Landscape and Legacy in Roma – in detail

Day tour outline

7.45am: Pick up from Accommodation in Roma.

8am: As we welcome you to Roma you’ll discover some of our hidden secrets that only the locals know about. Hear our history as we view Walkabout Park and the Mandandanji display, travel to Lake Neverfill and take in the region from Campbell Park.

9am: Hear and see about a couple of our industries including the Roma’s Gas Fired Power Station and the Coal Seam Gas Industry before we disembark at the Roma Cattle Sale Yards. Tuesday is sale day so be careful not to put your finger in the air while watching the animated auctioneers and the bidding frenzy that follows their voices. If you do we might have to find more room in the bus on the way out! After learning about the cattle industry and seeing part of the sale you’ll have time to purchase your own morning tea where the cattlemen also go to eat before leaving this bustling country site.

11am: Back on the bus we’ll spend a little time taking an extra trip down memory lane, as we pass some of the earlier buildings and private places of notable interest, while adding in a fun story or two before we depart Roma. After departing Roma we’ll head west to a cattle and cropping property called “Massey Downs” which plays host to the secreted Mt Abundance. Being private property, few have the opportunity to travel here.

12pm: As we enter “Massey Downs” get to know the history and stories behind the people who take care of the land, while learning about life in the country along with the crops, cattle, native vegetation and wildlife that inhabit the area. Each day is a little different and we’ll either stop for lunch at beautiful homestead gardens or travel straight up the Mountain to lunch with majestic views. Either way you won’t miss out on seeing both sites.

1.30pm: On our way up to the top of Mt Abundance we’ll take a little time out for a short easy walk to get up close and personal with one of the many enormous Narrow-leaved Bottle Trees growing in their natural habitat, while also checking out other interesting flora along the way. We’ll pass a range of interesting species including the gorgeous Mountain Yapunah, Emu Apples, Butter Bush and Desert Limes. We’ll also listen for Silvereye, Variegated Fairy-wrens, Leaden Flycatchers and other bush birds.

2pm: On top of the mountain we’ll seek out another famous bottle tree described and sketched by one of our first Explorers, Sir Thomas Mitchell, in his journal. With short walks we’ll check out superb views to the north, east, south and west, while also keeping an ear and eye out for our native birds and marsupials including the Wedge Tailed Eagles, Pheasant Coucal, Mallee Ringnecks, Black Striped Wallabies and Wallaroos. Depending on the time of year a Lace Monitor or Burn’s Dragon might also come out to give us a wave.

3.30pm: After a relaxing stroll exploring the top of Mt Abundance it’s time to descend back down to the low lands where (if we didn’t do this on the way up) we’ll call into the sprawling and welcoming homestead garden covering 6 hectares of land and providing a beautiful haven for native birds. Nearby to the main garden property owners Bruce and Darlene Johnson have also created and tender their own sizeable vegetable gardens growing yearly massive crops of bananas, watermelons, rockmelons and many other fruit and vegetables that they share locally with family and friends.

4.30pm: We’re back in Roma where we drop you back to your accommodation for you to relax, unwind and ponder the day’s activities, sites and learnings.

What you need to know

• Tours are subject to change.
• All tours are weather dependent and a contingency may be required. For tours that are held during storm and fire season, actual location may vary on the day according to prevailing conditions.
• Mobile phone coverage is limited in areas of the tour. Guides will carry first aid and remote communication equipment.
• Mornings may be cool, but the days can warm up to mid 20’s during winter and high 30’s during summer.
• Tour involves short walks (with various gradients) on uneven and rocky ground.
• Good balance recommended.
• Toilets available at the Roma Saleyards and on top of Mt Abundance. Bush toileting may be required at other times.

• Sense of adventure, good humour and questions
• Small day pack
  
• Full reusable water bottle
• Comfortable walking clothes and covered-in shoes

• Hat
• Insect repellent
• Sunscreen
• Camera