5 of the best farm and station stays in the Roma region

Move over hotels, motels and holiday parks – there’s another accommodation style in the Roma region you need to know about.

Enjoy an overnight experience in the way it was intended in the country, staying in a homestead, sleeping on the land and sharing your campground with a few furry locals.

Whether you’re travelling with your accommodation on wheels, prefer to pitch a tent or check-in to a cabin or cottage, put one (or more) of these farm and station stays on your itinerary next time you’re exploring the Roma region.

1. Claravale, Mitchell

Swap a day trip to your local wildlife sanctuary with a holiday overnighting in one.

Not only is Claravale a working cattle station, it’s also a recognised wildlife sanctuary with 6,000 of the 32,000-acre property dedicated to preserving local flora and fauna, creating a habitat for native wildlife to call home.

With 129 bird, 21 mammal and 27 reptile species residing in the property, you’ll want to keep your eyes and ears alert for rock wallabies, bandicoots, long-necked turtles and sacred kingfishers (to name a few).

Located on the southern-most spur of the Carnarvon Ranges, Claravale offers campers a true outback experience coupled with panoramic views of Rowan’s Knob, Mount Armour and Bluff Mountain.

2. Wallaroo Outback Retreat, Carnarvon Gorge

Has camping been on your to-try list but the thought of the tent set up and pack down been holding you back?

Put a stay at Wallaroo Outback Retreat and experience first-class glamping complete with a bed and Posturepedic mattress.

Located amongst 100-year-old Eucalypts, on a 72,000-acre cattle property, Wallaroo Outback Retreat offers guest a taste of outback life, from learning to crack a whip to tasting fresh damper cooked on the campfire.

Book a guide to explore the property on foot or navigate your way to Skull Mountain behind the retreat – be prepared for navigating your way and a side of rock scrambling.

If you prefer to move at a slower pace while on holidays, head to the local water hole and drop a line or take a dip to cool off in the warmer months.

Take your stay up a notch and book a helicopter flight to get a bird’s eye view of the sandstone cliffs of the Carnarvon Ranges and the flowing Dawson River.

3. Arcadia Valley Escape Farmstay, Arcadia Valley

Get a taste of life on the land on a 17,000-acre cattle station located halfway between Injune and Rolleston at Arcadia Valley Escape Farmstay.

Owned by the same family since the 1960s, where the property which was nothing more than a densely covered Brigalow block with no permanent water or wildlife, Arcadia Valley has grown over the past 40 years to become a sustainable station and place for visitors to experience their agriculture practices.

Perfect for larger families or friends travelling together, Arcadia Valley provides two accommodation options – The Homestead which accommodates up to seven guests and The Cottage which sleeps up to four.

Explore the property on a self-guided bush walk or up the ante and book a guided bushwalk, mountain climb or four-wheel drive property tour.

4. Sandstone Park, Carnarvon Gorge

Nature lovers – we’re looking at you.

Book a stay at Sandstone Park in Carnarvon Gorge and immerse yourself in native flora, fauna and wildlife.

While you won’t see any traditional farm animals, Sandstone Park offers a natural escape with a 360-degree view of Carnarvon National Park.

The unpowered sites accommodate caravans, motorhomes and camper trailers along with traditional tent and swag style campers too.

Pack the walking shoes and spend your days exploring the trails of the national park, spotting platypus, wallabies and yellow-faced honeyeaters that call this national park home.

The park provides toilets, personal fire pits, a dump point and pet kennels (for when you want to bring your fur child along for the ride).

5. Ups N Downs Caravan Park and Farm Stay, Roma

If it’s your first time overnighting at a farm stay and prefer to ease into the experience, book Ups N Down Caravan Park and Farmstay to enjoy the country life a short eight kilometres from Roma town centre.

While you’ll need to bring your own accommodation, with Ups N Downs accommodating campers, camper trailers and caravans with both powered and non-powered sites, the property provides all the creature comforts of toilets, a laundry and kitchen facilities.

Take a walk around the property to meet the resident sheep, pigs, cattle and horses before settling in for happy hour at 4:30pm by the fire pit.