Tingoora Pub: Guide to the South Burnett Country Pubs Trail

The Tingoora Hotel, known locally as “The Tinny,” is a historic country pub on the Bunya Highway in Queensland’s South Burnett region. This article separates the confirmed facts about the hotel from the details that remain unverified, drawing on regional tourism itineraries and third-party sources to help you plan a stop along the Southern Queensland Country Pubs Trail. (Australia Hotel)

Last checked: 2026-10-25

Name: Tingoora Hotel · Address: Bunya Hwy, Tingoora, QLD 4608, Australia · Opening hours: Daily, 10:00 till late · Bar type: Country pub blending rustic charm with contemporary café-style

Tingoora Hotel: What We Know

The Tingoora Hotel, also referred to locally as “The Tinny,” is a historic pub in the small locality of Tingoora, about 22 kilometres north of Kingaroy on the Bunya Highway. Its address is recorded as Bunya Hwy, Tingoora, QLD 4608, and the phone number listed is 07 4168 5150. The building dates from 1900 and is considered the first structure built in the settlement.

The Tingoora Hotel is known locally as “The Tinny.”

— Hotel directory

The hotel is reportedly part of the Southern Queensland Country Pubs Trail, a route said to include 25 country pubs within the South Burnett and surrounding regions. (Australia Hotel) However, no official current list of all 25 venues was available at the time of research, and the hotel’s inclusion in a formally branded trail could not be independently confirmed from a primary tourism source.

The nearby South Burnett Rail Trail, a recreational cycling and walking corridor, passes close to Tingoora and is reported to include a free overnight rest stop. This makes the area a potential overnight point for self-contained travellers.

The bottom line: The Tingoora Hotel is a plausible anchor pub for the Southern Queensland Country Pubs Trail, but many operational details remain unverified in public sources. A phone call ahead is essential.

Location and Getting There

The Tingoora Hotel sits on the Bunya Highway in the South Burnett locality of Tingoora, 22 kilometres north of Kingaroy. The Bunya Highway connects to the D’Aguilar Highway south of Kingaroy, providing access from the Warrego Highway and the Bruce Highway. The nearest airport with regular service is in Brisbane, but Kingaroy has a small airport for light aircraft.

Exploring Nearby: Wooroolin Pub and Alternatives

The name “Wooroolin Pub” appears frequently in searches alongside Tingoora, suggesting travellers consider the two venues as alternatives. Wooroolin is a locality about 10 kilometres south of Tingoora, closer to Kingaroy. However, no independent verified details about the Wooroolin Pub’s hours, atmosphere, or current operations were found in the sources reviewed. The sole indication is that it is a country pub in the same region.

Better-documented alternatives exist on official pub trails. For example, Rudd’s Pub in Nobby is a key stop on the Pioneers & Pubs Trail. This heritage pub is associated with author Steele Rudd (Arthur Hoey Davis) and offers a glimpse into Queensland’s literary history. Further west, the St George Region Pub Trail includes the Nindigully Pub, a historic outback venue listed in an official self-drive brochure.

Rudd’s Pub information sourced from regional tourism material. Tingoora information per the hotel directory.

The trade-off: Wooroolin Pub is geographically closer but lacks public information, while Rudd’s Pub has a confirmed heritage story and official trail status. Tingoora sits between them in location and remains the most search-linked venue for the Southern Country Pubs route.

Best Country Pubs in South East Queensland: A Trail Comparison

The term “best country pubs” covers a wide range across southeast Queensland. The region has at least four distinct pub-trail itineraries, each with a different focus.

The Pioneers & Pubs Trail begins in Toowoomba and proceeds through Clifton, Nobby, Cambooya, Pittsworth, Jondaryan and Oakey.

— Regional tourism authority

The Pioneers & Pubs Trail combines heritage venues like Rudd’s Pub (Nobby) and the Bull and Barley Inn (Cambooya) with historical attractions such as the Jondaryan Woolshed. The trail is compact, starting in Toowoomba and looping through six towns.

The St George Region Pub Trail, documented in a recent self-drive brochure, covers ten venues across a wider area, including the Nindigully Pub, the Francis Hotel (Borgers Thallon Hotel), and the Dirranbandi Hotel (Commercial Hotel). This trail is suited to travellers prepared for longer distances between stops.

