Lightning Ridge

Lightning Ridge

by Jim Smith

Spent ANZAC Day in Lightning Ridge, having driven down from Roma, Queensland the previous day. Lightning Ridge is the principal source of Black Opals in Australia, and is a strange mix of rugged adventurers seeking their fortunes in the opal fields, contrasting with a slightly rampant tourist industry harvesting the tourist dollar. That said, we stayed in an economical and friendly ‘Outback Resort’, and found the self guided tour and the information centre very helpful. Other highlights included watching ‘Two Up’ being played, on the only day on which this is legal, ANZAC Day, and a dip under the stars in the artesian pool, which Geothermal heating maintains at 40C.

Rock maze at the site of the earliest opal diggings - a bit fragile, but the climate doesn' class=
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Rock maze at the site of the earliest opal diggings – a bit fragile, but the climate doesn’t suit box hedges
Cement mixer re-cycled as an opal washing machne
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Cement mixer re-cycled as an opal washing machne
Many old trucks and utes are scattered around the opal fields
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Many old trucks and utes are scattered around the opal fields
Mines are both tunnels and galleries, and open cut, like this now disused one.
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Mines are both tunnels and galleries, and open cut, like this now disused one.
The rules of Two Up
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The rules of Two Up
Two Up game in progress, Lightning Ridge
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Two Up game in progress, Lightning Ridge
Three-mile opal fields
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Three-mile opal fields
The splendid flying campervan "Emus on a Plane" at the Outback Resort
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The splendid flying campervan “Emus on a Plane” at the Outback Resort
Sunset at Lightning Ridge
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Sunset at Lightning Ridge
Last glimpse of the sun
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Last glimpse of the sun

 

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