Five country pubs worth the drive

The classic Australian country pub usually isn’t just a place to eat, drink and stay, often it’s the social hub of a whole town or local community. Many are destinations in themselves and if you’re yearning to get out and explore regional Australia, these five pubs are the perfect excuse.

The locals from Victoria’s Hamilton area would like to keep the Bunyip a secret but the 3.5-hour drive from Melbourne is definitely worth it.  This classic Art Deco small-town pub is a diner’s paradise especially on Sundays for the five-course ‘Chef’s Table' and its carefully crafted but hearty servings. Better still, you can stay the night in a cosy country-pub bedroom. Cavendish is close to the Grampians and the town has the informative Settlers Walk along the Wannon River that passes the Bunyip’s beer garden.

The Sir George is a great stop on the long drive down the Hume highway but really, this fabulous pub and historic Jugiong (itself on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River) beckon to stay the night. The 1845 stone-walled hotel has been refurbished in total country chic – think mellow timbers and deep leather Chesterfields – the bar menu has gastronomic twists and the three-course chef’s menu virtually mandates locking the car and settling into one of the rooms in the gorgeous old stables buildings. You’ll be glad you found it.

Here’s a pub that knows how to welcome motorists. The Bischoff is a natural stopping-off point on the wonderful roads of Tassie’s wild north-west but if its Philosopher’s Bar, hearty menu and location in sleepy Waratah with its dramatic waterfalls and more isn’t enough, the pub also offers EV charging, and a motorcycle shed with drying racks for your gear. With a range of rooms to suit numbers and budgets, you couldn’t ask for a warmer welcome.

This sizable red-brick corner hotel is the classic country pub with the lot. Not only does the Mansfield look the part with its wrap-around veranda, roomy courtyard shaded by a century-old oak tree and welcoming bar, but the three-hour drive from Melbourne puts you in the heart of Victoria’s high country. Local wines are featured, there are craft beers on tap, the food ranges from seasonal pub classics to wood-fired pizzas and beyond, and the welcome is warm. And of course, there’s plenty more to see and do in Mansfield itself.

Okay, at 20 minutes from the heart of Adelaide The Crafers isn’t exactly a road trip, but as a kick-off point to explore the Adelaide Hills by car this historic pub takes some beating. Dating back to 1839, the hotel has spread over the years but even the new bits incorporate stonework, high ceilings and classic country ambience. Local produce on the bar and dining room menus, the area’s famous wines and craft beers abound and with seven nicely renovated rooms upstairs you can come from afar and stay a while.

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