Keep your water bottle close, because summer is hot, hot, hot in Dubbo. Don’t be surprised if indoor activities (and their air-conditioned rooms) sound most appealing in the middle of the day. But Dubbo locals have been beating the heat for years, and there’s plenty of ways to stay active even on the hottest days if you know where to look.

Get your holiday shopping done at the dozens of stalls that pop up for the Lazy River Estates Christmas Market. Popular items include handmade and local jewellery, art, food, woodwork, and clothes.

Embrace the warm weather by walking or cycling the paths along the Macquarie River, or bring a picnic basket and plop down on the banks instead.

If you need a break from the spicy temperatures, take a day trip to the underground at Wellington Caves, which are 400 million years old and home to the first Megafauna fossil found in Australia.

When the heat breaks in Dubbo, the outdoors are an all-day playground. And the city is especially beautiful this time of year, as fall colors blaze around local parks and botanical gardens.

If you love a night of plays, musicals, and other theatrics, make sure to check the lineup at Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre. In fall, they often have acts in town from London’s West End and New York’s Broadway.

Cooler temperatures make autumn a great time to park your camper at Red Earth Estate and then stay for a unique pairing of wine tasting with dumplings.

Cooler weather also makes for an extra-pleasant local safari at the Taronga Western Plains Zoo, which has been designed to get you as close to the animals as possible. You can even stay overnight among zebra and giraffes in a lodge, cabin, or camp.

While other Australian cities face blistering heat or shivering cold, Dubbo’s winter temperatures are positively pleasant. On the other hand, the crowds have caught on, and August is one of the busiest months in Dubbo. Book your lodging early if you want to take advantage of this slice of heaven.

The long nights make winter a good time to stargaze at the Dubbo Observatory. And July through September is your best chance of viewing the Milky Way.

Speaking of longer evenings, catch a movie at the local WestView Drive-in. They reserve their showings for the cooler evenings of winter when it’s safe to hang out in your car.

Stuck with a rainy day? Head to Flying Doctor Visitor Experience, where you can learn about Australia’s most remote outback communities and the doctors and nurses who serve them.