Lightning Ridge
Went for a drive to Lightning Ridge in the central north of NSW. It is an opal mining town and the major source of the rare black opal.
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Day 1 Gordon to Dubbo
Rather uneventful, drove through the Blue Mountains to Dubbo.
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Day 2 Dubbo to Lightning Ridge
Funny sculptures at Gulargambone.
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Had lunch in Walgatt.
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Finally made it to Lightning Ridge.
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We stayed at the Lightning Ridge Outback Resort.
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COVID-19 social distancing was being enforced at the Artesian Bore Baths. Water comes from the Great Artesian Basin, about 1km underground.
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Great to soak in the baths after 1000 km of driving.
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Nettleton’s First Shaft Lookout.
This is the site of the first opal mine in Lightning Ridge made by Charlie Nettleton in 1903.
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Beer can house. Quite a few were consumed to get the inspiration.
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Keen miner.
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Sunset at Nettleton’s First Shaft Lookout.
A good view from the lookout.
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Stone labyrinth.
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The view looking back up to the lookout.
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Filled in mines are indicated by a pile of rubble but there are plenty of open ones in which to fall.
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Day 3 Lightning Ridge
Went for a walk on the Sunday morning. This is Cooper’s Cottage on the main street of Lightning Ridge (Morilla St). It was built in 1916.
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The Morilla St wasn’t too busy.
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Cranky people here.
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Went to Lunatic Lookout.
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Cactus tequila growing outside this house.
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This is Stanley the Emu. His body is a car.
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Black Opal Tour.
We took the Black Opal Tour.
This guy makes sculptures including a time machine.
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This Hudson pear cactus is a menace. Will go straight through shoes and car tyres.
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Miner’s camp.
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Amigo’s Castle, built single handedly by a crazy person (there are quite a few of them in Lightning Ridge).
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This is the Bottle House Mining Museum.
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A miner’s shack.
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Trevor our guide at the entrance of a mine.
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“Hobby miners” drink more than they work.
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Day 4 Lightning Ridge to Glenn Innes
Near Matheson on the Gwydir Hwy.
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Glenn Innes.
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Day 5 Glenn Innes to Tamworth
First decent cup of coffee the entire trip was at the Goldfish Bowl, Armidale.
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Big guitar, Tamworth.
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Impressive view from Oxley Lookout, Tamworth.
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DAY 6 Tamworth to Sydney
Came back via the Hunter Valley, stopping in Singleton for lunch.