Fine diners! Queensland’s best roadhouse feeds revealed
Suellen Hinde - Queensland Editor |
You’ve been driving up a hunger for long hours in the red dust and heat, when up ahead an oasis appears: The roadhouse diner.
Fancy they are not, and you will often be greeted with a “hello love (or darl, depending on your gender), what can I getcha?” – but for a hungry traveller, tucking into a roadhouse pie or burger can be just the treat.
Here are some of the best to pull in for a feed fit for a Queenslander.
Gillies Roadhouse Lake Barrine
After taking the mountain range road known as “The Gillies”, stop for some sensational food at the Gillies Roadhouse on the Atherton Tablelands. It’s right beside the Crater Lakes National Park. Take in the fresh air with a coffee or try their home made kombucha. A great place to relax and enjoy the greenery.
Gillies roadhouse Bingal Bay eye fillet sandwich with roasted capsicum and caramelised onions 
Loads of yummy food to chose from at the Gillies 
Wrap your mouth around this burger topped with fried onion rings.
Out of the Blue Cafe – Portland Road Cape York
More than 800kms north of Cairns on rough, corrugated roads, you will stumble across a remarkable watering hole offering crunchy bread rolls overflowing with locally sourced fresh prawns. And while it may not be as flash as Neil Perry’s, it certainly goes down a treat. Also try their calamari while your there.
Birdsville Bakery
Birdsville is one of the most remote towns in the South West corner of Queensland but every good town needs a good bakery. This place has so many country crowd pleasers on offer it is hard to know what to choose.
Delightful tarts way out west at Birdsville Bakery 
Bangers and mash pie at Birdsville Bakery
Hell’s Gate Roadhouse
Situated 50 kms east of the Queensland / NT Border on Cliffdale Station, this roadhouse welcomes all travellers driving along the Savannah Way. Set in stunning outback scenery the home cooked treats are a delight and you will think you are in heaven not hell.
The vanilla slice at Hell’s Gate can get messy but it’s worth it 
A pie with buttery pastry too good to be true at Hell’s Gate
Bourke and Wills Roadhouse
Travelling north west in Queensland on the Bourke Development Road, you can break the trip to the Gulf country with a meal at the Bourke and Wills. And while the diner is named after the ill-fated explorers, there is nothing wrong with the grub and the atmosphere. The roadhouse has lots of memorabilia to keep you occupied while you wait.
Homemade choc chip cookies at the Bourke and Wills Roadhouse 
Great pies at Bourke and Wills 
Homemade coconut and lemon slice at Bourke and Wills
Lakeland Roadhouse
Lakeland Roadhouse is at the gateway to Cape York and it’s service and hospitality is renowned in the area. The home cooked meals are scrumptious and large servings never leave you wanting.
Home cooked spaghetti a real treat 
Look at that rich gravy 
Sweet creamy chicken curry
Dingo Roadhouse
The Dingo Roadhouse west of Rockhampton has a loyal following amongst truckies, locals and visitors. By the looks of these ribs you can understand why.
