Lightning Ridge – it’s the jewel of the outback. Who cares about the opals?

The word on the Gray’pe vine  was “You’ll book in for two days and end up staying five.” Right we said. What’s there to see in Lightning Ridge?


Astronomy Shrine

Amigo's Castle

Well , apart from the obvious shops selling opals, opals and more opals there is so   much more to see. Tourism is alive and well here in the Ridge but it’s not the kind of touristy things  that you get anywhere else.



Fred's House

First there is the “Car Door Tours” – 4 self guided, self drive tours each a different colour that takes you to some amazing places in the area. This morning we did the green car door tour. Took about an hour but we saw where  the first mine was dug  in Lightning Ridge (1902), some crazy “houses”, the ridge where the lightning strikes  (hence the name of the town) and a “cultural” landscape that has to be seen to be believed.


Then here are the Artesian Pools – constant 41 degrees, open 24 hours, in the middle of nowhere. Amazing.  Hope we are here long enough to get the chance to spend some time there.

On our bus tour this afternoon, we were given a glimpse into the lives of all of the eccentric people who live or have lived here -the Polish man who built a shrine to astronomy,  Fred the opal miner who lived a very simple life in a tin shack fossicking ( he did find opals worth $40 million in today’s currency)  and the man who has started to build a castle but who will never complete it. Later we went underground into the Black Hand. It’s hard to describe an underground sculpture gallery – you just have to see it for yourself.  All of the tunnels (opal mining tunnels ) have been transformed into sculptures with more being done each day by the artist. Themes from animals to politicians, ancient Egypt to Aboriginal Dreamtime, the last supper and superheroes adorn the walls of the tunnels.  Incredible!  



Is that you Michael?



A hug for the invisible man

Me old mate Bob

Super Man!!

Tribute to the fallen

The Fab Four

 

 



Weight Watchers here I come

The Last Supper

What more could there be?  The Black Queen of course. For $30, you can have a two hour  theatrical performance about the life of the original owner of the house  (The Black Queen) by the current owner of the house, Gale,  and  where each act of the  performance takes place in one of the rooms of her house (hand built using bottles , rocks and cement by the Black Queen herself.) As well, Gale offers an amazing tour of her antique light museum included in the price. Here you can hold a 4 thousand year old lamp in your hand, learn amazing things about lamps and lights throughout  the centuries whilst looking at or holding the lights.  You can’t really explain in words what you see and hear. Her stories are so rich and interesting. Very hard to beat!  Your ticket also includes free entry into the museum and gift shop the next day. 

Antique Light show

Who cares about the opals? They’re probably sourced  from somewhere else  in Australia and set in 10 or 14 carat gold overseas. (Apparently  the carats give them away.)  Lightning Ridge is the only place in the world where black opal is found  so you can be pretty sure that the product is local. But unfortunately,  I can’t afford black opal. However,  the other jewels of the area are well within my budget and worth every cent.