Heritage and Homesteads: 5-Day Tour Through Roma and Maranoa Shire | 5-9 May, 2025

A stone church with a tall central tower featuring multiple crenellations and arched windows, surrounded by leafy trees, stands proudly along the route of the Roma Heritage Tour. A street and power lines run in front of the church, and the sky is partly cloudy.

Enjoy the Roma Heritage Tour, where the warmth of local hospitality, charming streets, and the natural beauty of the surrounding countryside can be explored. With the region’s rich history, we will rediscover the people, places and events that helped shape Australia’s cultural heritage.

Join a memorable 5-day journey through Roma and the Maranoa Shire, where the essence of Queensland’s outback comes to life. Begin with the Big Rig Night Experience, uncovering the tales of Roma’s oil and gas pioneers. Explore the Roma Saleyards, the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, and visit historical sites like St Paul’s Anglican Church and the Big Rig Oil Patch, immersing yourself in the local heritage.

Venture further to discover the charming towns of Surat, Yuleba, and Wallumbilla. In Surat, explore the Cobb & Co Changing Station, learning about Australia’s rich pastoral history and art. Relax in Wallumbilla at Calico Cottage, where local hospitality is evident in homemade goods and country-style treats. Each town offers a unique glimpse into the region’s past, showcasing the culture and stories that helped shape Australia.

With visits to heritage-listed Mt Abundance Homestead and Muckadilla’s Native Bush Gardens, you’ll enjoy the beauty of the outback while savouring delicious local cuisine and relaxing in comfortable accommodations. Tailored for mature travellers, this all-inclusive tour from Funtastic Tour Company offers this Roma Heritage Tour the perfect mix of history, culture, and natural beauty for a hassle-free adventure in the heart of Queensland.

Short Break

A large number of cattle are confined within fenced enclosures at an outdoor livestock facility. Amidst the brown cattle, a person stands surrounded by them. Above, a clear sky complements the sprawling facility structure in the background—almost like witnessing a unique Roma Heritage Tour of pastoral life.

At sunset, a tall metal observation tower stands amidst a residential area. The sun is partially obscured by the structure, casting a warm glow reminiscent of a Roma Heritage Tour. Green trees and numerous houses surround the tower, stretching into the horizon.

Highlights

Big Rig Night Experience
Learn about Roma’s fascinating oil and gas history under the stars with a captivating sound and light show, bringing the region's pioneering spirit to life.
Roma Saleyards Tour
Explore the largest cattle-selling facility in the Southern Hemisphere, gaining unique insights into Australia’s livestock industry with expert guides.
Cobb & Co Changing Station
Visit Surat’s historic museum showcasing a replica Cobb & Co coach, local artworks, and a freshwater aquarium, offering a glimpse into the region's past.
Heritage-listed Mt Abundance Homestead
Discover the history of this historic homestead, including the first post office in Roma, while enjoying a guided tour and morning tea on the veranda.

Accommodation

A well-maintained courtyard features green lawns, sidewalks, and small trees. In the background, several one-story residential buildings stand alongside a fenced swimming pool visible in the center under a clear blue sky, reminiscent of places visited during the Roma Heritage Tour.

A hotel room with a double bed, brown headboard, white linens, and gray throw blanket. The room has a wall-mounted TV, desk, chair, kitchenette, large mirror, and an ensuite bathroom. The cream-colored walls complement the ceiling fan and air conditioning unit perfectly—a comfortable retreat after a Roma Heritage Tour.

4-Star Roma Explorers Inn

Roma Explorers Inn offers a variety of spacious, comfortable rooms, including family suites and apartments. Each room is equipped with modern amenities such as free Wi-Fi, ensuite bathrooms, and tea/coffee-making facilities. The accommodations are designed to provide a relaxing and enjoyable stay for both business and leisure guests.

4-Nights

Warrego Highway, Roma, Queensland, 4455

Day 1 HOME TO ROMA

Welcome to our 5-day tour of Roma. After our morning pickups, we begin our travel from the Sunshine Coast. We head west and stop for convenience breaks along the way. We arrive in Roma later this afternoon with time to settle into our motel before tonight’s Night Experience at the Big Rig. As the sun sets, we relax under the outback sky and are taken on a sound and light journey to learn the entertaining trials and triumphs of the early industry men and women of Roma.

