During the two weeks there were more than 28,000 guests who visited the zoo. It was a staggering 43 per cent higher than the same school holiday period the previous year.

Zoo director Steve Hinks said the Easter long weekend was always one of the biggest for zoo visitation.

"This year it was even bigger across all four days with over 4500 visitors to the zoo on the Easter Saturday alone," he said.

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The bump in visitation has been attributed to a range of factors including the strength of domestic tourism, multiple public holidays, new exhibits and recent arrivals like the giraffe calves.

It created a flow-on affect to the entire Dubbo economy.

"While the zoo as the region's anchor attraction is a drawcard for visitors, when they visit our region they stay overnight in the city, visit other attractions, buy dinner, breakfast or coffee, fill up on fuel, go to the movies and overall help support the many businesses that rely on tourism," Mr Hinks said.

"According to Destination NSW research data, overnight visitors to the Central West spend an average of $153 per day. When balanced wit the average spend for day visitors, the zoo's result is estimated to have contributed in excess of $4 million to the local economy in the two week period alone."

The zoo director said feedback from visitors had bee predominately positive. Mr Hinks said it showed those who went to the zoo were enjoying the changes the zoo had implemented.

The Dubbo zoo has big plans for the next few years, including the new waterhole cafe at water play area, which will be at the midway point. The cafe and play area is expected to open in the first half of 2020.

"We are really excited to build on what we have achieved so far this year," Mr Hinks said.

The Dubbo + Great Western Plains marketing campaign led by Dubbo Regional Council and partners, supported by Destination NSW, was also in market prior to the holidays, helping to promote and draw visitors to the region.