The Bearded Dragon

Set on 110 acres of farm and bush land at the foothills of Tamborine Mountain, the Bearded Dragon is like an oasis in the desert.

The quintessential country pub, it's popular with pensioners on bus tours, weekend warriors on Harleys, and families looking for a feed and some fun.

The menu includes traditional pub grub like beer battered fish and chips, sea salt and cracked pepper calamari, and wagyubeef burgers. Or try the pub's signature dish – Dragon's beef and Guinness pie served on a bed of creamy mashed potatoes. The kid's menu includes chicken nuggets and chips, fish bites and chips, meatballs, or macaroni and cheese including a soft drink and small bowl of ice cream. Breakfast, including the classic big breakfast of bacon, sausages, eggs, tomato, toast, and homemade hash brown, is available from 8am until 10am but only on weekends.

Drop by for a cold beer with fifteen international and domestic beers on tap. Or enjoy one of the Dragon's delectable desserts. Choose from chocolate mudcake with ice cream, home-baked apple crumble with custard, or brandy snap basket with fresh cream and mixed berries.

Dine inside beside the fireplace (cosy in winter) or outside. Timber tables line the wraparound verandas with views of Mount Tamborine or sit in the shaded beer garden and listen to live music on weekends. There's a great kids play area complete with dragon, field of alpacas and an old Cobb & Co. coach to climb on.

Weekends are wild at the Bearded Dragon with free reptile and crocodile shows and don't miss the live cane toad races every Sunday.

By Deb Lidster