Last week, the Royal Flying Doctor Service Dubbo Visitor Experience were delighted to receive our 50 thousandth visitor. Jervis Bay family, the Jefferson’s, were welcomed and surprised on entering the centre as it hit this exciting milestone visitor number.

We celebrated our lucky 50 thousandth visitor, the Jefferson’s, by giving the family a unique behind the scenes look at the centre. They were given a personal all access tour by our passionate volunteer, Bryan & Noel, who have been working at the centre since it opened in 2019. She was excited to show the Jefferson family what goes into making the Visitor Experience the big hit it is today.

The Jefferson family stopped off at the Dubbo Visitor Experience as part of their rural NSW road trip during the school holidays. “We found out about the centre when researching online the best things to do in the Dubbo Region. This RFDS experience sounded like a great option for all the family. Our two children, who are five and ten years old, absolutely loved our visit as there were so many hands-on exhibits for them to engage with. We thought the live operations centre was fascinating and I enjoyed watching the videos and finding out about what goes into being a Flying Doctor pilot, doctor or flight nurse. I found the whole experience very touching; it was eye-opening to learn about the incredible work of the RFDS and the impact they have. The Outback Trek Café was also a great place for lunch, the food was delicious!” she said.

Mark Jefferson shared, “This place was amazing for the kids, but I also found it to be a fantastic learning experience for myself. The staff were so friendly and enthusiastic as well. Visiting the centre was the highlight of our weekend away, not only because we were excited to be the 50 thousandth visitor. I’ll recommend this place to any friends visiting the area!”

Since the Dubbo Visitor Experience opened in late 2019, the public response has been incredible. Despite having to close doors for two months last year due to government COVID-19 restrictions, the centre has experienced impressive popularity. Since reopening in June 2020 with COVID safe protocols, it continues to attract both locals and tourists from all over Australia. It is now an award-winning tourism hotspot and the best reviewed attraction in Dubbo on Tripadvisor and Google.

John Larkin, Head of Tourism at the Royal Flying Doctor Service, explained what this milestone meant to the team and the organisation, “When we opened the centre in September 2019, we knew this was a special place and were incredibly proud of what we had achieved. Anyone that visits can see the dedication and work that went into making the Visitor Experience truly reflect the unique world of the RFDS. We wanted the centre to be fun for all ages, giving both adults and children an engaging way to learn about our work. We have received such incredible feedback and amazing visitor numbers. We’re grateful to everyone who has added a visit to this centre to their NSW trip itinerary. It is so exciting to have reached this 50 thousandth visitor milestone and we look forward to sharing this experience with thousands more!”

When you visit the centre, there is so much for you and your family to enjoy:

• Find out what it feels like to be in the pilot seat, ready to take off to the furthest outback community, as you tour a real RFDS plane.
• Be captivated by the operations centre as you watch the live locations of RFDS planes on lifesaving missions.
• Watch videos and read about the real heroes of the Flying Doctor and those outback characters and families who have been rescued in their hour of need.
• Check out the Augmented Reality treatment room and experience what it is like to provide and receive essential healthcare in the outback.
• See Australia's first air ambulance airplane up close, a replica of a De Havilland DH-83 Fox Moth.
• Watch real RFDS planes take off from the runway, on their way to the next emergency.

To book your tickets to this best-loved rural attraction and find out why so many people love visiting this Dubbo attraction, book your tickets online today.