Australia's 13 Most Iconic Outback Pubs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

From ancient aquaculture systems to sacred rock art shelters, Victoria’s First Peoples cultural experiences offer a powerful connection to one of the world’s oldest living cultures – where every site, story and smoking ceremony invites a deeper understanding of the land beneath your feet.

Victoria’s sweeping landscapes hold stories far older than any road map can trace – stories etched into stone, sung through generations and woven into every bend of river and rise of hill. From the lava flows of Budj Bim to the ancient middens of Moyjil/Point Ritchie and the volcanic crater of Tower Hill, the state is home to some of the most significant First Peoples cultural sites in Australia. These places, along with other immersive experiences, offer not only a window into a 60,000-year legacy, but a profound way of understanding Country itself. As more travellers seek connection over checklists, guided tours by Traditional Owners offer respectful, unforgettable insights into a living culture that continues to shape the land and the people who walk it.

Budj Bim cultural landscape

Venture beyond the surf and sand of the Great Ocean Road to discover a deeper story etched into the volcanic landscape. At Budj Bim, ancient aquaculture channels built by the Gunditjmara people to trap, store and harvest kooyang (short-finned eel) reveal one of the world’s oldest living cultures. While you’re in the area, head over to the state-of-the-art Tae Rak Aquaculture Centre, where you can observe the eels in a special tank, wander the shores of Tae Rak (Lake Condah), and enjoy a bite at the Bush Tucker Cafe. Also nearby is Tower Hill, a dormant volcano reborn as a wildlife reserve, offering trails through bushland teeming with emus and koalas.

eel tank — The kooyang (eel) tank at Tae Rak. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Dumawul Kooyoora Walking Tour

Dumawul walkingtour — Guests are guided through Kooyoora State Park on the Dumawul walking tour. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Step into a timeless landscape with Dumawul’s guided tour through Kooyoora State Park, around an hour’s drive west of Bendigo in north-central Victoria. Led by Djaara guides, this immersive half-day journey breathes life into Country, weaving together stories, bush tucker and ancient rock art. Known to the Dja Dja Wurrung people as Guyura – the ‘mountain of light’ – this dramatic granite range is rich with cultural and spiritual significance. The adventure begins with a meet-up at the Bridgewater Hotel on the banks of the Loddon River, before guests are welcomed onto Country with a traditional Smoking Ceremony – a powerful ritual that honours ancestors and cleanses those who walk the land. From there, it’s a gentle wander through rugged outcrops and open bushland, with sweeping vistas unfolding at every turn. Along the way, guides share their knowledge of how the Dja Dja Wurrung peoples have cared for and adapted with this land for generations, offering a rare and moving window into an ancient way of life that continues to thrive today.

Kooyoora walking tour — Knowledge of the Dja Dja Wurrung is shared on the trail. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Kingfisher Cruises

Glide quietly through the Barmah-Millewa forest – the nation’s largest river red gum ecosystem – on a scenic journey along the Murray River and into the Barmah Lakes with Kingfisher Cruises. Led by passionate guides who share stories of the cultural significance of this ancient landscape, these cruises reveal the stories, totems and traditional knowledge of the Yorta Yorta people. As you navigate narrow waterways and spot native birds, you’ll gain a richer understanding of how First Peoples have lived in harmony with this floodplain for tens of thousands of years. It’s a gentle, immersive experience that leaves a lasting impression – one where every bend in the river carries echoes of culture, connection and Country.

wawa biik

Exploring Nagambie with Taungurung leaders. (Image: Visit Victoria)

Translating to ‘hello, Country’ in the language of the First Nations People and Custodians of the rivers and mountains of Taungurung Country in Central Victoria, wawa biik guides a range of authentic and deeply immersive experiences. Leaving from either Nagambie or Euroa, the tours are woven with ancient stories of the Taungurung, telling how a sustained connection and responsibility ensures the continued health of biik – benefitting the people, animals and plants that live in and around the Goulburn River. During the wawa Nagambie experience, guests participate in a Welcome Smoking Ceremony, and enjoy lunch and conversation with two Taungurung leaders as they cruise through the wetlands of tabilk-tabilk (place of many waterholes). The 4.5-hour tour begins at Tahbilk Winery, which is set in the wetlands of Nagambie on Taungurung Country and collaborates with Taungurung Elders to share knowledge of biik.

