Outback pubs are a big part of what makes an outback trip memorable. They're where locals, station workers and travellers meet. Notes and badges cover the walls, menus feature beef and barramundi, and the publican usually knows the latest road conditions. Some are grand stone buildings from the gold and pastoral booms. Others are tin-roofed shelters at a crossroads. Opening hours, menus and accommodation change, so check directly before you rely on a pub for a meal, a bed or fuel.
Queensland
Birdsville Hotel, Birdsville. William Blair built the Birdsville Hotel in 1884, and its sandstone walls have survived floods, fires and even cyclones. After a fire, it was rebuilt and refurbished around 1980. The current owners took over in 2020, and the attached motel has 28 rooms. The hotel is the focus of town during the Birdsville Races, and there's an airstrip opposite. See Birdsville.
The Blue Heeler Hotel, Kynuna. On the Matilda Way between Winton and Cloncurry, the Blue Heeler is Kynuna's only pub. A blue heeler statue sits on the roof. Tourism Australia says the pub's claims go back to 1889 and that, as local lore has it, Banjo Paterson first performed "Waltzing Matilda" there.
Walkabout Creek Hotel, McKinlay. Outback Queensland Tourism notes this pub's Crocodile Dundee fame. It's on the Matilda Way north of Kynuna.
Nindigully Pub, Nindigully. Tourism Australia describes "The Gully" as Queensland's oldest pub, first licensed in 1864. It offers free riverside camping and runs quirky events, including pig races.
Northern Territory
Daly Waters Historic Pub, Daly Waters. The pub says Bill and Henrietta Pierce built it in 1930. It's about 590 km south of Darwin, just off the Stuart Highway. It's known for walls covered with travellers' mementoes, "Tim's Junk Yard" of collectables, free-roaming animals the kids will love, and a Beef 'n' Barra barbecue. See Daly Waters.
South Australia
Prairie Hotel, Parachilna. On the plains west of the Flinders Ranges, the Prairie Hotel is known for its "Feral Feast" of native ingredients such as camel sausage and emu pâté. It also offers accommodation, a brewery and a gallery. Combine it with a drive through Parachilna Gorge. See Flinders Ranges itineraries.
Marree Hotel, Marree. This pub sits at the start of the Birdsville and Oodnadatta tracks, near Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre. Tourism Australia mentions scenic flights over Marree Man and a tribute to Tom Kruse, the Birdsville Track mailman. See Marree.
William Creek Hotel, William Creek. On the Oodnadatta Track, William Creek has around twenty residents and is close to Anna Creek Station and the Painted Hills. See William Creek.
Pink Roadhouse, Oodnadatta. Strictly a roadhouse rather than a pub, its bright pink paint makes it one of the most photographed stops in the outback. It's known for the "Oodnaburger". See Oodnadatta.
New South Wales
Silverton Hotel, Silverton. Near Broken Hill, the Silverton Hotel has appeared in a number of films and TV shows, including Mission: Impossible 2, according to Tourism Australia. See Silverton and Broken Hill.
Tilpa Hotel, Tilpa. On the Darling River Run, the Tilpa Hotel was established in 1894. Its walls carry thousands of travellers' names, added for a small donation to the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Western Australia
Grand Hotel Kookynie, Kookynie. Kookynie is a "living ghost town" in the Goldfields, about 8.5 hours from Perth according to Tourism Australia. Gold rush history is the draw. It's a short detour from the Leonora road.
A pub crawl by road trip
- Matilda Way: Charleville, Longreach and Winton, then the Blue Heeler at Kynuna and Walkabout Creek at McKinlay. See Matilda Way.
- The SA tracks: Prairie Hotel, Marree, William Creek and the Pink Roadhouse on an Oodnadatta Track loop.
- Stuart Highway: Daly Waters, plus roadhouses through the Red Centre. See Adelaide to Darwin.
- Corner Country: Silverton and pubs further north toward Tibooburra. See Corner Country.
Etiquette and tips
- Book ahead for rooms and meals during school holidays and events.
- Drink-driving: remote roads are no excuse. Police do test in outback areas, and help is a long way off if you crash.
- Cash and cards: most pubs accept cards, but carry some cash in case the connection drops.
- Mementoes: many pubs welcome hats, notes and badges on the walls. Ask before you pin anything up.
- Local information: publicans and bar staff often know the latest road conditions. Still, confirm with official road reports.
What makes a great outback pub?
A great outback pub combines history, character and hospitality. Many date from the gold rushes, the droving era or the coming of the telegraph and railway. They served as meeting places, post offices, staging posts and courtrooms. Today they often double as the town's motel, restaurant, campground, bottle shop and sometimes fuel stop. Walls are covered with memorabilia: hats, banknotes, photographs, signatures and number plates left by travellers. Big events such as race days, camp drafts and rodeos fill them to bursting. See outback events.
Pubs and the RFDS
Several outback pubs raise money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, which provides emergency and primary health care across remote Australia. The Tilpa Hotel invites travellers to add their name to its walls for a small donation to the RFDS. Others run fundraising events. See Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Planning a pub stay
- Many outback pubs have only a handful of rooms. Book well ahead, especially in the cooler months and around events.
- Kitchen hours can be short. Ask what time meals finish so you don't miss dinner.
- Some pubs close for part of the summer, or reduce hours in the wet season. Call ahead before planning a trip around one.
- Rooms range from basic to comfortable motel-style. Read recent descriptions on each pub's own site.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
What is Australia's most famous outback pub?
The Birdsville Hotel in far south-west Queensland is often called the most legendary. William Blair built it in 1884, and it's the focus of town during the Birdsville Races. The Daly Waters Pub (NT), the Prairie Hotel at Parachilna (SA) and the Silverton Hotel (NSW) are also very well known.
What is the oldest pub in Queensland?
Tourism Australia describes the Nindigully Pub, known as "The Gully", as Queensland's oldest pub. It first received its liquor licence in 1864. It's in southern inland Queensland, under six hours' drive west of Brisbane.
Can you camp at outback pubs?
Many outback pubs offer camping, often powered and unpowered sites behind the hotel, and some, like Nindigully, offer free riverside camping. Facilities vary, so check directly and book ahead in peak season.
What is the most famous outback town?
Birdsville, Coober Pedy, Broken Hill, Alice Springs and Longreach are among the best-known outback towns. See our outback towns guide.
Sources and further reading
Facts on this page were checked against these primary and official sources. Conditions change — confirm before you travel or buy.
- About the Birdsville Hotel — Birdsville Hotel
- Our story — Daly Waters Pub
- The best outback pubs in Australia — Tourism Australia
- Prairie Hotel — Prairie Hotel
- Matilda Way drive route — Outback Queensland Tourism Association
