Visitors had a definite presence on the streets of Dubbo over the weekend, seeking out the city’s attractions including the Old Dubbo Gaol.

Most said that the fall in petrol prices had not affected their decision to make an inland holiday, defying pundits who highlighted the importance of fuel costs.

Dubbo was also seen as an escape from coastal humidity.

“The zoo” was the ready answer to the question of what had brought them to Dubbo.

The Whites and Jeremys were two families who took advantage of Taronga Western Plains Zoo being open on Christmas Day and enjoyed the “restful” occasion.

Gold Coast residents Bill and Joy White plus their children and grandchildren from Sydney wanted to “spend Christmas Day a different way”.

They would have visited even if they weren’t paying less at the bowser, but it was much easier now, Mrs White said.

First-time visitors to Dubbo, the Jeremy family, enjoyed the Old Dubbo Gaol on Friday.

The price of petrol made no difference to their decision to visit now as this was the time they could take their holidays, Wayne Jeremy said.

“Even at $1.80 (per litre) we still would have had to come,” he said.

Dubbo’s weather also found favour, with Donna Jeremy saying the humidity was much higher and more uncomfortable at their home in Gympie.

Ravi Warrier, who stopped in Dubbo with his wife and daughter on his way from Melbourne to Brisbane, had “already decided” to travel before petrol fell in price “but it feels good, of course”.

Brisbane family the Olds “like to do driving holidays” regardless of petrol prices and found the weather in Dubbo “very pleasant”.

Joe and Vicki Pfeifer stopped for lunch in Dubbo on Friday on their way south from Port Stephens.

The fall in the price of petrol had decided them on driving, Mrs Pfeifer said.

“Otherwise it would have been cheaper to fly from home to Melbourne,” she added.

faye.wheeler@ruralpress.com