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.

THE FROZEN CONTINENT IS CALLING

ANTARCTICA, the southernmost continent, offers a rare journey of exploration, with remote wilderness curious wildlife and raw beauty.

It has 60-90% of the world’s freshwater locked in its vast ice sheet, and despite the ice, is classified as a desert because so little moisture falls from the sky. The continent is about twice the size of Australia and is larger than the US and Mexico combined

Although there is an absence of lush greenery, amphibians, reptiles and terrestrial mammals, this extreme landscape is home to penguins, seals, whales and birds.

Visitors to this once-in-a-lifetime destination can travel in comfort and style aboard a premium, small-ship expedition. An expedition team of field experts provide onboard opportunities to learn about Antarctica’s history and science through lectures and hands-on projects.

An exclusive, fully-escorted tour to Antarctica departs Brisbane January 15. Book now to reserve one of the limited spaces. Call Helloworld Travel Eatons Hill 3264 6222, Spring Hill 3832 0833 or Kenmore 3378 8555.

HERMAN’S TOURS & TRAVEL

DAY TRIPS 2022 & 2023

Saturday 5 November: Eumundi Markets ..................................... $39 Friday 11 November: Best of British – Fox & Hound Pub ..............$93*

Saturday 3 December:

Swing Into Christmas - Lunch & Show ..........................................$147* Saturday 28 January: Pumiceston Passage Cruise .......................................... $112* Saturday 25 February: Tweed River Cruise ...................................................... $165* EXTENDED HOLIDAYS 2022 & 2023

12 to 13 November: Downs Explorer Getaway

Twin Share $819 pp

19 to 20 May ’23: Gympie - Mary Valley Rattler

Twin Share $929 pp

26 to 29 May ’23: Opera in Capricorn Caves

REGISTER NOW!

All extended holidays include return home transfers – Brisbane Metropolitan area. Single Supplements: Downs Explorer $81. Gympie Mary Valley Rattler $76.

Day Tours – * Includes Lunch. Extended holidays include return home transfers (Brisbane Metropolitan Area). Itineraries and prices quoted are subject to change.

Follow Us on Facebook @Hermanstravel RING NOW FOR BROCHURES HERMAN’S TOURS & TRAVEL CALL 3379 6255

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)

Personally Escorted Group Departure from Brisbane ANTARCTIC WILDERNESS EXPEDITION

UNFORGETTABLE TOUR OF THE FROZEN CONTINENT UNFORGETTABLE TOUR OF THE FROZEN CONTINENT Departs Brisbane Sunday 15th January 2023 17 DAYS FROM $18,795*

Per person (twin/double) - Outside Cabin • Single supplement $1,480* • Upgrade to Balcony Cabin Per person (twin/double) - Outside Cabin • Single supplement $1,480* • Upgrade to Balcony Cabin from $1,000 per person / Upgrade to Balcony Suite from $3,000 per person

INCLUDES: Return economy class airfares from Brisbane to South America • Breakfast daily Return economy class airfares from Brisbane to South America • Breakfast daily • Speciality dinner & tango show • City tours of Buenos Aires and Santiago • Full day tour to • Speciality dinner & tango show • City tours of Buenos Aires and Santiago • Full day tour to Valparaiso region • 5 star hotels • All transfers in South America • All meals & beverages on board Valparaiso region • 5 star hotels • All transfers in South America • All meals & beverages on board your expedition ship • English-speaking Expedition Team on board and ashore • Range of included your expedition ship • English-speaking Expedition Team on board and ashore • Range of included activities, loan of boots, trekking poles and all equipment for activities • Complimentary wind and activities, loan of boots, trekking poles and all equipment for activities • Complimentary wind and water-resistant expedition jacket and so much more! water-resistant expedition jacket and so much more!

Book with us at Helloworld Travel Book with us at Helloworld Travel

Eatons Hill 3264 6222. eatonshill@helloworld.com.au Eatons Hill 3264 6222. eatonshill@helloworld.com.au Spring Hill 3832 0833. springhill@helloworld.com.au Spring Hill 3832 0833. springhill@helloworld.com.au Kenmore 3378 8555. kenmore@helloworld.com.au Kenmore 3378 8555. kenmore@helloworld.com.au