Things to do in Roma, Queensland

The best things to do in Roma, Queensland, include the Three Dimensional Mural, the Big Rig and cattle auction tours at the Roma Saleyards.

Roma, Queensland, is one of Australia’s larger outback towns. It’s the main town of the Maranoa Region, bills itself as the capital of the Western Downs and is usually treated as the gateway to Carnarvon Gorge National Park.

There are, however, a few things to do in Roma itself. These include the Three Dimensional Mural, Roma Bush Gardens and the Adungadoo Pathway.

Things to do in Roma, QLD: Three Dimensional Mural

The Three Dimensional Mural is an artistic attempt at telling local history, with 17 elements of Roma’s story enhanced by lights and audio. It’s inside the Roma Cultural Centre.

Roma Bush Gardens, meanwhile, covers 14 hectares and shows off the local vegetation. Which, in fairness, there’s not a massive amount of. But if you fancy taking in brigalow, mulga and coolabah trees, then there’s a picturesque walk around Railway Dam.

The Adungadoo Pathway is another attractive walk, or jog if you’re so inclined. The 1.7km path follows the graceful river gum trees of Bungil Creek.

Roma’s Largest Bottle Tree

The most famous tree in Roma, though, is Roma’s Largest Bottle Tree. This is, simply, a massive, weird-looking tree that bulges in the middle of its trunk. Roma’s Largest Bottle Tree is 9.62 metres in girth and 15 metres high.

The two main attractions in Roma, Queensland, however, are the Big Rig and the Roma Saleyards.

The Big Rig is a museum devoted to Australia’s oil and gas industry which, perhaps surprisingly, kicked off in Roma back in 1900 when a gas field was discovered.

The Night Show Sunset Experience at the Big Rig tells the tale with more pizzazz, putting on a sound and light show.

Things to do in Roma, QLD: Roma Saleyards tour

The cattle industry is bigger here than gas and oil, however. The Roma Saleyards is the biggest cattle-selling site in the southern hemisphere, with 400,000 head of cattle passing through every year.

There’s an Interpretive Centre at the Roma Saleyards which runs you through how the cattle industry works. But you’re far better off seeing it in action. Every Tuesday, there are free tours of the Roma Saleyards, where a guide takes you through the mayhem of the auctions taking place.

For more conventional tours, hook up with Boobook Ecotours. This local company runs day trips into the Carnarvon Ranges, focusing on Aboriginal sites, wildlife, stunning cliffs and plants that were around when dinosaurs roamed the earth. The day tour costs $295.

Where is Roma, Queensland?

Roma lies west of Brisbane, where the Warrego Highway meets the Carnarvon Highway. The Brisbane to Roma drive is 479km in distance, with an approximate driving time of five hours and 20 minutes. The Dalby to Roma section of that drive takes around three hours, and it’s about four hours from Toowoomba to Roma.

Where to stay in Roma, Queensland

Accommodation in Roma, Queensland, costs from $80 a night.
The Best Western Bungil Creek is the best bet for business travellers. The Mandalay Motel has the best central location.
For best overall quality, the winner is arguably the Roma Explorers Inn. And the Roma Motel hits the sweet spot of convenient location, good value for money and a pool.

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Queensland Queensland outback things to do Western Downs