But these are not usual times.

There are next to no visitors to the Tinshed Brewery. Or anywhere along the historic Dowling Street retail strip, for that matter.

Dungog Local Government Area has been in lockdown since August 5.

So on Monday morning this week the Coxes were on the road, delivering cases of beer and fresh wort kits to bottle shops and home brewing businesses in Paterson, Maitland and the Newcastle area.

"That's basically what's keeping us going," said Haley Cox, after she and Jimmy had loaded a trailer with their craft beer products.

For the Coxes, making deliveries outside the Dungog LGA, where there are no recorded active COVID cases, feels like a dilemma.

"You are genuinely scared and worried you are going to come into contact [with a COVID case], but if we don't do this delivery, we don't earn any money this week," Haley Cox said.

The couple estimates the brewery's trade has dropped by 95 per cent, as the lockdowns have kept out not just Sydney visitors since late June, but now Hunter customers are also staying away.

That has left only locals dropping in to buy small amounts of takeaway beer.

The Coxes are grateful they have a canning machine, as they have been able to put all the beer in tins and at least be able to sell those. The brewery owners have picked up a change among customers since last year's lockdown.

"People are holding onto their money more this time," Jimmy Cox said.

This lockdown couldn't have come at a worse time for the Tinshed Brewery and other tourist-related businesses in Dungog.

"This is our peak season," said Haley Cox. "Dungog in winter is booming."

The Mayor of Dungog Shire, Cr John Connors, said he had noticed the mood was "a little pessimistic in the main street", with cafes either closed or operating on limited hours for take-away orders.

He said the renowned Dungog Common mountain bike tracks, which had become a major tourist attraction, were also very quiet, with just a few locals able to use them.

However, Cr Connors believed the restrictions were necessary, because of the cases in nearby areas in the Hunter.

"I think we should be locked down while ever there is a real risk from Port Stephens, Maitland and Newcastle," he said.

Cr Connors said he believed up until the lockdowns, there had still been "a significant number of travellers" from Sydney, particularly those coming to weekenders or second houses in the area, along with local people who "commute in and out for Port Stephens and Maitland, and, to a lesser extent, Newcastle".

Even since the Hunter lockdown, he said, there were still reports of people from other areas coming into the Dungog LGA.

"I'd like to think that would stop now," Cr Connors said.

The Dungog Shire mayor has urged residents to shop locally.

"To protect the health and safety of our community, I am urging all residents to please shop within Dungog Shire only, as many nearby shopping destinations are now COVID-19 hotspots," Cr Connors said.

"Dungog Shire currently has zero cases, and I'm asking all residents to exercise common sense and do the right thing so we can keep it that way."

While Dungog has been in lockdown for almost a fortnight, residents of Upper Hunter Shire were suddenly facing a stay-at-home life on Saturday, when the NSW government ordered the entire state be locked down.

The staff at The Cottage restaurant and cafe in Scone were getting ready for a booked-out Saturday night, when suddenly, as owner Colin Selwood explained, "the phone went nuts" with people cancelling.

"We had three hours' notice, and we had food all prepared," Mr Selwood said.

Colin Selwood wishes the government could have given more notice, so that small businesses such as his could have made arrangements.

As it is, The Cottage has had to stand down most of its 15 staff, and the cafe is serving take-away coffee and food on Wednesday morning to gauge customer demand, "and then we'll reassess".

"We're only just able to get by, being prudent and frugal while still doing what we can," said Mr Selwood.

Upper Hunter Shire Mayor Maurice Collison received a phone call from the local state MP, Dave Layzell, on Saturday afternoon informing him of the NSW-wide lockdown. While his LGA has no recorded COVID cases, Cr Collison wasn't shocked.

"It was no real surprise, because to have an LGA sitting in the middle of all this [with cases elsewhere], we've all got a part to play," he said.

As part of NSW Health's sewage surveillance program, Cr Collison said, the first sample was taken from the Scone treatment works earlier this week for COVID-19 testing.

"Once we get that first result ... we'll have a much more clear direction where we're headed," he said.

The Cottage's Colin Selwood is hoping Upper Hunter Shire can come out of lockdown this weekend.

"I've got my fingers and toes - and everything I possibly can - crossed," the Scone restaurant owner said.

Read more: Tree-changers seek property treasure in Dungog.

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