The Gum Leaf Cabin at Carawirry Forest Escape

A wood-fired hot tub out in the forest, a fire inside and nowhere you need to be after dinner. That’s a pretty good start.

Gum Leaf Cabin at Carawirry Forest Escape, near Dungog, suits a few quiet days for two or a stay with family and friends happy to share cabin space.

It sleeps up to six across two bedrooms: one with a queen bed and double sofa bed, the other with a queen. The sleeping spaces have blockout curtain dividers, with no solid bedroom doors. Multiple couples wanting separate-bedroom privacy should consider the Cottage or Tathra House.

The bedrooms and fireplace lounge are downstairs; the kitchen, dining area and double rainfall-shower bathroom are upstairs. There’s an oven, dishwasher, two under-bench fridges with small freezer compartments, pod coffee machine, reverse-cycle air conditioning and Starlink Wi-Fi. Linen, towels and toiletries are supplied. There are numerous steps at Gum Leaf, including stairs between the two floors.

Outside, enjoy the veranda, gas BBQ, firepit and private six-person wood-fired hot tub. It takes a few hours to warm. We normally heat it for arrival in cooler weather and leave it ready for you to light in warmer weather. If you’d like it heated for arrival, let us know before your stay.

Beyond your cabin

Carawirry spans 250 acres of forest. Our four main accommodation spaces are generously spread out, with privacy built into their placement. You can sit on your veranda without looking onto someone else’s stay.

Head out along around 10 kilometres of maintained walking tracks, follow the creek to the waterfall and its swimming hole, or take your binoculars and see which birds you spot. If you like a morning run, swap the suburban footpath for forest tracks and gravel roads. After dark, settle outside for a look at the stars, away from city lights.

Nearby, you’ll find river swimming spots, hiking trails and cross-country mountain biking. Dungog Common is about a 20-minute drive away, with Ride Dungog’s maintained flow trails. Bring your bike, your walking shoes—or leave the day open and see what takes your fancy.

A few things you can arrange before you arrive

Once your booking is confirmed, we’ll send you information on the extras you can book through local providers.

Order grazing boxes, breakfast hampers, dinner boxes or a celebration cake from our local caterer, made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. You can also arrange an in-cabin massage or treatment, along with other local experiences.

And if it’s been a while since you’ve had everyone in a photo together, consider a family photography session in the forest. It’s a lovely setting for engagement photos too—or simply some photos of the two of you.

These extras are booked and paid for separately, subject to provider availability.

Booking information

Standard check-in is 3 pm and checkout is 10 am. Early arrival from 1 pm and late departure until 12 noon are optional extras, subject to availability. Each carries an additional charge. Message us through this platform for the price for your stay.

The responsible person making the booking and staying must be aged 21 or over. Individual accommodation quiet hours are 9 pm–9 am. Infants under two don’t count towards the guest maximum and, as such, aren’t allocated a bed within the stated sleeping capacity.

One complimentary portacot is available per main accommodation on request; please bring cot bedding.