It's a long way to Long Flat Pub !
15 July 2025 / Rosemary Black
It was a sunny day when we all met at the Port Macquarie Service Centre, locally known as "The Donut" just on the outskirts of town. There were four MX5 cars, and six members. A small but 'elite' group! We headed up the Pacific Highway to Telegraph Point where we turned off on to Pembroke Road and on reaching Wauchope joined the Oxley Highway. It was a pleasant run up through the forest with a few twists and turns until we reached The Travellers Rest Hotel affectionately known far and wide as "The Long Flat Pub". In 2022, the name was officially changed to The Long Flat Pub! The pub itself is the original single building with public bar, lounge, pool room, bistro and big beer garden.
The locals told us the first liquor licence for the pub was granted in 1875 with it officially opening in 1876. Edward Henry found the iconic fig tree as a sapling on a turkey shooting trip in scrub behind the town and planted it beside his father’s hotel in 1880. Imagine the stories it could tell!
It is one of Australia’s original country pubs and is nestled on the banks of the beautiful Hastings River on the Oxley Highway in the picturesque village of Long Flat about 50km from Port Macquarie and 30km from Wauchope.
After a tasty lunch and some entertaining discussion we headed back to Port Macquarie in beautiful sunshine.