Further afield, the Kidman Way Pub Trail runs from Tocumwal through inland New South Wales and Queensland toward Townsville, passing through Griffith, Cobar, Cunnamulla, Charleville, and Winton. (Gday Pubs) It is a multi-day route for those exploring the outback.

The Swan Hill Pub Grub Trail uses a hub-and-spoke format around Swan Hill.

— Victorian tourism authority

In Victoria, the Swan Hill Pub Grub Trail uses a hub-and-spoke model centred on Swan Hill, focusing on pub meals like parmas and local beer. While outside Queensland, it reflects the growing trend of curated pub routes.

The Southern Queensland Country Pubs Trail, with which Tingoora Hotel is associated, is described as involving 25 pubs within easy travelling distance. However, as noted, the current official itinerary and full venue list were not available in the sources reviewed.

The pattern: Official trails (Pioneers & Pubs, St George, Swan Hill) offer reliable, up-to-date information, while reported trails like the 25-pub Southern Queensland route require more ground-level verification.

Grey Nomads Guide: Planning a Pub Trail Trip

For grey nomads and road trippers, the appeal of the Tingoora Hotel lies in its location on the Bunya Highway, a route that connects the South Burnett region to the coast and inland destinations. The hotel’s reported 1900 heritage and local nickname “The Tinny” add character, but practical planning requires a few steps.

Because current opening hours and services are not confirmed in public listings, phone ahead on 07 4168 5150 to check if the bar, bottle shop, and any food service are operating on your travel date. The South Burnett Rail Trail, which runs nearby, reportedly has a free overnight rest stop for self-contained vehicles, making it a possible stop for those with camping gear.

For a structured multi-stop trip, consider basing in Kingaroy (22 km south of Tingoora) and exploring the Pioneers & Pubs Trail starting in Toowoomba about 75 km southwest of Kingaroy. That trail is well documented and includes accommodation options in the towns along the route.

Alternatively, the St George Region Pub Trail offers a more remote outback pub experience, though it is a significant drive from Tingoora (about 6–7 hours west). For grey nomads with time, combining the Southern Queensland Country Pubs Trail (once verified) with the Pioneers & Pubs Trail could yield a two-week itinerary through heritage pubs and agricultural landscapes.

Why this matters: Reliable information about regional pubs changes quickly. A short phone call can save a long detour.

Best for Segments

Grey nomads and road trippers

The Tingoora Hotel’s location on the Bunya Highway and its reported proximity to a free rail-trail rest stop make it a potential overnight point for self-contained travellers. The hotel’s bottle shop (if operational) would allow restocking, and the highway provides easy access to Kingaroy for supplies.

Couples on a regional weekend escape

The historic character of the 1900 building, combined with the quiet South Burnett landscape, offers a relaxed pub stop. Couples can use Kingaroy as a base and make a day trip north to Tingoora, combining the pub with a walk on the South Burnett Rail Trail.

Groups following the Country Pubs Trail

If the 25-pub Southern Queensland Country Pubs Trail exists as described, the Tingoora Hotel would serve as a northern anchor. Groups could coordinate with other venues along the route. However, because the trail’s official list was not confirmed, groups should treat this as a self-organised itinerary rather than a marked route.

Sample Itinerary: Two-Day South Burnett Pub Trail

This sample itinerary combines the Tingoora Hotel with the Pioneers & Pubs Trail for a manageable two-day loop from Toowoomba.

• Day 1: Start in Toowoomba. Head south on the Pioneers & Pubs Trail: Clifton (lunch stop), Nobby (Rudd’s Pub, heritage), Cambooya (Bull and Barley Inn), Pittsworth, Jondaryan (Jondaryan Woolshed, museum), Oakey. Overnight in Kingaroy or return to Toowoomba.
• Day 2: Drive north from Kingaroy 22 km to Tingoora Hotel. After visiting the pub, continue north on the Bunya Highway toward the Bunya Mountains (national park) or return south to Kingaroy for supplies.

Note: All stops except Tingoora are on the official Pioneers & Pubs Trail, which has verifiable opening times and contact details via the regional tourism authority.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

• Whats Up Downunder – Victoria’s Best Pubs 2026