When you think of Australia’s great, wide expanse of natural wonder, it’s quite usual to think of the Great Barrier Reef, or perhaps the rainforests in the tropics, but the greatest natural wonders are actually to be found in north-western NSW.
Lightning Ridge is a small mining town near the southern Queensland border with a history of opal mining and paleontological finds in the sandstone rock that makes up most of the land of the area. It is a community rich in history, with a variety of inexpensive or free tourist options to help you explore this area.
Big Opal – Underground Mine Tour
The Big Opal Underground Mine tour is a historical self-guided tour that takes you down through the expanse of mining tunnels that have been carved out through years. Taking the 113 steps down a vertical spiralling staircase leads you to a series of tunnels that have been dug out in the early days of opal mining. This series of tunnels leads you through a number of areas filled with artefacts of the miners lives in the tunnels, including a bed and a variety of closed-off tunnels showing off period-typical mining items and gear. At $20 for entry, this is among the cheapest tours to see in Lightning Ridge and a definite must-see during your stay.
Chambers of the Black Hand
You may have seen an art gallery before, but have you ever seen an art gallery 40 feet underground? Chambers of the Black Hand is the result of one man’s 20-year artistic venture, with brilliant and intricately designed artworks hand-carved into the sandstone walls. From a replica Egyptian tomb to the 10-foot-tall Buddha, Chambers of the Black Hand has it all. This art gallery boasts 800 + carvings throughout the entirety of the gallery, and it is still being added to every day! Entry is $40 for adults – a little pricey – but an unmissable experience all the same.
Artesian Bore Baths
And if you are looking for free attractions, you shouldn’t miss Lightning Ridge’s Artesian Bore Baths! The water in the baths is sent to the surface through naturally occurring pressure from the bores, and it constantly maintains a temperature between 40 and 50 degrees Celsius all year round, making this a perfect destination in colder months. The baths are open all day, with the exception of a few hours daily that are dedicated to cleaning the baths to ensure their hygiene for the visitors.
Fossicking
Found throughout all of Lightning Ridge are various piles of upturned rock from when opal mining was in its heyday. While most of the larger chunks of opal have already been found, and the hotspots bought out by private property owners, many smaller pieces of opal can still be found lying about. All of these open piles of rock are free for the public to fossick around in (as long as you haven’t had to cross a boundary fence, of course!). There is nothing more special than finding a piece of opal for yourself, and the various fossicking areas are a staple of Lightning Ridge’s history as a mining community.
