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Australia’s 13 most iconic outback pubs

Credit: Tourism NT

Emily Murphy Emily Murphy
These iconic watering holes offer an unforgettable glimpse into the heart of the Aussie outback. 

There’s nothing more quintessentially Australian than our outback pubs. These rustic establishments are not just places to grab a cold beer; they’re the heartbeat of remote communities, brimming with history, character and some seriously memorable characters.

From weathered tin roofs to walls lined with quirky memorabilia, each pub tells a story of the rugged and resilient Aussie spirit. Here are the must-visit outback pubs that deserve a spot on your bucket list. 

1. The Birdsville Hotel, Qld 

Birdsville Hotel
The Birdsville Hotel is as spirited and dynamic as times past. (Credit: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Nestled on the edge of the Simpson Desert, the Birdsville Hotel is as legendary as the tiny town it calls home. This historic pub has been a refuge for weary travellers since 1884, offering ice-cold beers and a lively atmosphere. Whether you visit during the famous Birdsville Races or stop by for a yarn with the locals, you’ll leave with stories to tell for a lifetime. 

Address: Adelaide St, Birdsville 

2. Daly Waters Pub, NT 

Daly Waters pub
This unique pub demands your attention. (Credit: Tourism NT)

This quirky watering hole in the Northern Territory is famous for its eccentric decor, with walls covered in bras, banknotes and oddities left by travellers from around the world. The Daly Waters Pub serves up hearty meals and good times with a side of live entertainment. Don’t miss their famous beef and barra feast for a true taste of the Territory. 

Address: 16 Stuart St, Daly Waters   

3. Prairie Hotel, SA  

The Prairie Hotel
The Prairie Hotel emerges from the desert setting. (Credit: Tourism Australia)

Located in the Flinders Ranges, the Prairie Hotel is a destination in itself. Famous for its inventive ‘feral’ menu, featuring kangaroo, emu and camel dishes, this pub redefines outback dining. Add in stunning desert views and a warm outback welcome, and it’s easy to see why the Prairie Hotel is a must-visit. 

Address: High St and West Terrace, Parachilna 

4. Tilpa Hotel, NSW 

The Tilpa Hotel
The Tilpa Hotel has been a cornerstone of the region since 1894. (Credit: Destination NSW)

Set on the banks of the Darling River, the Tilpa Hotel is as remote as it is iconic. This one-room pub is famous for its graffiti-covered walls where travellers leave their mark, and it’s the perfect spot to unwind with a beer after a day exploring the outback. Pro tip: order the steak sandwich – it’s legendary. 

Address: 1 Darling St, Tilpa 

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5. Grand Hotel Kookynie, WA 

Grand Hotel
Sip a cold beer and enjoy the dreamy outback ambience. (Credit: Tourism Western Australia)

Step into the past at the Grand Hotel Kookynie, located in Western Australia’s Goldfields region. This pub has been serving travellers since the early 1900s and exudes old-world charm. Make sure to say hello to Willie, the resident horse who often hangs out at the bar – an outback experience like no other! 

Address: 54 Britannia St, Kookynie 

6. Nindigully Pub, Qld 

Nindigully Pub
Established in 1864, the Nindigully Pub is Queensland’s oldest continuously licensed pub. (Credit: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Step back in time at the Nindigully Pub, which has been welcoming patrons since 1864. Perched on the banks of the Moonie River, this charming establishment is known for its enormous burgers – big enough to feed a family – and its warm country hospitality. Whether you’re camping nearby or dropping in for a feed, this pub promises an unforgettable experience. 

Address: Sternes Street, Nindigully 

7. Marree Hotel, SA 

Marree Hotel
The hotel has a rich, intriguing history that makes it a must-visit. (Credit: South Australian Tourism Commission)

At the crossroads of the Oodnadatta and Birdsville Tracks, the Marree Hotel is a slice of Australian history. This heritage-listed pub has been serving adventurers and locals since the late 19th century. Don’t miss the Tom Kruse Room, dedicated to the legendary outback mailman who delivered post to Australia’s most remote communities. 

Address: Lot 200 Railway Terrace South, Marree 

8. The Silverton Hotel, NSW 

Silverton Hotel
Get a taste of the cinema at this iconic hotel. (Credit: Destination NSW)

You’ll feel like you’ve stepped onto a movie set at the Silverton Hotel. Located in a ghost town in Outback NSW, this pub has starred in countless films and TV shows, including Mad Max 2. Grab a cold one, snap a selfie with the Mad Max car out front and soak up the quirky charm of this cinematic pub. 

