Restart NSW: The best places to get a pint and a parmi in regional NSW

INTERACTIVE GUIDE: Pack the car, it’s road trip time! Here are the best country pubs in NSW to get a pint and a parmi when regional travel restrictions lift on June 1.

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A pub with no beer should be criminal but a pub with no people­ is just not a pub at all.

With regional travel allowed from June 1, the time has come to put some kilometres on the odometer and some money into towns. And the best way to do that is by buying a few schooners and a schnitty at a country pub — in accordance with capacity­ rules, of course.

Residents of Balldale, an hour’s drive from Wagga, in particular­ would be feeling pretty hard done by after going without a pub for 10 years.

It reopened in November but just months later owner Leigh Booth was forced to shut the doors again.

“It’s a fine line between making money and losing money in country pubs but for us it was more about keeping it open for the community­,” he said.

“So we scrambled to pull together a takeaway offering … it’s been a good way to keep in touch with our patrons; not everyone is on social­ media around here.”

Owner Leigh Booth outside the Balldale Hotel. The pub was closed for 10 years and just reopened November before they had to shut due to Covid-19. Picture: David Swift

In fact, around Balldale, farmers can go long periods of time without seeing anyone even without social distancing restrictions. When pubs closed, many farmers lost their mental outlet, their social respite.

“Pubs are so much more than a pub, the mental health aspect is huge because farming can be hard at the best of times,” Mr Booth said.

The pub's famous Chicken Parma. Picture: David Swift

“They were seeing faces again when the hotel opened back up so the last thing they wanted to see was it closing down again. But even just doing takeaway it has become a social outing for people.”

Jobs, Investment and Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres said getting out to a regional town was beneficial to everyone — locals get a cash injection and visitors get a properly poured beer: “Country pubs provide some of the most authentic local experiences to visitors.”

“Tourism is the lifeblood of regional communities, and so many businesses including pubs, hotels, local stores and cafes rely on visitors to keep them ticking along.

“Tourism is going to be so important to the social and economic recovery of NSW — and the people of NSW can help regional communities to bounce back just by taking a holiday.”

NSW Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres and Premier Gladys Berejiklian are opening tourism back up. Picture: AAP Image/Bianca De Marchi

Australian Hotels Association director of liquor and policing John Green agreed that spending money in regional towns would actually benefit NSW as a whole.

“Regional NSW has been severely impacted by drought, bushfires, flood and now the shutdown caused by the worldwide pandemic, so the reopening of regional travel is a fantastic opportunity to put some money into the bush,” he said.

“There is a great selection of pubs all within reasonable distance of the Greater Metropolitan Area, so whether you take a day, a weekend or a week, be sure to take your wallet and support NSW Regional communities

“As we slowly emerge from this crisis, regional tourism will play a major part in rebuilding our economy, and pubs are the heart of regional towns.”

MUST-VISIT REGIONAL PUBS

The Friendly Inn, Kangaroo Valley

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Couple enjoying a drink at The Friendly Inn Hotel, Kangaroo Valley. Picture: Destination NSW

The Family Hotel, Tibooburra

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Durham Hotel, Wingen

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Royal Hotel, Queanbeyan

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The Loaded Dog Hotel, Tarago

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Royal Federal Hotel, Branxton

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Willow Tree Inn, New England

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The Willow Tree Inn, Willow Tree. Picture: Destination NSW

Surveyor General Inn, Berrima

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The Surveyor General Inn, established in 1834, is Australia's oldest continuously licensed inn. Picture: Destination NSW

Balldale Hotel, Balldale

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Bermagui Beach Hotel, Bermagui

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Built in 185 and opposite Horseshoe Bay beach, Bermagui Beach Hotel, Bermagui, is a family friendly pub venue. Picture: Destination NSW

Bowning Hotel, Bowning

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Local watering hole The Bowning Hotel.

Carinda Hotel, Carinda

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Harrigans Irish Pub, Pokolbin

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Heads Hotel, Shoalhaven

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Irish in the Hunter . . . Harrigans Pokolbin.

Oriental Hotel, Mudgee

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Terrigal Hotel, Terrigal

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NOT OPEN YET, BUT ADD THEM TO YOUR LIST

Jack Duggan’s Irish Pub, Bathurst

Burrawang Village Hotel, Southern Highlands

Port of Bourke Hotel, Bourke,

The Palace Hotel, Broken Hill