Dad Takes Family For An Hour Long Detour Off The Pacific Motorway Because The Ulmarra Hotel Is A Thing Of Beauty

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A family road trip has today been hijacked by one local dad's love of historic Australian hotels.

59-year-old Gavin has told his wife and kids that this should take too long, but even so, it's gonna be worth it.

The drive from Brisbane to the Sydney can be knocked off in about 9 hours nowadays, but it seems that Greg is very keen on some night driving.

Because the Clarence River is full and you'd be hard pressed to find a better beer garden in Australia.

His wife, Julie, says with all these new bypasses - it's great that they no longer have to pull through the main street of these river towns. It's really shaved a few hours off the journey south to see their extended family.

However, whatever time they are making up by no longer having to drive through Kempsey and Grafton will be made up for by Greg's spontaneous sight-seeing.

As they approached the halfway mark on the Mid North coast of New South Wales, it became clear that there was a iconic landmark that the patriarch felt his loved ones needed to experience just once in their lives.

The Ulmarra Hotel.

Nestled on the banks of a quaint river village, Greg says he unwittingly discovered this pub after getting a flat tyre in the middle of the night in 1993.

It hasn't changed much. And that's the best thing about it.

"Just look at the verandas" he tells his teenage daughters.

"They don't make pubs like this anymore"

It becomes immediately clear to the family that this detour isn't going to be short - as Greg parks the car and begins walking to the front entrace.

He then orders a mid-strength and begins talking to the locals about what it's like to live in a town that has a pub this glorious.

His family eventually find him knocking the timber on the internal stairs with a closed fist.

"This would be local Spotted Gum or Tallowwood" he tells them.

"Big timber industry up this way. And look, this stuff lasts forever"

The family begins getting antsy as they grow tired of indulging Greg's niche historical interests. But this is far from over.

"They've got a kitchen here, ya know" he says.

"What do ya reckon? May as well park up for a feed. Better than that Maccas shit?"

Sure, they decide. Greg continues.

"Julie what do you reckon we leave Sydney a day early on the way back. They've got rooms here too?"

His wife and daughters stare at each other.

He must be stopped.

"I mean it'd make sense to stay tonight, actually. Get on the road early tomorrow?"