Wallaroo is a property rich in Aboriginal cultural sites as well as early European history. It is also the home of many spectacular sandstone cliffs, rock formations and hidden gorges filled with an enormous variety of native plants and wildlife. Boobook Ecotours based in Roma are proud partners with Wallaroo Outback Retreat and run an amazing day tour around Wallaroo guided by your very own ecologist in their air-conditioned 4WD bus, seeing a sample of the property’s highlights including:
More information about this tour can be found at www.boobookecotours.com. Enquire about a group price for guests of Wallaroo Outback Retreat.
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The Lower Gorge can be walked without a guide. However, with a guide, especially Simon or Michelle of Australian Nature Guides, you learn so much about what you are seeing and come away with a much deeper understanding of all that surrounds you. Check out their website for further details – www.carnarvongorgeinfo.com or contact Simon and Michelle directly on 0408 741 292. This tour comes highly recommended by past guests of Wallaroo Outback Retreat.
Carnarvon Gorge is on everybody’s bucket list – and rightly so! Only an hour drive north of Wallaroo Outback Retreat, this is a must do day trip if you have some time up your sleeve.
Walking into Carnarvon Gorge you are guided by a crystal clear river and surrounded by towering sandstone cliffs. The Gorge is accustomed to thousands of visitors each year so walking tracks are well established. The Moss Gardens, The Amphitheatre, Wards Canon and The Art Gallery would be a full day’s walk, approximately 14km return, but very manageable for the fit and hearty. For those looking for a gentler day out, Micky’s Creek, the Nature Trail and the Rock Hole are lovely places to relax and breathe in the surrounds.
Found 1 hour North East of Wallaroo in the breath taking Arcadia Valley is Lake Nuga Nuga, a natural lake with an interesting history. The local Aboriginals believed it to be the resting place of the Rainbow Serpent. It apparently used to be much smaller when suddenly, overnight some hundred and forty years ago it quadrupled in size, drowning a huge forest of standing timber which remains today. From December until May this ghostly forest, flooded with water is a sea of gorgeous purple water lilies – a sight that can only be seen to be believed! Photographers from around Australia travel here to capture this magnificent image. It is also a haven for birdlife of all kinds – a twitchers paradise!
Lonesome National Park is just 40 minutes to the South of Wallaroo Outback Retreat. A relaxing morning activity would be a picnic at the Arcadia Valley Lookout. This is a breathtaking view that needs to be seen to be believed. There are some rough walking tracks here for those wanting to do a little exploring. Continue your drive down through the Valley floor, some of Queensland’s best known cattle country, past the tiny Arcadia Valley school currently teaching ten children, and loop back onto the Carnarvon Highway just north of Wallaroo. This is about a 200km round trip back to Wallaroo.
Rainbow Cave
View from Rainbow Cave