TRAVEL

All roads lead to Roma

The huge bottle tree that has become a meeting place for Roma locals.

IMAGE: TOURISM AND EVENTS QUEENSLAND

Outback meets brigalow and vast farmlands; sandstone ranges guard rarely seen creatures and Indigenous artworks; wide rivers outline historical towns – and it all begins in Roma.

The newest attraction for the southwest outback town 500km west of the coast is the Big Rig Tower and Tree Walk, but there’s plenty of other attractions to make the trip worthwhile. HERE ARE SEVEN GOOD REASONS TO HEAD TO ROMA: 1. The newly opened Big Rig Tower and Tree Walk brings to life the story of Roma – Australia’s first discovery of oil and gas. The new 40m observation tower is a grand addition to the self-guided outdoor museum The Oil Patch, The Big Rig Night Show and new 100m tree walk around Big Rig experiences.

Visit bigrigroma.com.au

2. Biggest Bottle Tree is Roma’s icon and a meeting place for locals.

It was planted at a neighbouring property in 1927 and now takes six men to reach around its base – a diameter of Spoectacular views at Carnarvon Ranges. about 9m. The 6m high trunk is still growing about 1cm a year and the crown towers to 20m.

3. Roma Saleyards are the largest cattle selling centre in Australia with more than 400,000 cattle passing through each year. A new state-of-the-art interpretive centre tells the story of the cattle industry. Watch live as auctioneers demonstrate their fast-paced skills.

4. Rosedale Orchards, with an orange twist and a hint of citrus, welcome Big Rig Tower and Tree Walk. visitors to pick navel oranges and experience the inner workings of this scenic fruit farm.

5. Boobook Eco-Tours take you deeper into the real and remote outback through the lens of local ecologists and passionate creators of Boobook, Craig and Meryl. Roma Revealed, Discover Carnarvon Ranges, Eco-Discovery Adventure and Southwest Outback Explorers are among tours that cover wildlife, dinosaur fossils, artesian spas, cattle and farming and old opal mining towns.

Visit boobookecotours.com.au

6. Wallaroo Outback Retreat 160km north of Roma is the home of glamping. Five deluxe tents with ensuites and five classic tents with private bathroom, mean resting on Posturepedic beds with crisp white linen among towering eucalypts and birdsong.

7. Adventure awaits in the Carnarvon Ranges 160km north of Roma. The main Carnarvon Gorge walking track is 9.7km towards the Big Bend natural waterhole. Local tour guides, who will share secret spots in the range, are in tune with the nature and sacredness of the site.

ULTIMATE NEW ZEALAND

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The Ultimate coach captains are the best in the business and have been carefully chosen for their professionalism and attention to detail.

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All Ultimate small group tours include airfares and taxes, return airport transfers in New Zealand, business class travel, 4.5 star accommodation, most meals, sightseeing, attractions and a range of VIP extras. Call Cathy or Genna at Tewantin Travel 5447 1011 or call in at Poinciana Ave, Tewantin

Door-to-Door shuttle bus transfers!

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• Brisbane Airport • Brisbane Cruise Terminals • Sunshine Coast Airport p

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Day Tours - with Pick ups

1 Oct 15 Oct 2&19 Nov 9&12 Nov 13 Nov 27 Nov 3 Dec 22 Jan 14 Feb 22 Apr 28 Apr Elton John Tribute - QPAC Kalbar’s Country Day & Hay Bale Fest Mary Poppins – QPAC Mousetrap – QPAC Singing in the Rain – QPAC Outback Spectacular Lunch Show Qld Ballet’s The Nutcracker – QPAC Antarctic Scenic Flight Hamilton – QPAC & 16 March Rolling Thunder Vietnam – QPAC London Symphony Orchestra - QPAC Extended Tours - Small Groups!