Address: 12 Layard St, Silverton 

9. The Blue Heeler Hotel, Qld 

Blue Heeler hotel
This outback pub holds historical significance. (Credit: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Located in Kynuna, the Blue Heeler Hotel is steeped in history and Aussie folklore. It’s said to be the inspiration behind Banjo Paterson’s Waltzing Matilda. Stop by to enjoy a beer, chat with locals and immerse yourself in the stories of Queensland’s outback. 

Address: 16 Hulbert St, Kynuna 

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10. William Creek Hotel, SA 

William Creek hotel
The laid-back atmosphere of this remote pub is not to be missed. (Credit: South Australian Commission)

Sitting on the edge of Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre, one of Australia’s best pink lakes, the William Creek Hotel is the definition of remote. It’s a lifeline for adventurers traversing the Oodnadatta Track, offering hearty meals, cold drinks and the chance to swap stories with fellow travellers. Don’t forget to sign the visitor book before you leave. 

Address: Lot 1 Oodnadatta Track, William Creek 

11. The Lion’s Den, Qld 

lion's den
The pub is on the bucket list of adventure seekers in Cape York. (Credit: Tourism and Events Queensland)

Nestled in the rainforest near Cooktown, The Lion’s Den Hotel is a must-visit for adventurers exploring Cape York. This historic pub, established in 1875, features walls covered in signatures and mementos from travellers over the decades. Relax with a cold drink and soak in the charm of this iconic watering hole. 

Address: 398 Shiptons Flat Road, Rossville 

12. Matso’s Store, WA 

Matso's
Matso’s is the only microbrewery in North West WA. (Credit: Tourism Western Australia)

Located in Broome, Matso’s is a beloved institution known for its unique craft beers. Try their famous mango beer or ginger beer while soaking up the laid-back atmosphere. It’s the perfect spot to cool off and enjoy a refreshing drink after exploring the Kimberley region. 

Address: 60 Hamersley St, Broome 

13. The Palace Hotel, Broken Hill, NSW 

The Palace
The Palace is located in the heart of the heritage-listed city of Broken Hill. (Credit: Broken Hill City Council)

With its grand facade and famous murals, The Palace Hotel is an outback pub with a difference. It shot to fame in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and continues to attract visitors with its vibrant art, live music and icon status in Broken Hill. Stay the night in one of their heritage rooms for the full experience. 

Address: 227 Argent St, Broken Hill 

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Emily Murphy
Emily Murphy is Australian Traveller's Email & Social Editor, and in her time at the company she has been instrumental in shaping its social media and email presence, and crafting compelling narratives that inspire others to explore Australia's vast landscapes. Her previous role was a journalist at Prime Creative Media and before that she was freelancing in publishing, content creation and digital marketing. When she's not creating scroll-stopping travel content, Em is a devoted 'bun mum' and enjoys spending her spare time by the sea, reading, binge-watching a good TV show and exploring Sydney's vibrant dining scene. Next on her Aussie travel wish list? Tasmania and The Kimberley.
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This scenic Victorian region is the perfect antidote to city life

    Craig Tansley Craig Tansley
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    Video credit: Visit Victoria/Tourism Australia

    The Grampians just might be the ultimate antidote for the metropolis, writes one returning Aussie ready to disconnect from the modern world and reconnect to the Great outdoors.

    There are no kangaroos back in Chicago: they’re all here in the Grampians/Gariwerd. In the heart of the Grampians National Park’s main gateway town, Halls Gap, pods of eastern greys are eating grass beside my parked rental car beneath the stars. Next morning, when I see the backyard of my rented villa on the edge of town for the first time, there are kangaroos feeding beside a slow-moving creek, lined with river red gums.

    Five hundred metres up the road, 50 or so of them are eating by the side of the road in a paddock. I pull over to watch and spot three emus. Yellow-tailed black cockatoos fly overhead towards the tall green mountains just beyond town.

    ‘Kee-ow, keee-oww’… their calls fuse with the maniacal cackle of a kookaburra (or 10). Gawd, how I’ve missed the sound of them. Far above, a wedge-tailed eagle watches, and there you go: the ‘great birds of Australia’ trifecta, all half a kay from the town limits.

