The Royal Carrangarra Hotel

We were glad to have a comfy bed and a roof for the night at a fair price. It’s kid friendly and pet friendly, and the dogs keeping us company at dinner were probably the best part. I missed the chicken special because it had sold out after the fun chicken races, but my bangers and mash was reasonably priced and honestly far too much food for one plate. The pub has plenty of character and an outback feel, and the staff are friendly, though they seem more used to regular travellers than to someone like me asking lots of questions. The showers are old and the water smelled a bit, but that seems normal for an older country pub and didn’t bother us much. A memorable stop on our drive from Darwin to the Gold Coast.

We’d just booked into the local caravan park at Tambo when we heard the courtesy bus went to the pub just before 5pm for the chicken races. What an unexpected evening. The races were fantastic entertainment for a good cause, and the food and drink were great. Ben and his staff were brilliant. It’ll be a memorable night from our travels, and if you’re in town, don’t miss it.

Make sure you go to Ben's Chook Races, and give Memphis and Sue a pat while you’re there. This old country pub has a great atmosphere, with friendly patrons, good food, and staff who make you feel welcome. The hotel does need some work, but its history is part of the charm.

A great pub atmosphere with typical pub food. We stopped overnight in Tambo, watched the famous Chicken Races at Royal, then had dinner and a couple of beers. A must do and see.