Crafty Cargo Taphouse & Sports Bar

Crafty Cargo Taphouse & Sports Bar is a locally owned taphouse at 2 Truro St, Torquay, a short hop back from the Hervey Bay foreshore. It pours a rotating line-up of Australian craft beer alongside proper pub food, and dogs are welcome in the outdoor seating area, which makes it one of the more relaxed places on the Fraser Coast to settle in for a drink with your dog beside the table.

The dog setup

Dogs join you on lead in the outdoor seating and patio areas, not inside the sports bar itself. It is a casual setup that works well for a lunch or an afternoon session with a dog that can settle, though it pays to remember this is first and foremost a sports bar: screens and noise come with the territory, so a calm dog is the right fit. Bring your own water bowl, as one is not guaranteed on site.

Worth knowing

The draw is a wide, rotating craft beer list from Australian breweries, backed by cocktails and solid pub food. The hot bites do the heavy lifting: wings, mini burgers and shareable starters get the regulars' nod, and the kitchen is known for a serious take on the humble burger. Pool tables and pinball fill the corners and live sport runs on the screens, giving it a locals-serving-locals feel.

Getting there and parking

The taphouse sits on Truro Street, just off the main strip, with free street parking in the surrounding blocks. Entry is level and accessible parking is available nearby. Hours run from 11:30am, closing 9pm Wednesday and Thursday, 11pm Friday and Saturday, and 5:30pm on Sunday, with Monday and Tuesday closed, so plan your visit around the back half of the week.

Close by with the dogs

Torquay beach and the Esplanade path are both an easy walk away for an on-lead leg stretch before or after. For more dog-friendly stops on the same strip, Spotted Goat Kitchen and Cody's Coffee Shack cover the daytime hours, 19XO Canapes & Cocktails is the evening alternative, and the Scarness beach 24/7 off-leash area is a short drive south for proper off-lead time. The Torquay destination page pulls the rest together.

An easy pattern: off-leash beach swim first, wings and a pale ale on the patio second. More Queensland options sit under the Queensland restaurants listing.