LIGHTNING RIDGE
SIX DAY YOUR - 2nd August - 7th August 2021
Lightning Ridge is located in outback NSW on the world's richest deposit of black opal. It’s a place that abounds with colourful characters, barrels of dreams, opportunities and experiences! The 'Ridge', as it is known to the locals, welcomes visitors with classic country hospitality - but they are a unique bunch out there and pride themselves on a wonderful sense of eccentricity. Famous for the elusive and distinctive Black Opal, which is unique to the area, Lightning Ridge 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. As unique and elusive as the Black Opal itself!
Tour Inclusions
Luxury Coach Travel
5 Nights Accommodation
5 Cooked Breakfasts
5 Dinners
5 Lunches
Opal Mine Adventure
Chambers of the black hand
Amigos Castle
Grawin Guided Day Tour
Guided Tour Moree
Guided Tour Lightning Ridge
Cactus House
Nindigully Pub
River Cruise St George
Luxury Coach Travel
5 Nights Accommodation
5 Cooked Breakfasts
5 Dinners
5 Lunches
Opal Mine Adventure
Chambers of the black hand
Amigos Castle
Grawin Guided Day Tour
Guided Tour Moree
Guided Tour Lightning Ridge
Cactus House
Nindigully Pub
River Cruise St George
Costings
Deposit $50.00 P/P
$2100P/P Twin/Double Share
$190 P/P Single Supplement
Deposit $50.00 P/P
$2100P/P Twin/Double Share
$190 P/P Single Supplement
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Day 1 Sunday 12 May BRISBANE TO MOREE Meals Included (LD)
Welcome to our 6 day tour to Lightning Ridge, the only place in Australia (and one of the few places in the world) where the precious and highly prized black opal is found. The black opal has carbon and iron oxide trace elements in it producing a very dark stone with hints of blue, green and red. Completing our pickups this morning we travel through to Goondiwindi for lunch at the Victoria Hotel. Apart from being right on the Queensland/NSW border, Goondiwindi is also the junction of a number of major highways including the Newell, running all the way to Victoria. From here we continue south to our overnight destination of Moree. Here we stop in at the Visitors Information Centre for a tasting of the local produce, followed by a short town tour. We then check into our motel and settle in for dinner (lunch at hotel / dinner in motel).
Welcome to our 6 day tour to Lightning Ridge, the only place in Australia (and one of the few places in the world) where the precious and highly prized black opal is found. The black opal has carbon and iron oxide trace elements in it producing a very dark stone with hints of blue, green and red. Completing our pickups this morning we travel through to Goondiwindi for lunch at the Victoria Hotel. Apart from being right on the Queensland/NSW border, Goondiwindi is also the junction of a number of major highways including the Newell, running all the way to Victoria. From here we continue south to our overnight destination of Moree. Here we stop in at the Visitors Information Centre for a tasting of the local produce, followed by a short town tour. We then check into our motel and settle in for dinner (lunch at hotel / dinner in motel).
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Day 2 Monday 13 May MOREE TO LIGHTNING RIDGE Meals Included (BLD)
Following breakfast we make our way along the Gwydir Highway through to Lightning Ridge. Upon arrival we have lunch at the Outback Resort then collect our local guide for a tour of town. With its stark and scarred landscape this town has a peculiar fascination for visitors. During our tour we’ll view an open cut mine, see the Bore Baths and Coopers Cottage. This authentic miner’s camp was built in 1916 and is a genuine historical display of early pioneer living. After our wonderful day we check into our accommodation – home base for the next three nights (breakfast & dinner in motel / lunch at hotel). |
Day 3 Tuesday 14 May LIGHTNING RIDGE Meals Included (BD)
After breakfast we head to the Walk-In-Mine 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. Next is a visit to the John Murray Art Gallery, well worth a visit. John has been kept busy adding to his mural on the outside wall of the Gallery, affectionately named "Billygoat Lane" (in reference to its original name). We now have some free time for lunch (own expense) before an afternoon visit to the Chambers of the Black Hand. Opened in April, 2007, this is a unique tourist mine. At 11.2m underground, local artist Ron Canlin has created the most amazing paintings and sculptures. There is The Last Supper, Archangel Gabriel and the Chinese Terracotta Warriors. Ron is constantly carving new work, such as a samurai warrior so there are changes every day. Our last stop for the day is to Amigos Castle, a huge Italian Style Castle built by one man from ironstone. We’ll take a look around then return to our motel (breakfast & dinner in motel / lunch at own cost)
After breakfast we head to the Walk-In-Mine 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. Next is a visit to the John Murray Art Gallery, well worth a visit. John has been kept busy adding to his mural on the outside wall of the Gallery, affectionately named "Billygoat Lane" (in reference to its original name). We now have some free time for lunch (own expense) before an afternoon visit to the Chambers of the Black Hand. Opened in April, 2007, this is a unique tourist mine. At 11.2m underground, local artist Ron Canlin has created the most amazing paintings and sculptures. There is The Last Supper, Archangel Gabriel and the Chinese Terracotta Warriors. Ron is constantly carving new work, such as a samurai warrior so there are changes every day. Our last stop for the day is to Amigos Castle, a huge Italian Style Castle built by one man from ironstone. We’ll take a look around then return to our motel (breakfast & dinner in motel / lunch at own cost)
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Day 4 Wednesday 15 May LIGHTNING RIDGE Meals Included (BLD)
No trip to Lightning Ridge would be complete without a trip to The Grawin **. We’ll see interesting places like The Pub in the Scrub, The Glengarry Hilton and Sheepyard Flats. Located about 70km 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 wasn’t until the 1970s that it 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 1900s. The Sheepyard area was named after a find of opal near the fence of the old Sheepyards. A local guide will join us on our day’s tour and lunch is enjoyed at the Glengarry Hilton. .After a great day we head back to Lightning Ridge. We have one last stop to make at Bevans Cactus Farm. Started in 1966 and now encompassing two passionate generations, Bevan’s host the largest cactus nursery in the Southern Hemisphere with approximately 2,500 young and aged varieties. Grown from seeds collected from around the world, many plants are now over 100 years old, with the oldest being nearly 150 years of age (breakfast & dinner in motel / lunch on tour). ** Please Note: Today’s Touring depends on local weather and road conditions** |
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Day 5 Thursday 16 May LIGHTNING RIDGE TO ST GEORGE Meals Included (BLD)
We farewell “the Ridge” this morning and travel north along Castlereagh Highway, cross the Queensland border and continue through Hebel. We’ll pass through the cotton-growing area of Dirranbandi and on to St George, located on the banks of the Balonne River. The town was named by Major Thomas Mitchell who crossed the river on St George’s Day in April 1846. A special lunch today at a well known outback pub for lunch. This afternoon we join Sandytown River Cruises for an enjoyable tour along the Balonne River. We then check into our accommodation and relax prior to dinner (breakfast & dinner in motel / lunch at outback pub) |
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Day 6 Friday 17 May ST GEORGE TO BRISBANE Meals Included (BL)
Today we follow Adventure Way east and make our way home. We’ll stop to enjoy our picnic lunches en-route, before arriving in Brisbane late afternoon to complete our 6 day tour to Lightning Ridge (breakfast in motel / picnic lunches
Today we follow Adventure Way east and make our way home. We’ll stop to enjoy our picnic lunches en-route, before arriving in Brisbane late afternoon to complete our 6 day tour to Lightning Ridge (breakfast in motel / picnic lunches
To book or for more information simply contact us via email or contact us on (07) 3200 1628