(Roma Explorers Inn | 4 nights)

Day 2 ROMA

This morning we visit the Roma Saleyards, the largest cattle-selling facility in the southern hemisphere. A volunteer will show us through the yard and give an interesting insight before we visit the state-of-the-art interpretation centre sharing stories of the industry. From here we are off for a local town tour of Roma. Our locally based guide will join the coach and give us an insight into the early settlement and progression of Roma and indeed an insight into the history of the Maranoa.

We will take in many historic buildings and sites including St Paul’s Anglican Church which features stunning leadlight windows, each with a story. Visitors can gain an insight into how the Church was built and also hear the story of each window. Afterwards, we head to the Big Rig to enjoy lunch and a self-guided tour of the Big Rig Oil Patch. We journey through time from Australia’s first discovery of petroleum, through the boom-and-bust years of oil and gas exploration and on to today’s multibillion-dollar industry.

(Breakfast and dinner at motel | Lunch at Big Rig)

Day 3 SURAT, YULEBA, AND WALLUMBILLA

Today we explore outside of Roma. We have a local guide join the coach with us today who will travel with us to the historic town of Surat, located on the banks of the beautiful Balonne River. On arrival, we arranged a fascinating visit to the Cobb & Co Changing Station. The Museum is built on the original site of the Cobb & Co Store – and the drop-off point for coach passengers and goods. Included in the current display is a 14-seat replica Cobb & Co Coach, a 25,000-litre freshwater aquarium and a display of local artworks at the Surat on Balonne Gallery.

From here we drive along part of the route that was once taken by the last Cobb & Co Coach Service in Australia to Yuleba. Then onto Wallumbilla where we stop for a picnic lunch at Calico Cottage. This facility was established some 28 years ago when (during a period of drought) a group of farmers’ wives agreed that they needed to make an income off of the property. Together, they commenced selling home-baked goods and crafts from a cottage located on the highway in town. Today, many of the original volunteers still greet visitors and ‘put the kettle on.’ Devonshire Tea is available and a variety of country-style, baked treats can be purchased to take home.

(Breakfast and dinner at motel | Packed lunch included)

Day 4 ROMA, MUCKADILLA, AND AMBY

Starting off the day, we visit heritage-listed Mt Abundance Homestead. We’ll be greeted warmly by the owners before being led on an interesting tour. Discover the first post office in the Roma district and visit the underground cellar lined with locally handmade bricks before a pleasant morning tea on the veranda. We head back to Roma for lunch (own expense) before our afternoon drive to Muckadilla Whistle Stop and Native Bush Gardens, located west of Roma. Muckadilla is a small community, with a big heart. The Whistle Stop houses local memorabilia, including a tribute to Australia’s shortest-serving Prime Minister and local lad, Frank Forde.

We will enjoy the peaceful surroundings of the Native Bush Gardens, the Major Mitchell monument and the Leichhardt monument – both of which pay tribute to the explorers who passed through the region from 1846. Further west is Amby – a quaint country town. We will have a local join us on the coach to tell us about the town, in particular the remnants of the Scar Trees that are here, the War Memorial and Arch Way and Amby’s International Airport. From here we return to Roma for our last dinner together on tour.

(Breakfast and dinner at motel | Lunch at own expense)

Day 5 ROMA TO HOME

After breakfast, we farewell our hosts at Roma and begin our travel home. We stop in Dalby for lunch at the local club. Our coach has us arriving home later this afternoon after another fantastic tour.

(Breakfast at motel | Lunch at Dalby Leagues Club)

Tours Details

Tour Inclusions

4 nights accommodation
4 cooked breakfasts
4 two-course dinners
3 included lunches – see below
Night Show at Roma Big Rig
Roma Saleyard Tour
Guided town tour of Roma
Guided tour of St Pauls Anglican Church
Lunch at Roma Big Rig
Entry to Oil Patch Roma Big Rig
Guide to join coach for Stuart, Yuleba, and Wallumbilla touring
Visit and morning tea at Cobb & Co Changing Station
Visit to Calico Cottage Heritage Complex
Packed lunch (day 3)
Guided tour & morning tea at Mt Abundance Homestead
Visit and afternoon tea at Muckadilla Whistle Stop & Native Bush Garden
Guided town tour of Amby
Lunch at Dalby Leagues Club

Fitness Requirements

Fitness Level: Relaxed

Discover the Art of Relaxation

Welcome to “Serenity Journeys,” where serenity is the name of the game. Our tours offer a chance to unwind, with minimal physical demands. Unpack only once, and relax as we take care of the rest.

Although most of our journey involves cozy coach travel, some day tours may involve light physical activity, such as embarking and disembarking vessels or vehicles with stairs, which you’ll handle independently.