100 in Sydney). 

Summers are warm to hot, while winters bring chilly nights with occasional frost and even more occasional snow (though you can pop down the road to Orange when they receive more regular snowfalls!). 

Is Dubbo a good investment?

One of the reasons for Dubbo’s recent and future population growth is the availability of affordable housing. Price growth trends show a gradual increase over recent years and the popularity of the city, plus high employment statistics, is a good sign for investment potential.

Transport in and around Dubbo

Within Dubbo, travel by car is a breeze thanks to low traffic and easy-to-find parking. If you need an alternative to a car, there are local buses.

For transport further afield, you’ll appreciate the fact that Dubbo is considered to be at the crossroads of interstate travel, with national highways not only to Sydney but Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide, as well as Newcastle and Broken Hill.

As well as the Dubbo Regional Airport, the city is serviced by a train line that can take you to Orange and Bathhurst as well as all the way to Sydney. 

Schools in and near Dubbo

Between public, Catholic and independent systems, Dubbo offers 20 schools, meaning you can find the one best suited to your child. 

For much bigger kids, there's a huge range of study options available through both the Dubbo Campus of Charles Sturt University and the Dubbo and Wellington campus of TAFE NSW. 

Leisure, Eating & Shopping in Dubbo

Living in Dubbo means you can embrace your active side! Dubbo boasts 22 sportsgrounds, covering all the major games, as well as two golf clubs and three swimming pools (including a fabulous splash park for kids). Not far away is Lake Burrendong, which is a haven for water sports, camping and fishing. 

The Regional Botanic Garden, which overlooks Lake Burrendong,  offers some serenity for strolling and picnicking, including the lush Fern Gully and the Shoyen Japanese Garden. Dubbo offers plenty of other paths and cycleways along the banks of the Macquarie River, which runs right through Dubbo. 

Dubbo is perhaps best known for the Taronga Western Plains Zoo. The animals will love having you as a regular visitor and you’ll love the fact that being a Dubbo local means you have access to special local membership prices.

Other great things to do in Dubbo include visiting the wonders of the Wellington Caves and exploring history at the Old Dubbo Gaol. 

Dubbo itself offers three shopping malls, plus five smaller neighbourhood shopping precincts. And, with free parking, you’ll have more to spend in-store! There are also regular farmers’ markets, which echo a move towards quality cafes and restaurants serving local produce as well as great quality pubs. 

If you’re ready to consider Dubbo for your home, you’ll want to know about Rawson’s Ready Built Homes that are available right now. 

With Ready Built, there’s no need to wait for approvals or the building process. The high-quality, family-friendly houses are ready for you to choose from, then personalise once you’ve moved in. 

Rawson Ready Built means you can make your move to Dubbo a reality as soon as you’re ready! See our available homes in Dubbo today. 

FAQs

Is Dubbo a nice place to live?

Dubbo is a great place to live! This regional city offers the best in smaller-scale living, such as short commute times, easy parking and the ability to get to know your community. With new high-quality affordable homes being built, you can enjoy your own backyard as well as the landscapes of NSW’s own backyard.

What is the main employment industry in Dubbo?

Dubbo has jobs available in health, retail, education, tourism and government, as well as construction, agriculture, manufacturing and transport. Dubbo has one of the highest employment figures in NSW, making it a great place to call home.