23&27 Sep 26 Sep 18 Oct 18 Nov 16 Dec 20 Feb 23 Mar 4 Mar 13 April 13 April 30 Jun Toowoomba Carnival Flowers Birdsville Tour – 1 left O’Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat Tassie’s East Coast Drive Stanthorpe–Steam Train & Xmas Fruit Lord Howe Island Lady Elliott and Fraser Islands Norfolk Island Foundation Day Tour Longreach, Winton, Rubyvale Hawaiian Island Cruise Kununurra and NT Adventure

EVER heard of a little place called Grassy? What about Quarantine Bay? Disappointment Bay and Currie?

If they’re not ringing a bell but spike your curiosity, then it’s time to plan a trip to King Island in the middle of Bass Strait.

While it might be still a bit chilly to start packing, Paul Brockhurst of CT Travel has an adventurous fly/coach four-day itinerary ready for February.

A flight to Melbourne connects with an afternoon flight to Currie, the island’s largest town, named after Melbourne shipowner Archibald Currie who used its harbour as a base for salvaging the remains of a tallship wrecked in 1866.

With a population of just under 1600, King Island is often windswept but its rugged coastlines are scenic, it has a fascinating history and is famous for its produce – and some of the cleanest air in the world. Butter, cheese and cream (particularly clotted cream) from King Island Dairy, which uses produce from just 16 dairy farms, has become famous around the country.

The four-day feast from February 6-9 next year, begins with entrée at Wild Harvest, one of the island’s best restaurants in the little locality of Grassy on the eastern side of the island where the views are as spectacular as the menu.

A long-term resident of the island leads the way on a comprehensive tour The King Island lighthouse at Currie that covers all that makes King Island famous, interspersed with the fascinating stories of its past.

And by the way, Disappointment Bay is anything but, being one of King Island’s most beautiful locations.

If that whets the appetite, then keep going in February and take a Murray River and Kangaroo Island tour for 11 days from February 19 to March 1, flying in and out of Adelaide.

See the city then head for the Adelaide Hills before boarding the Murray Princess for a four-night cruise down the mighty Murray.

Then take the ferry at Cape Jervis on the Fleurieu Peninsula and head for the unique wildlife and stunning scenery of Kangaroo Island.

“It’s going to be a fun February, so it’s time to start getting organised,” Paul says. Visit cttravel.com.au

CT TRAVEL

Coolum Tours & Travel

2022/2023 Tour Program

October 2022 South Australia - Flinders Rangers (10 Days)

November 2022 Tasmania (14 Days) Hunter Valley Xmas Lights (6 Days)

February 2023 King Island (4 Days) Murray Princess & Kangaroo Island (11 Days)

March 2023 O’Reillys Escape (4 Days) Fraser Island Explorer (4 Days)

April 2023 Autumn > Canberra (9 Days) High Country to the Murray Delta (11 Days

May 2023 Norfolk Island (9 Days)

Business Class on Wheels Maximum 20 Travellers

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Multiple GUARANTEED departures until May 2023

9 - 19 Days from per person, twin share$5074*

*Conditions apply. Price valid ex BNE and includes prepaid taxes (subject to change). **Travel on selected seasonal departures in Sep, Apr and May and save up to $600 per couple ($200 - $300pp) depending on itinerary. All other departures save $100 pp off the brochure price. Maximum savings are reflected in the advertised price. Bonus Night is either a pre OR post tour night on tours that arrive or depart in Auckland or Wellington, at the nominated tour hotel, subject to availability upon request. Only if a hotel is not available at the time of booking, receive $100 per person, twin share discount instead. Special Offer Valid on new bookings only until 30 Sep 2022 for travel to 31 May 2023. Not to be used in conjunction with any other special offer; not applicable on group departures; can be withdrawn at any time without notice. Must quote “North Island NOW Deal” at time of booking to be applied. Refer to the COVID-19 Disclaimer in our Booking Conditions regarding post COVID-19 travel at www.gptnz.com. For more information call Tewantin Travel on 5447 1011