A perfect short stay in Dungog

An easy two and a half hour drive from Sydney, or just an hour from Newcastle, Dungog is an unspoiled, historic, rural town ready to welcome visitors looking to escape the humdrum of everyday city life for a relaxed, slower pace.

Easily accessible by train, Dungog’s unspoiled rural environs, forests, the nearby Mount Royal Ranges, and Barrington Tops National Park make this New South Wales country gem the perfect venue for those looking to escape to the country.

Arrive on a Friday evening and return home on Sunday afternoon, and you’ll understand why so many people have chosen to live here.

Visitors keen to journey past the better known and promoted Hunter Valley will be well rewarded for their efforts when they discover just what the Dungog region has to offer its visitors. The list is surprisingly long and best of all, just about suits anyone, irrespective of taste or budget.

Eating in Dungog

You may need more than a weekend to fully appreciate just what makes this township of some 3,000 people so popular!

To start with, Dungog provides the perfect opportunity to sample all that a country town offers on a weekend including galleries, clothing, children’s, antique and homeware shops. A variety of cafes and restaurants with bulging menus abound offering the very best of local produce.

Our own Dining Room is popular with locals and visitors alike, with our three chefs preparing a wide range of fresh meals, from pub classics to seasonal specials. Our desserts are hard to resist, and many call in just for dessert, a glass of wine or a good coffee.

The Long Room Café, the Coffee Bean, Stella Bistro, Dungog Pizza and the Tinshed Brewery are just a few of the many other options on offer. The RSL offers a very good Chinese-style bistro too.

Dungog comes alive every Saturday when local farmers, market gardeners and backyard growers converge on Dowling Street at the Local Growers Stall to sell their wares, much of which is destined for the kitchens of Dungog’s eateries.

Wine buffs too can indulge the senses with a visit to the nearby Rock Frog Grange Winery, an award-winning micro winery with a range of locally produced Verdelho, Chambourcin and Shiraz wines.

Active in Dungog

Ask any local and they’ll make time to tell you the best way to immerse yourself in the ambience is to take a stroll around town and a step back in time down Dowling Street, awash with a plethora of beautifully preserved architectural treasures from days gone by. Historical ‘blue plaques’ can be found on buildings along the main street, where you can discover the story behind the building.

For those who like to get up and at it, there are many opportunities for bushwalking, scenic drives, horse riding, camping, mountain bike riding, swimming and canoeing in the local Williams River.

Dungog has long been known as being a gateway to the Barrington Tops for campers and four wheel drivers, and now it is on the map as a cycling mecca with the Dungog Common providing some 650 acres of communal recreational tracks aimed at the experienced mountain biker right down to those of us who don’t take things quite so seriously.

For those looking for a ‘pedal and a giggle’ experience on a rented bike as part of a fun-filled Dungog weekend visit, there are some great rides around the town where you can get a bird's eye view of the township at the Robert Allen Memorial Lookout opposite the local hospital. Don’t forget to visit the famous Dungog sign at the park locals affectionately named, Hollywood Hill. Check out Ride Dungog for more info.

Timing a weekend visit to Dungog when the movies are on at the historic James Theatre is a must. The oldest purpose-built cinema still operating in Australia brings the latest movies to the town once a month, and often has live performances from renowned artists, including the Australian Chamber Orchestra.

For more information about creating a perfect weekend in Dungog, get in touch with the team at the Royal Hotel Dungog.