New South Wales’s Hunter Valley has some hidden gems for riders and one place you may not have heard of is the Linga Longa Inn located at Gundy, a little town that sits about 15 minutes east of Scone off the New England Highway. Surrounded by thoroughbred horse studs and sitting pretty much in between Newcastle and Tamworth, this is a gateway to some of the most picturesque riding in the state, either on the bitumen or off it.
The historic Linga Longa is filled with country charm and has been a favourite watering hole for locals for years. They serve top-quality food with all the pub staples covered. The chargrilled steaks are brilliant and there are plenty of different beers on tap, not to mention the locally produced Tilse’s Apple Truck Cider, that is well worth the ride there.
As well as being a destination in its own right for locals, Barrington Tops National Park beckons to the east with myriad fire trails to explore in any direction.
In the Barrington region itself you will find any number of guest houses on the way to Gloucester, which is about a two-and-a-half-hour ride with good quality gravel sections along the way.
You can head north to Tamworth, Nundle or Walcha – all you have to do is choose the route that best suits your bike. It’s common to see all types of machines at the Linga Longa from shiny Harley-Davidson finery to mud-covered big-bore adventure bikes. If you head south, there are tighter, more technical trails on offer which can lead back into Aberdeen or down as far south as Singleton or Gresford. Most of these options are more suited to the lighter enduro bikes or more experienced adventure riders, and it’s a good idea to consult your map heavily before departing.
The pub is currently run by husband and wife team Dan and Maxine and all the hard work they have put into the Linga Longa is starting to pay off. The Linga Longa finished runner-up this year in the Australian Hotels Association Awards for Best Bush Pub in New South Wales.
There are jumping castles for the kids and the walls are covered with local memorabilia with pictures of some of the famous racehorses standing at stud in the local area.
Whether it’s a quick stop for a drink, a snack or a proper meal, the Linga Longa has got you covered and the locals will be sure to tempt you back for a return adventure.
At a Glance
Linga Longa Inn
2 Riley St,
Gundy, NSW
(02) 6545 8121
info@lingalongainn.com.au
Restaurant opening hours
Wed – Fri 12pm-2pm
Wed – Sat 5pm-8pm
Sat – Sun 11am-3pm
What we rate
This old pub oozes friendliness and the meals are generous and delicious, the perfect pick me up after a long day in the saddle or a coffee to begin. It’s a great spot to meet like-minded souls and plot your next adventure.
Rating 5*
Top 5 Menu Picks
Bangers and mash $18
Chargrilled Scotch Fillet $32
Duck and Ginger Spring Rolls $14
BBQ Rack of Pork Ribs $36
Chicken Schnitzels $21
Spotted
Novocastrian Ian Webster visited the Linga Longa Inn for the first time after travelling between Newcastle and Tamworth for 40 years. He rode down through Crawney Pass on the same 1993 BMW R 100 GS PD he has owned for 22 years.
“The bike itself is about to turn 25. It was actually given to me, I did a bloke a favour and he came back six months later and gave me the money to buy it!”
The GS PD has about 130,000km up on it now, and Ian said the last decent ride he had on it was through the Simpson Desert.
Words & Photography Matt O’Connell
