Lightning Ridge.6 Day Tour, Regular Depatures Through 2010
2011 dates are 2nd May ,5th June , 17th Jul,
Highlights: Blue Mountians,Dubbo,Lightning Ridge,Opal Cave,Walk in Mine,The Black Queen,Chambers of the Black Hand,Grawin. Glengarry,Sheepyards,Warrumbungles National Park,Mudgee
Lightning Ridge, located in outback NSW on the world's richest deposit of black opal, is a place that abounds with colourful characters, barrels of dreams, opportunities and experiences! The 'Ridge', as it is known to the locals, will welcome you with classic country hospitality but it will certainly not be 'more of the same'. They are a unique bunch out there and pride themselves on a wonderful eccentricity; it is something about the pioneering spirit that allowed this area to develop and many visitors become so enamoured with the place that a 3 day holiday can turn into a lifetime of pleasure for the many who are so captivated by the place they stay. Famous for the elusive and distinctive Black Opal, which is unique to the area, it is also famous as a thriving frontier town full of the iconic Australian characters that remind the traveller that the Australian spirit is not a thing of folklore; but the exact qualities that makes the 'Ridge' so unique is as elusive as the Black Opal itself. You can experience sculptures underground, bottle-houses, antique lamps, castles, astronomy monuments, hills named 'Lunatic', 'Pig' and Bald', a pub crawl to 'The Pub in the Srub', 'The Glengarry Hilton' and 'Sheepyard', and even tour underground mines. And how do you find all these thing?.. look out for a coloured Car Door. While this may not make immediate sense, it will when you come out and experience Lightning Ridge.
DAY 1 (D): HOME PORT TO DUBBO
Travel day to Dubbo. On arrival we settle into our motel for our overnight stop. (Golden West Motel, 02 6882 2822)
DAY 2: (BLD): DUBBO TO LIGHTNING RIDGE
After breakfast we continue north to Gilgandra, home of the Coo-ees and the Town of Windmills. In View an open cut mine, see “Amigos Castle” (a huge Italian Style Castle built by one man), the Bore Baths, the Astronomers Monument and Coopers Cottage. Afterwards we head back into town and spend some time at the Opal Cave before settling into our motel for the next 3 nights. (Wallangulla Motel, Lightning Ridge, 02 6829 0542)
Bridge Street
A plaque commemorates that starting point of the famous “Coo-ee” recruiting march of World War I. The beautiful St Ambrose Anglican Church is also in part a tribute to the march as well. From here we travel through Gulargambone, Coonable and Walgett to Lightning Ridge, where on arrival we make our way to the Opal Cave who have organized a sausage sizzle lunch for us. After lunch we take a tour of Lightning Ridge, which is a rich opal field famous as the only source of black opal in the world. With its stark and scarred landscape this town has a peculiar fascination for visitors. Opals can be purchased direct from the miners while the novice fossicker can occasionally stumble across a choice stone among the heaps of mullock known locally as ‘shincracker’.
DAY 3: (BD): LIGHTNING RIDGE
After breakfast we head across to the Walk-In-Mine and to experience the atmosphere of an underground mine. We also have a tour including a video presentation and explanation about opal mining. We then visit the showroom to view the opals that came from the mines in this area and we have the opportunity to purchase an opal from the showroom. Next is a visit to the Black Queen Antique Lamp & Cottage Collections. The Black Queen experience is Magical Outback theatre with a twist! The sets are magic! The story will stir your soul! The Black Queen experience is ‘one of those magical places you stumble upon once in a lifetime, a place where dreams really do come true’. Winner Inland NSW: Attraction of the Year. Afterwards we head back into town and enjoy some free time for lunch (own expense) and shopping before an afternoon visit to the Chambers of the Black Hand. Opened in April, 2007, this is a unique tourist mine. 11.2 meters down local artist Ron Canlin has created the most awesome paintings and sculptures. There is The Last Supper, Archangel Gabriel the Chinese Terracotta Warriors. Ron is constantly carving new work such as a samuri warrior, so there are changes every day as there is no end to his talent. The second level is a mine that has been worked for over 100 years, and all the old shafts and drives that were dug by the old timers are still there. On this level you get a Geology tour on the different strata’s opal formation, which is an experience not be missed. It is amazing and there is nothing like it in Australia. After our tour we return to the motel, with time to relax before dinner. (Wallangulla Motel, Lightning Ridge, 02 6829 0542)
DAY 4: (BLD): GRAWIN, GLENGARRY AND SHEEPYARD OPAL FIELDS
No trip to Lightning Ridge would be complete without a trip to The Grawin. If you think the Ridge is unique, you have to see places like The Pub in the Scrub, The Glengarry Hilton and Sheepyard Flats. Located about 70 kilometres west of Lightning Ridge, The Grawin was established in 1908 with the discovery of the opal at "Hammond Hill". Further discoveries in 1920 at "Richards Hill" put the unofficial village on the map. It was at Grawin that the largest opal 'Light of the World' was found in 1928. Since the first discovery of opal in the region, people have come and gone in tides with each new strike, seeking their fortune in search of the rainbow in the rock . It is believed that a field at Grawin was discovered in 1905, but it wasnt until the 1970's became a major field in its own right. The Mulga Rush, which began in 2000, is the biggest opal rush since the Coocoran was discovered in the early 1900's. The Sheepyard area was named after a fin of opal near the fence of the old Sheepyards. A local guide joins us on a days touring to the Grawin, Glengarry and Sheepyard opal fields and we enjoy lunch at the Glengarry Hilton. After a great day we head back to Lightning Ridge with some time to freshen up and relax before dinner. (Wallangulla Motel, Lightning Ridge, 02 6829 0542)
DAY 5: (BLD): WARRUMBUNGLES NATIONAL PARK, COONABARABRAN
This morning we farewell Lightning Ridge and travel back through Walgett and Coonamble then east into the Warrumbungle National Park. This mountain range juts abruptly from the expanse of inland plains, born of violent volcanic action some 13 million years ago. The National Park is home to hundreds of native animals and wildflowers bedeck the mountains and plain lands of the park. We spend time travelling though the national park, experiencing the peace and tranquillity of this magnificent protected environment. The picnic areas within the park are plentiful and it’s at one of these areas we stop to enjoy our picnic lunch. There is time to relax or take a walk before travelling onto Coonabarabran. After taking in some of the sights we settle into our motel for our last night on tour. (Country Gardens Motel, 02 6842 1711 02 6842 1711)
DAY 6: (B): COONABARABRAN TO HOME
After breakfast we farewell our hosts and head for home, travelling via Gulgong and Mudgee.
Lightning Ridge 6 Days Ex Sydney 2009