    Exchanging city chaos for country calm

    kangaroos near Halls Gap, Grampians National Park
    The park is renowned for its significant diversity of native fauna species. (Image: Visit Victoria/Robert Blackburn)

    I’ve come to the Grampians to disconnect, but the bush offers a connection of its own. This isn’t just any bush, mind you. The Grampians National Park is iconic for many reasons, mostly for its striking sandstone mountains – five ridges run north to south, with abrupt, orange slopes which tumble right into Halls Gap – and for the fact there’s 20,000 years of traditional rock art. Across these mountains there are more than 200 recorded sites to see, created by the Djab Wurrung, Jardwadjali and Gunditjmara peoples. It’s just like our outback… but three hours from Melbourne.

    I’ve come here for a chance at renewal after the chaos of my life in America’s third-largest city, Chicago, where I live for now, at the whim of a relative’s cancer journey. Flying into Melbourne’s airport, it only takes an hour’s drive to feel far away from any concept of suburbia. When I arrive in Halls Gap two hours later, the restaurant I’m eating at clears out entirely by 7:45pm; Chicago already feels a lifetime ago.

    The trails and treasures of the Grampians

    sunrise at Grampians National Park /Gariwerd
    Grampians National Park /Gariwerd covers almost 2000 square kilometres. (Image: Ben Savage)

    Though the national park covers almost 2000 square kilometres, its best-known landmarks are remarkably easy to access. From my carpark here, among the cockatoos and kangaroos on the fringe of Halls Gap, it only takes 60 seconds’ driving time before I’m winding my way up a steep road through rainforest, deep into the mountains.

    Then it’s five minutes more to a carpark that serves as a trailhead for a hike to one of the park’s best vantage points, The Pinnacles. I walk for an hour or so, reacquainting myself with the smells and the sounds of the Aussie bush, before I reach it: a sheer cliff’s edge lookout 500 metres up above Halls Gap.

    walking through a cave, Hollow Mountain
    Overlooking the vast Grampians landscape from Hollow Mountain. (Image: Robert Blackburn)

    There are hikes and there are lookouts and waterfalls all across this part of the park near town. Some are a short stroll from a carpark; others involve long, arduous hikes through forest. The longest is the Grampians Peaks Trail, Victoria’s newest and longest iconic walk, which runs 160 kilometres – the entire length of Grampians National Park.

    Local activities operator Absolute Outdoors shows me glimpses of the trail. The company’s owner, Adrian Manikas, says it’s the best walk he’s done in Australia. He says he’s worked in national parks across the world, but this was the one he wanted to bring his children up in.

    “There’s something about the Grampians,” he says, as he leads me up a path to where there’s wooden platforms for tents, beside a hut looking straight out across western Victoria from a kilometre up in the sky (these are part of the guided hiking options for the trail). “There are things out here that you won’t see anywhere else in Australia.” Last summer, 80 per cent of the park was damaged by bushfire, but Manikas shows me its regrowth, and tells me of the manic effort put in by volunteers from town – with firefighters from all over Australia – to help save Halls Gap.

    wildflowers in Grampians National Park
    Spot wildflowers. (Image: Visit Victoria)

    We drive back down to Halls Gap at dusk to abseil down a mountain under the stars, a few minutes’ walk off the main road into town. We have headlamps, but a full moon is enough to light my way down. It takes blind faith to walk backwards down a mountain into a black void, though the upside is I can’t see the extent of my descent.

    Grampians National Park at sunset
    Grampians National Park at sunset. (Image: Wine Australian)

    The stargazing is ruined by the moon, of course, but you should see how its glow lights up the orange of the sandstone, like in a theme park. When I’m done, I stand on a rocky plateau drinking hot chocolate and listening to the Aussie animals who prefer nighttime. I can see the streets of Halls Gap off in the distance on this Friday night. The restaurants may stay open until 8pm tonight.

    What else is on offer in The Grampians?

    a boat travelling along the Wimmera River inDimboola
    Travelling along the Wimmera River in Dimboola. (Image: Chris McConville)

    You’ll find all sorts of adventures out here – from rock climbing to canoeing to hiking – but there’s more to the Grampians than a couple of thousand square kilometres of trees and mountains. Halls Gap may be known to most people, but what of Pomonal, and Dimboola, and Horsham? Here in the shadow of those big sandstone mountains there are towns and communities most of us don’t know to visit.

