Taronga Western Plains Zoo is the reason many travellers break the inland drive at Dubbo. It is not a small city zoo with cages packed into a corner; the animals are spread through broad open-range exhibits, and the visitor loop is long enough that hiring a bike or cart makes sense.
The zoo is especially good with children, but it is worth taking seriously as an adult stop too. Rhinos, giraffes, big cats, and native animals appear in a setting that feels closer to a wildlife park than a formal garden.