Lookout Mountain Retreat

The bed was comfortable and the rooms were clean, but summer made the air conditioner issue hard to ignore. It was switched off when we came back to our room three times during our stay. We stayed over Australia Day weekend, and the restaurant we loved on our last visit was closed until further notice. Staff hadn't mentioned that when we booked, which was disappointing.

We didn't have time to join one of the deer feeding sessions, though the large enclosure was an interesting feature. The deer seemed well cared for. One small deer even slipped out and back through a gap under the net, as if it wanted to stay on the other side, away from people. There’s no mobile coverage, so downloading offline maps before heading out is a good idea. Free Wi-Fi is available, and the rooms were clean with the usual basics like a kettle, toaster and microwave. The location is great for nearby waterfalls and viewpoints, and you can watch the sunrise to the east. A peaceful, scenic break from the city.

LOOKOUT!!! That name certainly fits this motel. My wife booked us a room because I was invited to the Centenary Celebration of the Dorrigo Heritage Hotel, which was full, and I didn't want to drive down the mountain at night to our home near Urunga. Then a back injury kept us from attending. We tried to recover the cost of our one-night booking through Booking.com, which I consider a worthy booking agent. We found out LOOKOUT has its own cancellation policy: no refund, but we could stay one night within 1 year. Booking.com even sent me a request to review our stay. I doubt many Dorrigo locals would stay at LOOKOUT. Travellers, be careful who you book with. You've been warned!

There were 10 of us staying overnight during a bike ride. Tracy at reception was right on top of everything, a real asset, and the rooms were clean and comfortable. The dining room looked fantastic, but it wasn't open. We'd booked especially for the restaurant, so we had to ride into Dorrigo in the rain to find something to eat.