Dubbo Regional Council’s (DRC’s) Old Dubbo Gaol has recorded its second-highest number of visitors in a single day, with nearly 700 people coming through the gates on the third day of school holidays! Meanwhile, more than 600 people are walking through the gates at the Old Dubbo Gaol every day, making it the busiest school holiday period on record. Staff are now preparing for an even busier long weekend.
Dubbo Regional Council’s (DRC’s) Visitor Information Centre has been inundated with requests and calls from visitors looking for accommodation, when everything is seemingly booked out. Mayor of the Dubbo Region, Councillor Ben Shields, has welcomed the news that so many people have chosen the region to holiday, and says even if people have missed out in Dubbo, there are surrounding towns and villages that can help out.
“While we have been able to help some people find a room or campsite in Dubbo or Wellington, our Visitor Information Centre has had to send some people to Peak Hill, Narromine, and Gilgandra to stay, because everything else is full!” said Councillor Shields.
Not only are hotels and motels fully booked, but staff have also received a number of enquiries from people in caravans and tents who wanted to stay in Warrumbungles and Goobang National Parks, but weren’t able to get anything either as all campsites are booked.
“We’d love to have you stay here though, so make sure you give our friendly staff at the Visitor Information Centre a call to see if they’re of any last-minute cancellations,” said Councillor Shields.
Tourism operators are also run off their feet, with a line down the street at Old Dubbo Gaol (ODG) to get in. Last school holidays was one of the busiest on record for the ODG, with more than 9,000 people walking through the gates in July, but these holidays is expected to far exceed that number. The ODG is currently undergoing the first stage of its redevelopment, which means its operating hours during the week have been changed to 12-7pm, to allow builders to keep working. However, it means that visitors have been able to experience the Gaol after dark – an eerie time to be within the Gaol cells.
“We’re undergoing an exciting transformation at the moment, with contractors on site painting walls, gardening, and taking up a lot of space, but visitors have been so patient and courteous, and we thank them for their cooperation during this time,” said ODG Manager Julie Webster.
“Speaking to travellers while they’re lining up to come inside, they’ve commented on how busy it has been at other places too, like the Royal Flying Doctor Service Visitor Experience Centre, where some people have had to wait up to an hour to get in! The conversations have been nothing but positive about their experience in the Dubbo region, which is fantastic,” said Ms Webster.
While some of the attractions are extremely busy, there are plenty of other things to see and do in the Dubbo region, just head over to dubbo.com.au where you can build your itinerary and see what other spectacular things Dubbo and the Great Western Plains has to offer this long weekend.
Source: DRC