By all accounts the School Holiday period and in particular the Dungog Festival over the October long weekend attracted many visitors to the Dungog Shire. Our congratulations once again to the Dungog Festival organisers on very successful action packed event.
Wendy Farrow from the Dungog Shire Visitor Information Centre has reported that the VIC was busy over the school holidays, and the Long Weekend was particularly busy. Over the Long Weekend Saturday saw approximately 180 visitors, Sunday about 112 and Monday 94. On average over the school holidays Wendy says the average number of people at the VIC was at least 50 to 60 people on weekdays.
Many businesses have reported excellent trade over the Long Weekend period and it was particularly busy on Saturday. Chris Ahearn, owner of Chic & Antique in Dowling Street reported a continuous stream through her shop non-stop until 2.30 pm and she and two other staff were busy all day. Monday, and particularly Sunday, were quieter than Saturday but overall takings to the weekend were “phenomenal” and probably double a normal long weekend.
Local camping sites including those in the State Forests were at capacity along with other locations with for example, Williams River Holiday Park at Clarence reporting it was full over the Long Weekend. Local cafés and other businesses also did good trade over the weekend with reports that one café ran out of food by Sunday afternoon.
As reported elsewhere in the Chronicle, the Sculpture on the Farm event at Fosterton, now in its second year, proved to be just as popular as it’s first with large numbers coming through the gates. Oktoberfest at Wallarobba Hall was also very successful with the Dachshund races attracting a large crowd which was reported at nearly 500 people and it was considered “amazing” by the organisers.
At Blue Gum Loop trail in the upper Williams at Salisbury the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service organized a guided walk on the Saturday of the Long Weekend and were very happy with the numbers who attended. The walk was part of the 50th birthday celebrations of Barrington Tops National Park plus the 25th anniversary of the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia listing with UNESCO World Heritage.
In the Paterson Valley visitor numbers were also very good. At Vacy, Ian and Jo Muncaster from the Vacy General Store reported excellent trade over the Long Weekend from both locals and visitors to the area. In fact, the whole School Holiday period was excellent, although this could be a result of them now offering pizzas as well as their using range of food.