The Bridge Hotel, Smithton, overlooking the Duck River

Seven days and nights a week you can roll up to the Bridge Hotel.

The Bridge Hotel is close to the centre of Smithton and looks out over Duck River (I kid you not).

Recently the pub has been revamped and has a great steak bar. Try the fresh local oysters and superb steaks in the Coliboi Room.

Bridge Hotel
2 Montague Road
Smithton

The walls of the tavern may be covered with surfing photos but the pub caters for everyone. It even has a family bar with the type of menu that pleases most people.

The dining room has an excellent wine list and an open fire place which is very comforting if its a bit blowy outside.

This is the pub to meet colourful characters whether they are surfing champions, abolone divers, lobster fishermen or the camping and bushwalking folk drawn to the area.

The pub has been licensed in the town of Marrawah since the 1920′s. They will sell you bottles of wine and take-away beer from the main bar.

You’ll find the Marrawah Tavern on Comeback Road in Marrawah. It won’t be hard to spot as there isn’t much else there except great views of local land and The Great Southern Ocean.

It will be taken over by new local owners in December and we are all excited about how they will develop the pub.

So check out the Marrawah when you are in the North West – they have a reputation for good meals and hospitality.

This hotel is nothing like the Rocky Cape Tavern, but it is pretty flash dont you think?

If you are headed off to the Rocky Cape National Park for a picnic this is probably where you would pick up a few beers.

Sitting right on the Bass Highway the Tavern is the only pub for 25 kilometres. It was built in 1980, partially destroyed by fire in 1995 and re-opened in 1995.

There is a public and a lounge bar as well as a dining room. The locals come here for a crisp, cold ale.

There are a couple of eight ball tables and a TAB. This is the pub to drop in for a drink with the locals and to catch up on sporting events.

Rocky Cape Tavern
19375 Bass Highway
Rocky Cape

The Stanley Hotel, North West Tasmania. Image: MartinHoward, Flickr

This pub has been serving beer in Stanley since around 1840.  If you are into history there is a photo collection on the walls of the early days of the town.  The building itself is beautifully restored and worth a visit in its own right.

This pub takes its food very seriously serving up Bass Strait oysters, grass fed beef, plate size trout and free range chook.  You can eat inside or outside on the deck looking out at country and water views.

We had Dan’s fiftieth birthday bash there recently and it was a really great night. So I’d recommend you plan to have lunch here if you are coming from Devonport or Launceston on your way to Arthur River.

I think the place won Bistro of the Year in Australia about a month ago.

Julian and Tracey Jacobs own and run the place and they are good local people.

This is where you would meet local fishermen and get badly beaten at 8 Ball – don’t say you weren’t warned.

Stanley Hotel
21 Church Street
Stanley  TAS  7331

Restaurant bookings 1800 222 397

Image: MartinHoward