Dining
The Emerald Star Hotel, Central Highland. Queensland. Australia
47-51 Clermont St, Emerald QLD 4720 Phone: (07) 4982 1422
Dog’N Bull Hotel, New South Wales. Australia.
Dog n’ Bull Hotel
23 Sandilands St, Bonalbo NSW 2469
Phone:02 6665 1477
The Dog N Bull Hotel is situated in a small village called Bonalbo off the main roads the towns got a caravan park, bowls club and petrol station and local shops this is small town/village with a population of around 300 people. It’s worth the drive to this town great family run with a little creek runs though the town the chickens and roasters walk the streets freely, this town started as many small towns started with a farmer needing a community to prosper in 1911 land was purchased from McNamee and several buildings some built and owned by McNamee formed the basis of the town. There was a butcher’s shop, hotel, billiard hall, post office, St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church and “yes” Scottish heritage, a school, a boarding house, a blacksmith’s, a bank, a general store, and a butter factory. The pub is the hub of the town a newer style pub as the old one burnt down in 1985 the original pub was established in 1909, I couldn’t find a photo of the original pub, if anyone has one I would like to add it to this blog just e-mail to me danielhickeymedia@gmail.com . Bonalbo is a convenient country drive rest stop on the scenic border ranges routes linking Queensland’s Southern Downs with the northern Tablelands of NSW. I stayed at the pub Dog N Bull Hotel has 4 motel style room a public Bar and Bistro. Guests can choose from a variety of rooms including Double, Single and Triple which are fully serviced every day. Private ensuite, air-conditioning, small bar fridge and tea and coffee making facilities, toaster and television.
Bonalbo offers some amazing sights in and around the town on my stay, the pub had a “Eat Street” were the fire truck blocked of the road in front of the pub and food stalls set to raise money for local charity it was a great night with the locals coming out to enjoy the food and entertainment, Bonalbo has the Yabbra State Forest to explore with some spectacular eucalypt trees, bellbirds in the top of the trees and rainforest walks of the side of the road if you keep driving out north to Urbenville you will find signposted Bean Creek Falls.
Bonalbo is claimed to have had the State’s first dog trials 52 years ago and was also a famed centre for bull sales. A bronze statue of a working dog was unveiled in April 2017. Bonalbo as the birthplace of working dog trials, in 1841 only four years after arriving in Sydney, drove sheep from the Hunter Valley to the Bonalbo district where he established the ‘Bunalbo’ or Duck Creek run. I found this place on my way the Tabulam Rodeo after visiting the Casino Beef Week
Aratula Hotel & Motel, Aratula. Queensland. Australia
6841 Cunningham Hwy, Aratula QLD 4309
Shaws Bay Hotel, East Ballina. Northern New South Wales
Shaws Bay Hotel east Ballina is the popular choose pub older style pub the ones I like, built around 1950s -1970s with adjoining Fenwick Manor House 1886 elegant example of a Victorian residence built by Captain Thomas Fenwick.
The Shawsy as it is known locally is a hotel with Destination Food high quality and community commitment with the locals been very loyal to this pub breakfast lunch dinner it is on the water the kid can have a swim family friendly great staff and I have never seen under pressure a cool kitchen pump out well-presented food to that many people in a short time and high quality.
But wait there is more the Shawsy has pool tables live music on Saturday and Sunday session with live music on Sunday arvos, raffles, sports bar this pub has recently been bought and the Fenwick manor House will add to the venue for wedding and functions and all this is on the beach this is a must visit at least a beer at pub and do not miss the food special board is were you will find the good stuff. I will be back
Lennox Heads Hotel
The Lennox Hotel is a classic Aussie pub located just souths of Byron Bay Northern New South Wales, Australia this pub has great atmosphere right across from the beach with it headland and iconic surf beach.
Pubs on the beach has the public bar on the ground floor you can came straight up out of the water and have a cold beer sit outside and watch the surf or go upstairs bar and relax on the Ocean Deck and soak up the amazing view across 7 Mile Beach.
Seven Mile Beach at Lennox Head has a famous for its right-hand break at Lennox Point and Lake Ainsworth a freshwater lake up near the surf club the main drag has a bakery fashion and swim wear shops, families and day trippers from Brisbane.
Lennox Head is a compact little village with layback attitude this one pub town has a couple hidden secrets, downstairs in the public I noticed the kids chicken nuggets and ham and pineapple pizza came out and their parent followed a big pie and dad had the 300gm steak and I grabbed the menu as the food presentation was next level not found in pubs, The kitchen and main dinning area is upstairs this is where the magic happens.
Destination fine dinning Lennox Heads Hotel, this is a must eat at restaurant with a wine list to match the food the squid is local catch and a must have entre, the seafood pie is in white sauce base will be on my next visit bucket list and anything that is put into the char coal oven I recommend the Wagyu med to rare with a bottle of Penfolds 128.