Australia is much more than just coastal cities and desert, and the town of Dubbo, NSW, is here to prove it. This inland borough’s history, beauty and small-town vibe make it a popular spot with weekenders and world travellers alike.

Oh, and don’t forget the wine…and the sunsets over the Great Western Plains. And definitely don’t forget to book one of Wotif’s sweet Dubbo car hire deals so you can see all of that and more.

Go Cruising

Ever seen a gaol? No, we didn’t misspell “goal” (though you can also see those at Caltex Park; the Old Dubbo Gaol is the town’s state heritage-listed prison. See the gallows, get a bird’s eye view from the watchtower or take a night tour for an extra creep factor. Is that a cool breeze or a ghost? Spoo-OOO-ky.

Don’t worry. With a Dubbo hotel right downtown, you can run and hide under the covers, no problem.

If you prefer happy flowers and babbling brooks, take a leisurely drive over to the Regional Botanic Garden in your Dubbo car rental. Once inside, explore the Shoyoen Garden, one of Australia’s best Japanese gardens. And that’s no surprise—it actually comes from Japan, specifically Dubbo’s sister city, Minokamo.

Road Trip!

Hear that? The wide-open spaces of central New South Wales are calling to you: “Road triiiip...road triiiip”.

Or is that the ghosts from the gaol?

Draw straws for a deso, hop in your car hire in Dubbo and motor on down to the Orange Wine Region, 150km south. The highest cool-climate wine region in Australia is chockablock with to-die-for rieslings and pinot noir—and plenty of local cheeses to cleanse your palate. If you don’t hear that voice calling you now, you might after a few glasses of vino.

By now, you definitely see why Dubbo holidays make the list for so many intrepid explorers. But you don’t have to go on horseback, 19th-century style. Book a set of wheels on Wotif and let the thoroughly modern adventure begin!