Dingo Sanctuary and Ironworks

22 May 2026 / Story: Rose Smith; Photos: Rose Smith

Neck of the Woods Café provided a delightful new meeting point for today’s run. With excellent coffee, tempting cakes and a relaxed atmosphere, it proved to be the perfect place to gather before heading up to the Highlands. However, as departure time ticked closer, we noticed a couple of empty spaces in the lineup. Rose stepped outside to ring our missing members, only to discover a hilarious classic of confusion: one was still tucked up in bed, while the other was already cruising down a completely different highway! After some quick-thinking adjustments, the missing duo managed a spectacular recovery, meeting up with us just in time for the main event.

Fortune certainly favoured us throughout the day’s drive to the Dingo Sanctuary at Bargo. The rain stayed away, the fog mostly lingered below us, and considerate drivers pulled over to allow our convoy a clear run through the winding roads of Kangaroo Valley and over Barrengarry Mountain. Kerry and Lesley briefly became separated from the group, prompting a regrouping stop in Kangaroo Valley where, naturally, the truck we had worked so hard to avoid overtook us once again. Fortunately, the driver soon pulled aside, giving us uninterrupted access to the scenic country roads for the remainder of the journey.

Arriving at the Dingo Sanctuary brought an unexpected challenge as we encountered a rough dirt entrance road complete with deep potholes filled with water — definitely “4WD territory.” With Geoff carefully leading the way, the convoy zig-zagged through the obstacles and every car emerged unscathed.

Although we had anticipated crisp Highlands weather, we were surprised by the warmth as we stepped from our cars. Most fleeces remained behind, replaced instead with rain jackets and umbrellas as a precaution for our walk through “Dingo Country.” A knowledgeable volunteer guide escorted us around the Sanctuary, sharing fascinating stories and information about each dingo along the way.

The highlight of the visit soon arrived — the eagerly awaited “Up Close and Personal” experience. Escorted into a small enclosure, we met two dingoes brought out on leads by their handlers. Pinchi, the female, was somewhat reluctant to stay and clearly had other ideas, while Rangi, the male, proved far more sociable and thoroughly enjoyed the attention, particularly when treats were involved. The encounter was a memorable experience for everyone, with one interesting fact standing out: dingoes lack the distinctive “dog smell” familiar to domestic pets, an advantage that helps them hunt effectively in the wild.

Despite threatening skies throughout the morning, the weather held off beautifully until we were preparing to leave, and even then only a light sprinkle fell.

Rather than taking the direct motorway route, the group opted for a more scenic drive to lunch at Mittagong RSL. The countryside was particularly beautiful, still displaying pockets of rich autumn colour. The RSL itself impressed everyone with its spacious layout, extensive menu and generous, high-quality meals. The carpeted dining area also made conversation easy and comfortable — a welcome change from noisier venues. Unfortunately, we discovered the tempting cake and dessert display only after finishing our mains, leaving everyone wishing we had spotted it sooner.

With the weather beginning to deteriorate, the decision was made to skip the planned visit to Fitz Roy Iron Works and instead make our way home.

A wonderful day of scenic driving, wildlife encounters, good food and great company — thank you to everyone who joined the run.