Roma is located around 400km from the city of Brisbane. It’s where the outback meets brigalow and vast farmlands, where sandstone ranges guard rarely seen creatures and Indigenous artworks, where wide rivers outline historical towns
Here’s how to see the secret landscapes, the fauna, the flora and the communities of Roma and surrounds through a local’s lens.
The Big Rig Tower
The story of Roma brought to life, The Big Rig Tower pays homage to Australia’s first discovery of oil and gas. When seeing the 40-metre observation tower, make sure to visit the other attractions: The Oil Patch, a self-guided outdoor museum, The Big Rig Night Show and a 100m tree walk that winds-through the Big Rig experiences.
Read: Unexpected rainforest experiences in North Queensland
Big Bottle Tree
A meeting place for the locals, the icon of Roma is the Big Bottle Tree. The tree is a Roma relic and was originally planted at a neighbouring property in 1927. Now more than 100 years old, the tree requires six average-sized men to completely reach around its base.
The trunk is still growing approximately one centimetre per year. The tree currently boasts a diameter of approximately nine metres, with the crown towering to a whopping 20 metres.
Roma Saleyards
Don your best cowboy boots and visit the largest cattle selling centre in Australia where more than 400,000 head of cattle pass through each year. Join the herd and enjoy the new state-of-the-art interpretive centre telling the story of the cattle industry. Visit the long yards where local graziers can teach you all about the local cattle industry and watch live as auctioneers demonstrate their fast-paced skills at Roma Saleyards.
Rosedale Orchards
Wander through the fields and enjoy the fresh country air with the Rosedale Orchard experience. With an orange twist and a hint of citrus, visitors are welcome to pick navel oranges straight from the tree and experience the inner workings of this scenic fruit farm. You might even spot some furry residents that frequently hop over to visit.
Boobook Eco-Tours
Embark on a journey that will take you deeper into the real and remote outback through the lens of local ecologists and passionate creators of Boobook, Craig and Meryl.
Boobook guides and tours bring a holistic approach to tourism in Roma and encompass attractions within the town, as well as the surrounding Charleville, Quilpie, Eromanga, Yowah and Cunnamulla areas. The warm country hospitality will make you feel right at home.
Roma Revealed, Discover Carnarvon Ranges, Eco-Discovery Adventure and Southwest Outback Explorers are a few of the many diverse tour operators in the area. Expect to awe at local wildlife, walk amongst dinosaur fossils, relax in artesian spas, learn about cattle and farming and discover the mystery of old opal mining towns.
Wallaroo Outback Retreat
Located 160km north of Roma, the Wallaroo Outback Retreat is also the base camp for some of Boobook’s tours. Boasting ten new, fabulous glamping tents, five deluxe tents with their own attached ensuites and five classic tents, which have their own private bathroom. What better way to enjoy the outback than to relax in luxury.
Wake up amongst the towering eucalypts listening to the magical sounds of the bush in crisp white linen on real beds. This is glamping at its best.
Carnarvon Adventure
Located 160km north of Roma are the Carnarvon Ranges. Lace up your hiking boots and set off on the main Carnarvon Gorge walking track that extends 9.7km and winds towards the Big Bend natural waterhole.
There’s plenty of great photo opportunities along the way including Date Rock followed by Cycad Gorge – where you’ll stop to enjoy a picnic lunch of wholesome outback tucker.
Which of these would you most like to visit? Have you adventured through the Queensland outback? Let us know in the comments section below.
Also read: Outback Queensland travel guide launched