    And who knew that the Grampians is home to Victoria’s most underrated wine region? My disconnection this morning comes not in a forest, but in the tasting rooms and winery restaurants of the district. Like Pomonal Estate, barely 10 minutes’ drive east of Halls Gap, where UK-born chef Dean Sibthorp prepares a locally caught barramundi with lentil, pumpkin and finger lime in a restaurant beside the vines at the base of the Grampians. Husband-and-wife team Pep and Adam Atchison tell me stories as they pour their prize wines (shiraz is the hero in these parts).

    dining at Pomonal Estate
    Dine in a restaurant beside vines at Pomonal Estate. (Image: Tourism Australia)

    Three minutes’ drive back down the road, long-time mates Hadyn Black and Darcy Naunton run an eclectic cellar door out of a corrugated iron shed, near downtown Pomonal. The Christmas before last, half the houses in Pomonal burnt down in a bushfire, but these locals are a resilient lot.

    The fires also didn’t stop the construction of the first art centre in Australia dedicated to environmental art in a nature-based precinct a little further down the road (that’s Wama – the National Centre for Environmental Arts), which opened in July. And some of the world’s oldest and rarest grape vines have survived 160 years at Best’s Wines, outside the heritage town of Great Western. There’s plantings here from the year 1868, and there’s wines stored in century-old barrels within 150-year-old tunnels beneath the tasting room. On the other side of town, Seppelt Wines’ roots go back to 1865. They’re both only a 30-minute drive from Halls Gap.

    Salingers of Great Western
    Great Western is a charming heritage town. (Image: Griffin Simm)

    There’s more to explore yet; I drive through tiny historic towns that barely make the map. Still part of the Grampians, they’re as pretty as the mountains behind them: full of late 19th-century/early 20th-century post offices, government offices and bank buildings, converted now to all manner of bric-a-brac stores and cafes.

    The Imaginarium is one, in quirky Dimboola, where I sleep in the manager’s residence of an old National Australia Bank after a gourmet dinner at the local golf club, run by noted chef and teacher, Cat Clarke – a pioneer of modern Indigenous Australian cooking. Just south, I spend an entire afternoon at a winery, Norton Estate Wines, set on rolling calico-coloured hills that make me think of Tuscany, chit-chatting with owners Chris and Sam Spence.

    Being here takes me back two decades, when I lived here for a time. It had all seemed as foreign as if I’d driven to another planet back then (from Sydney/Warrane), but there seemed something inherently and immediately good about this place, like I’d lived here before.

    And it’s the Australian small-town familiarity of the Grampians that offers me connection back to my own country. Even in the better-known Halls Gap, Liz from Kerrie’s Creations knows I like my lattes with soy milk and one sugar. And while I never do get the name of the lady at the local Ampol station, I sure know a lot about her life.

    Kookaburras on a tree
    Kookaburras are one of some 230 bird species. (Image: Darren Donlen)

    You can be a local here in a day; how good is that? In Chicago, I don’t even know who my neighbour is. Though each day at dusk – when the kangaroos gather outside my villa, and the kookaburras and the black cockatoos shout out loud before settling in to sleep – I prefer the quieter connection I get out there in the bush, beneath these orange mountains.

    A traveller’s checklist

    Staying there

    Sleep beside the wildlife on the edge of Halls Gap at Serenity.

    Playing there

    abseiling down Hollow Mountain
    Hollow Mountain is a popular abseiling site.

    Go abseiling under the stars or join a guided hike with Absolute Outdoors. Visit Wama, Australia’s first environmental art centre. Check out Dimboola’s eccentric Imaginarium.

    Eating there

    steak, naan bread and beer at Paper Scissors Rock in Halls Gap
    Paper Scissors Rock in Halls Gap serves a great steak on naan bread.

    Eat world-class cuisine at Pomonal Estate. Dine and stay at much-revered icon Royal Mail Hotel in Dunkeld. The ‘steak on naan’ at Halls Gap brewhouse Paper Scissors Rock, can’t be beat.

    Dunkeld Arboretum in Grampians National Park
    The serene Dunkeld Arboretum.

    For Halls Gap’s best breakfasts head to Livefast Cafe. Sip local wines at Great Western’s historic wineries, Best’s Wines, Seppelt Wines and Norton Estate Wines.

    two glasses of beer at Paper Scissors Rock in Halls Gap
    Sink a cold one at Paper Scissors Rock.