Where to eat, drink, stay and have a sneaky swim in Dungog
When looking for a change of pace, there’s no better remedy than spending some time in the country, and if you don’t want to travel too far, Dungog is your destination.
Sitting amongst the rolling green hills of the Barrington Tops region, Dungog has all the things you want from a country escape – beautiful old buildings, independent shops and galleries, good food, a local brewery, country pubs, and plenty of places that make you want to stop and stay awhile.
It’s also surrounded by spectacular countryside, so even the drive in feels like part of the weekend.
On a recent visit, we spent the weekend getting to know the people and places that give Dungog its personality, and by the time we left, we were already planning our return. Here’s how our two days went.
Tinshed Brewery
Just over an hour’s drive from Newcastle, a leisurely start meant we arrived in Dungog well and truly in beer o’clock territory, so our visit began right in the middle of town at Tinshed Brewery.
Tucked into Dowling Street, Tinshed has been brewing beer since 2016, with nine taps pouring a rotating mix of beers made on site. There’s local wine, cider and spirits behind the bar too, alongside a food menu if you're settling in for lunch.
It’s relaxed, unpretentious and very easy to spend a few hours at – particularly when there’s live music happening. Thanks to the Dungog Rumble there was plenty going on around town, so the Tinshed had that great Saturday afternoon energy.
Where: 109 Dowling Street, Dungog
Dungog by Design
One of the things we really loved about Dungog is how much local creativity there is tucked into the main street.
Dungog by Design is a great example, giving you a snapshot of just how creative the local community is. The not-for-profit, community-run space brings together an ever-changing collection of locally made art, jewellery, ceramics, textiles, slow fashion, weaving, stained glass and unique gifts, alongside regular exhibitions.
Speaking with Marianne, one of the artists, there’s an obvious sense of pride in what the local art community has built here – and it makes buying something all the more special knowing it’s been made locally.
Where: 224 Dowling Street, Dungog
Gallery on Dowling
A little further along Dowling Street is Gallery on Dowling, an artist-run gallery and working studio featuring the work of local mother-and-daughter artists Jeanne Harrison and Helene Leane.
Their artworks are directly inspired by the Dungog countryside, as Helene best explains,
“We use such beautifully intense colours that capture the magical rhythms of the countryside around us.”
We loved that this wasn’t a big, formal gallery experience. You can wander through, take your time with the work and, depending on when you visit, catch Jeanne and Helene working away in the studio.
Where: 120 Dowling Street, Dungog
Country Elegance Gardens & Gifts
From art to gardens, our next stop was Country Elegance Gardens & Gifts on Hooke Street.
First opened in 1999 by owner Janice, who still runs the business today, Country Elegance has become much more than somewhere to buy plants. It’s one of those lovely country destinations where wandering around is part of the experience.
Filled with an extensive range of plants, flowers and shrubs, including plenty of natives and sculptural pieces, there’s also a beautiful collection of gifts and homewares to browse, with plenty of little corners to explore.
With coffee available too, there’s every excuse to linger for a while and wander at your own pace.
Where: 103 Hooke Street, Dungog
Carriageway
After exploring town, it was time to check in for the night – definitely one of the most memorable parts of the weekend.
Just outside Dungog, Carriageway offers the quintessential country experience. Surrounded by rolling hills and views that stretch as far as the eye can see, the accommodation comes with a nice twist – you’re staying inside original Red Rattler railway carriages.
Yes, you actually get to sleep inside a train.
The historic carriages have retained plenty of their original personality, from the timber panelling and curved ceilings to railway details throughout, but have been transformed into comfortable self-contained accommodation.
Ours had everything we needed to settle in for the night, but it was the location that hooked us in. It's incredibly peaceful, with countryside in every direction and enough space around you to properly switch off.
There are four original Red Rattler carriages alongside a Station Master’s Cottage and spa apartments, meaning Carriageway works just as well for a couple’s weekend as it does for a group escape.
While the accommodation is beautiful, there’s also a much bigger story behind it. Read the full story here to learn more.
Where: 4426 Clarence Town Road, Dungog
Settlers Arms
Dinner that night meant heading back into town to the Settlers Arms.
Dating back to 1848 and given a major renovation in 2024, the hotel has everything we’re looking for in a country pub.
There’s plenty of character, a relaxed atmosphere, and the feeling that the pub has been part of local life for a very long time. The reno has opened up the venue, and with two new bars installed, there’s plenty of room for everyone, even on a busy Saturday evening.
After a full day of exploring, sitting down for a hearty pub feed felt exactly like the right way to finish. The menu covers all the pub classics, and the relaxed atmosphere had us wanting to settle in for the evening, but the Red Rattler carriages were calling.
Where: 45 Brown Street, Dungog
The Barn Dungog
Sunday morning had us returning to Dowling Street for breakfast at The Barn Dungog.
Whilst coffee was top of mind, we’d been told this was the place for pastries, and we weren’t disappointed. From savoury scrolls and muffins to flaky croissants and some of the best darn sausage rolls we’d had in a long time, breakfast was off to a very good start.
We couldn’t leave without sampling a few sweets either, doing our bit to lighten the well-stocked bench. We highly recommend mini mudcakes and choc raspberry cheesecake as breakfast desserts.
The atmospheric interiors and warm country hospitality make it the kind of place you’re happy to settle into, coffee in hand, and ease your way into a Sunday morning.
Where: 172 Dowling Street, Dungog
Once all your eating, drinking, shopping and Dowling Street wanderings are done, head down to Frank Robinson Park, and right next to Cooreei Bridge It’s a lovely area to stop for a dip, and you can enjoy a picnic there as well.
Make a weekend of it
What surprised us most about Dungog wasn't any one particular place. It was how much there was to discover.
The town itself is compact enough that you can leave the car behind and explore much of Dowling Street on foot, stopping at galleries, shops, cafes and pubs along the way.
If you want to add a little more adventure, Dungog is also well known for its mountain biking and proximity to Barrington Tops National Park, while the heritage-listed streets, Dungog Museum and historic James Theatre give you plenty of reasons to stay around town.
Our visit happened to coincide with Dungog Rumble, so there were bikes, music and plenty of people around, but even with the town buzzing, Dungog never lost that slower country-town feel.
For somewhere so close to home, it really does feel like you've gone away for the weekend.