Bataluk Cultural Trail

Cape Conran on the Bataluk Trail. (Image: Visit Victoria)

The Bataluk Cultural Trail winds through East Gippsland like a thread stitching past to present, tracing the deep connection between the Gunaikurnai people and their land. Starting at the Knob Reserve in Stratford, visitors walk among scarred trees and ancient stone tools once used for survival and ceremony. At the Den of Nargun near Mitchell River, the earth holds stories of women’s sacred spaces, cloaked in myth and legend. Further along, Legend Rock at Metung tells of greed and consequence, its surface etched with ancient lore. At Cape Conran, shell middens lie scattered like breadcrumbs of history – 10,000 years of gatherings, stories and saltwater songs still echoing in the wind.

Healesville Sanctuary

Set on the historic grounds of Coranderrk Aboriginal Station, Healesville Sanctuary honours the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation through immersive storytelling and connection to Country. Along Wurundjeri Walk, visitors are invited to reflect on the land’s rich First Peoples history, with native plants revealing their traditional uses. Wurundjeri Elder and educator Murrundindi shares culture in-person with the Wominjeka Aboriginal Cultural Experience every Sunday, and most days during Victorian school holidays. Murrundindi’s smoking ceremonies, storytelling and bush tucker knowledge reveal the sacred relationship between people, animals and the environment. Bird-lovers can’t miss the incredible Spirits of the Sky show featuring native birds daily at 12pm and 3pm.

The Grampians

Known as Gariwerd to Traditional Owners, the Grampians is a place of immense cultural and spiritual significance. This rugged landscape holds more than 80 per cent of Victoria’s known First Peoples rock art, offering a powerful window into the region’s deep heritage. Visitors can respectfully explore five remarkable rock art sites: Billimina and Ngamadjidj in the Wartook Valley, Manja Shelter near Hamilton, Gulgurn Manja shelter near Laharum, and the Bunjil Shelter near Stawell, where the creator spirit is depicted. Each site tells a unique story of connection to Country, shared through ancient handprints, dancing figures and Dreaming narratives etched into stone.

Australia’s 13 most iconic outback pubs

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

1. The Birdsville Hotel, Qld

2. Daly Waters Pub, NT

3. Prairie Hotel, SA

4. Tilpa Hotel, NSW

5. Grand Hotel Kookynie, WA

6. Nindigully Pub, Qld

7. Marree Hotel, SA

8. The Silverton Hotel, NSW

9. The Blue Heeler Hotel, Qld

10. William Creek Hotel, SA

11. The Lion’s Den, Qld

12. Matso’s Store, WA

13. The Palace Hotel, Broken Hill, NSW

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Unforgettable First Peoples tours and experiences in Victoria

From ancient aquaculture systems to sacred rock art shelters, Victoria’s First Peoples cultural experiences offer a powerful connection to one of the world’s oldest living cultures – where every site, story and smoking ceremony invites a deeper understanding of the land beneath your feet.

Budj Bim cultural landscape

Dumawul Kooyoora Walking Tour

Kingfisher Cruises

wawa biik

Bataluk Cultural Trail

Healesville Sanctuary

The Grampians

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

1. The Birdsville Hotel, Qld

2. Daly Waters Pub, NT

3. Prairie Hotel, SA

4. Tilpa Hotel, NSW

AI Prompt

5. Grand Hotel Kookynie, WA

6. Nindigully Pub, Qld

7. Marree Hotel, SA

8. The Silverton Hotel, NSW

9. The Blue Heeler Hotel, Qld

10. William Creek Hotel, SA

11. The Lion’s Den, Qld

12. Matso’s Store, WA

13. The Palace Hotel, Broken Hill, NSW

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From ancient aquaculture systems to sacred rock art shelters, Victoria’s First Peoples cultural experiences offer a powerful connection to one of the world’s oldest living cultures – where every site, story and smoking ceremony invites a deeper understanding of the land beneath your feet.

Budj Bim cultural landscape

Dumawul Kooyoora Walking Tour

Kingfisher Cruises

wawa biik

Bataluk Cultural Trail

Healesville Sanctuary

The Grampians

From ancient aquaculture systems to sacred rock art shelters, Victoria’s First Peoples cultural experiences offer a powerful connection to one of the world’s oldest living cultures – where every site, story and smoking ceremony invites a deeper understanding of the land beneath your feet.