OUTBACK WATERING HOLES

SINCE OFF TRACK WINES WAS LAUNCHED, OWNERS ANNA AND BRETT FISHER HAVE DRIVEN MORE THAN 20,000KM UP, DOWN AND ACROSS AUSTRALIA SPRUIKING THEIR WINES-IN-A-CAN MADE FOR CAMPING. THEY DROPPED INTO PLENTY OF OUTBACK PUBS ALONG THE WAY AND THESE ARE THEIR SOUTH AUSTRALIAN FAVOURITES

- ANNA FISHER

WHEN travelling in the outback, there's no more welcome sight than a pub. For Aussies, the pub is the ultimate symbol of civilisation and hospitality, often the only remaining commercial building in a small rural town, and a place where you can cool down with a cold cold beer or warm up with a hot meal. The pub is also a fantastic resource where you can find out what is happening in and around a town, from the bartender and the locals.

Here are our five favourite pubs in outback South Australia.

1 CRADOCK HOTEL

WE love the Cradock Hotel. It is a quaint pub in the Southern Flinders Ranges where we always feel at home, so much so that we often plan our trip itineraries so we can stay at the Cradock. It's a great place to drop in on the way to/from the Bendleby Ranges, which we've visited several times to drive their fun and challenging 4WD tracks.

We first met Dave and Amy at the pub a while back, when they were relatively new there; this was long before we had created Off Track Wines. Their warm hospitality is amazing and genuine. We reconnected when they visited us at the Adelaide Caravan & Camping Show and they became our first outback customer.

The Cradock Hotel has three hotel rooms with air-con, three without, with free camping out the back for patrons for the cost of a very welcome beer or meal. The camping is pretty basic - it is just a flat area really, but the toilets are always clean and there are coin-operated hot showers for a couple of bucks.

If you're a parent of younger kids, you'll love the fact that there is a fenced outdoor nature playground coming off the dining room. It's rustic timber with a group swing and balancing beams and climbing nets. The kids will be entertained while you relax with a drink while waiting for your meal. That's worth a lot when you're travelling as a family.