A roadhouse is so much more than just a place you can get petrol and an iffy pie. For drivers travelling along Australia’s isolated highways, a roadhouse rises like an oasis of good ol’ fashioned hospitality on the side of the road. Their proprietors might well rescue you and your car if you fall into trouble nearby, too. We’ve picked the best roadhouses in the country – no iffy roadside pies here!
Hells Gate Roadhouse, Savannah Way, Queensland
Hell’s Gate Roadhouse by TravelPod member Macphails
Don’t believe everything they tell you – hell isn’t that bad. At least it’s not at Hells Gate Roadhouse, a friendly and surprisingly green stop on the rough and tumble Savannah Highway in Queensland, around 50km from the border with Northern Territory. You’re a long way from anywhere up here, and Hells Gate Roadhouse is a sight for dusty eyes … especially as it’s got petrol, food, cold drinks, and a place to stay for the night. Oh, and there’s even an airstrip, if you’d prefer to drop in by air.
Birdsville Roadhouse, Birdsville, Queensland
Birdsville Roadhouse
If you get stuck in the Simpson Desert within 300km of Birdsville and you call the RACQ, the man who’ll come running – eventually – is Peter Barnes, the proprietor of the Birdsville Roadhouse. While the Birdsville Pub might be more iconic, it’s the Birdsville Roadhouse, which has been run by Barnes’y and his wife Bernadette for decades, that should be top of every travellers’ list. It’s got fuel, friendliness … and, perhaps most importantly if you’ve just been driving through the desert, a vehicle workshop.
Tjukayirla Roadhouse, Great Central Road, Western Australia
Tjukayirla Roadhouse by TripAdvisor reviewer Alai1498
You’re a long way from anywhere at the Tjukayirla Roadhouse, an outpost on the Great Central Road in the Great Victoria Desert. This classic Australian building, with a corrugated roof extending over a veranda that’s surrounded by shrubby and shady gums, is a welcome spot of hospitality after you’ve been bouncing over the unsealed road for hours. And even though the roadhouse is, well, in the middle of nowhere, it manages to serve up some of the best burgers this side of Texas. The roadhouse isn’t open in the evenings, so unless you’re planning to stay in the clean and thoughtfully considered accommodation, remember to check the opening hours.
Nullarbor Roadhouse, Nullarbor, South Australia
Nullarbor Roadhouse by TripAdvisor reviewer Seafergie
The Nullarbor Roadhouse might be the friendliest roadhouse in the country – which is great news for travellers, as hospitality is just what you need when driving the long and isolated stretch of road between South Australia and Western Australia. The Nullarbor Roadhouse has been open to travellers since 1957, and while the original roadhouse still remains as an interesting historical feature, the facilities have been upgraded somewhat since then, with hot showers ($1 for 5 minutes), clean rooms, great coffee (they even have soy!) and food so good (they even have roast lamb) you’ll want to turn around and do the drive again, just for a repeat taste.
Emerald Springs Roadhouse, Stuart Highway, Northern Territory
Emerald Springs by TripAdvisor reviewer MBB1952
Emerald Springs Roadhouse, at an easy 180km drive down the Stuart Highway from Darwin, is perfectly situated for your first pick-me-up on the road. And you’re in luck! This roadhouse, although situated in an area that’s famous for nothing much, is itself famous for its excellent food and coffee, as well as for its cheeky and charming owners – oh, and the large, cool veranda.
