If you're visiting Port Douglas, you can't miss this exceptional pub.
Iron Bar Steakhouse Restaurant has an outdoor and indoor dining area. The outdoor area overlooks the main street, while the inside has a bar and a stage in the back area for special nights.
The Iron Bar is most famous for its
cane toad racing.
Yes, cane toads.
When I was in Port Douglas, I heard someone talk about this popular event; a cane toad race,
seriously? I had to check it out. So when we visited Iron Bar we sat outside, and decided to have diner before the show.
The food was great, particularly the steak with pepper sauce. The menu has a pretty good selection of dishes, including mouthwatering burgers and tasty steak and chips. You can also enjoy a little snack with a drink, if you are not here for a big meal. The prices are not that high, and the food is just delicious. They serve lunch and dinner; main courses are priced between $10-25. The service is okay and the staff are really friendly. It's a pub/restaurant after all, not a fine dining place so don't be too picky. The bar has about everything. They have a selection of beers, spirits and wines, as well as nice cocktails to soothe your taste buds.
Now, more about the can toad race. Hilarious would definitely be the word to define this show.
When we finished diner, we headed straight to the back area of the restaurant for a drink and to check out this famous race. You have to buy a $5 ticket before entering the stage area and taking a seat.
Then a guy will come on the stage and will then present each of his cane toads to you. Yes,
real ugly toads. And trust me they don't turn into princes either.
When he's done with the presentations, he will call out the same amount of numbers as the toads and these people will be chosen to come on the stage and participate in the race. Each of the participants will be given a toad.
Before the race starts, the participants are given a party whistle, you know, the kind that every time you blow in it a piece of paper rolls out.
The toads are then placed in the middle of a big wooden table on the stage, and the participants have to use the party whistle to blow the toad of the table.
The race has started!
Once the toad if off the table you have to grab it and take it back to the finish bucket before anyone else does.
There are great prizes to win. So don't miss out, it really is something you will see once in a lifetime.
I think the Iron Bar is quite unique, not only for the cane toad racing, but also for it's rustic atmosphere. It has a particular charm with the outback theme, and the fact that you sit on wheat bag chair covers, really adds to the fun and relaxed atmosphere.
It's also a great place if you want to have a couple of beers and watch the live band, or have fun at a karaoke night.
