Dubbo is Central Western NSW at its finest: big sky country, the Macquarie River, Western Plains Zoo, and a running festival with animal-themed race names that somehow manages to be both charming and completely on-brand for a city that's home to one of Australia's best open-range zoos. The Dubbo Stampede Running Festival on Sunday 6 September 2026 is a World Athletics certified event on a flat, sealed course that attracts runners from across the region and beyond — and with early bird entries closing 30 June, it's worth registering sooner rather than later.
Starting and finishing at Ollie Robbins Oval on the banks of the beautiful Macquarie River, the course is flat, fully sealed, and World Athletics certified. The September date hits that sweet spot between winter and summer when Central West NSW temperatures are genuinely pleasant for distance running — typically 8–18°C at start time, with clear skies and minimal wind.
The Rhino Ramble Marathon (42.2km), Zebra Zoom Half Marathon (21.1km), Cheetah Chase 10km, and Dingo Dash 5.3km fun run/walk. There's also a Wallaby Wheel 1km wheelchair accessible event and a Meerkat Mile kids' race for ages 5–12. The animal naming theme is genuinely excellent.
Beyond the race itself, Dubbo is worth the trip. Taronga Western Plains Zoo is one of Australia's best open-range wildlife parks, and the city's heritage architecture and Macquarie River parklands give it a charm that regional NSW cities do very well. Early bird prices end 11:59pm Tuesday 30 June, with registrations closing Wednesday 2 September.
Dubbo Airport receives direct flights from Sydney (about an hour). By car it's roughly 4.5 hours from Sydney via the Great Western Highway. There's good accommodation in Dubbo across all price ranges, and the city is well set up for visiting runners.
