Perched above Cylinder Beach, The Straddie Hotel is governed by local surf culture. Upstairs, the balcony is perfect for a chilled post-surf sundowner. From your perch, you’ll see local surfers dropping onto their boards with a splash into the ocean. And holidaymakers standing on a packed shelf of sand enjoying some Vitamin D. Join them for a few Straddie Brewing Co. beers with panoramic views. The bistro serves local oysters, prawn cocktails, and hand-stretched pizzas set to a playlist of live music. 158 E Coast Rd, Point Lookout; moretonhospitality.com.au

A balmy evening at The Kin Kin Hotel is likely to extend outside the Woodshed restaurant to the fire pit. It’s that kind of place. The reimagined country pub has quietly reset expectations for regional pubs in Queensland. Inside the former agricultural shed, an open-fire kitchen commands attention, turning locally sourced produce into deeply considered dishes, all kissed by fire. Inside, the dining room is rustic and textured, and the wine list carefully. It’s still a pub at heart, just one with lofty ambitions. 69 Main St, Kin Kin; kinkinhotel.com

Talking about the weather is a veiled code in Queensland designed to unlock rogue stories with strangers. Perched high above the Blackall Range, Mapleton Public House is one of the hottest places to get a drink in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. Here, chef Cameron Matthews transforms Falls Farm bounty into elevated pub classics: think mortadella and pecorino with pineapple that tastes like sunshine and a Not Your Average Parmy that features prosciutto di San Daniele. It’s open, airy and community driven. 2 Flaxton Dr, Mapleton; mapleton.pub

Cue up your favourite poddy and point your car in the direction of Doonan in the Noosa Hinterland. The Doonan isn’t your average regional Queensland pub: it sprawls across two hectares of lush gardens with multiple indoor and outdoor bars and dining areas. The menu skews Italian and is built around locally sourced produce and there’s live music drifting through the trees on weekends. The vibe is pure hippie hinterland. Tip the kids into the playground while you nurse a pint and wait for the pizzas to land. 6 Beddington Rd, Doonan; thedoonan.com.au

The back story at Hemingway’s Brewery involves two mates who started the brewery to fill a gap for craft beer brewed in the Tropical North Queensland town. A decade on, the brewpub combines hand-crafted beers with seafood-centric dishes like fish tacos and coral trout battered in pale ale and served with crisp, crunchy fries. The vibe is chill thanks to the friendly locals who make you feel like one of their crew. What starts as a beer pilgrimage at Hemingway’s will finish as a culinary adventure. Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina, 44 Wharf St, Port Douglas; hemingwaysbrewery.com

Faithfully restored to its former glory, Bull & Barley Inn on the fringes of Toowoomba remains the social centre of the postcard-pretty Darling Downs town of Cambooya. you will find memorabilia and photographs lining the walls of the old pub, which was established in 1902 and has a storybook quality. Head here in summer and autumn when the landscape is bursting with bouquets of sunflowers. And arrive hungry on a Sunday for roast pork with crackling, roast potatoes, pumpkin and steamed veg. 61 Eton St, Cambooya; bullandbarleyinn.com.au

Step off the Bloomfield Track into the Lion’s Den Hotel, all timber, tin and tropical gardens. Established in 1875, the pub has walls scribbled with decades of signatures and a quirky collection of beer bottles from around the world. Enjoy locally caught barramundi and a few cold tinnies with eccentric locals who genuinely live for beer, live music, and a bloody good yarn. Pull off the highway on your way north to Cooktown to see why The Lion’s Den Hotel is considered one of Queensland’s best regional pubs. 398 Shiptons Flat Rd, Rossville; lionsdenhotel.net.au

This family-run Queenslander pub just a short walk from Paronella Park has a breezy balcony and welcome as warm as the tropical air. The vibe at the Mena Creek Hotel is easygoing, communal, and unpretentious – a true country pub where road-trippers, locals, bikers and backpackers feel at home. Call in after exploring the Canecutter Way for a solid feed in the homey pub, where coeliacs, vegetarians and vegan are thoughtfully catered for. 1 Mena Creek Rd, Mena Creek; menacreekhotel.com.au

This 1920s guesthouse turned pub is a heritage gem just off Hastings Street. Halse Lodge pairs local beers on tap with pub classics, vinyl evenings, and a slow game of pool for those who feel like some post-lunch shenanigans. Families love the grassy hill and ping-pong table, while backpackers appreciate the air-conditioned comfort. The sun-soaked stomping ground is perfect for a lazy afternoon, offering friendly service, reasonably priced meals, and a little bit of attitude that gives it some local flavour. 2 Halse Ln, Noosa Heads; halselodgenoosa.com.au

The Apollonian Hotel spills out over a manicured lawn that flows forward to Lake Cootharaba, Queensland’s largest natural saltwater lake. Kayakers converge at the Boreen Point pub, a timber music hall from the 1870s, for hearty grub like chicken parmies and prawn linguine, cold brewski in hand. The charm is in the details: creaking floorboards, timber beams, and a quintessential Queensland ‘come as you are’ feel. Reward yourself mid road trip with stay by the lake, which will feel like it’s yours to discover the following day. 19 Laguna St, Boreen Point; apollonianhotel.com.au

Nebo Hotel has been pouring cold beers to tired miners and wanderers since 1863. Take a leave of absence and plot out a road trip from Brisbane to Cairns in autumn that includes a pit stop at the Nebo Hotel. Expect standard pub fare – steaks, schnitty’s, and daily specials – served with a genuine Mackay-Isaac welcome. Sit at the bar alongside locals who will remind you why country Queenslanders do beer, banter, and community like no one else. 2 Reynolds St, Nebo; nebohotel.com.au