I'm looking to learn a little about opal mining (as I'm a geology nut), and see a bit of the Outback (I'm a visitor from New York City). I've read here that L.R. might be the best destination and relatively nearby my homebase, Sydney. Can anyone give me some advice on the best way to get there in October? Do tours exist? I don't have a car, but would think about renting one (I'm a young woman travelling by myself)...Thanks so much!

Hi Stephanie,
I might have a couple of contacts for you. Are you living in Sydney at the moment, and how long do you intend to stay in Lightning Ridge? BTW, it probably is the best place to go, but I'm not sure what your idea of "relatively nearby" is. It's about 800k's (500 miles) from Sydney.

An alternative to LR is White Cliffs via Broken Hill. There are many tour operators out of BH so you could try a search on Broken Hill tours and see what you find. You can get to BH by train, plane, bus or car so may be easier than getting to LR.

BlueGum,I think you could be right. Broken Hill would give a much better choice of accommodation than "The Ridge" and as it's a bigger centre would probably have a wider range of attractions other than the opal mines. On the other hand, L.R. is smaller and there might be more opportunity for "hands on" noodling around if that's what Stephanie wants. There is a daily train/bus service to L.R., but it's a 12 hr trip (and one wouldn't do it any quicker driving, particularly as it would be an unknown road.) Not sure what the flight situation is these days. I confess to having some, albeit slight, reservations (having lived in the general area of L.R. for 1/2 my life) about sending Stephanie out there on her own without knowing a bit about her experiences & expectations. As it happens, I'm meeting a friend on Friday who goes up there buying opals, so thought I'd run it past him.

(Stephanie, I hope this doesn't sound too "protective" - it's just that I've had friends visit up there who've absolutely loved it and others who've loathed it, thought it was the end of the earth, dirty, dusty etc. Although how that one thought you could have mines without dirt & dust always did mystify me (LOL))

Whilst I absolutely LOVE Lightening Ridge and would go there again anyway and anytime ( perhaps not mid-summer) I think that if you are from New York and you want a real "different" experience then I would fly to Adelaide and get myself to Coober Pedy where you can have underground hotels/restaurants/and just about everything else underground. Do a google of the place and see what you think. I realize it is futher away but it is certainly unique.
Getting back to Lightening Ridge though - that is the only place in the World where you can get the Black Opal and that is in itself unique so for that reason alone it is worth a visit.
If you are a geology nut then you should take yourself up to Glen Innis/Inverell area where there is still a lot of Saphire mining OR better still go to Queensland and out to Emerald / Rubyvale / Saphire and see the mines there and get some hands on experience as well.
I stayed at the Hotel at Lightening Ridge and the accommodation was great. It is not 5 star but then the out-door bbq at night sitting under the stars when you can see each and every one of them is a fantastic experience ( and an exageration about the stars but at least you " think" you can see each and every one of them )

Hi there - and thanks for your responses. This was the sort of info I was looking for, and Bokhara, I am living in Sydney, and would like to spend 3 days or so pursuing this. I've investigated the plane/train/bus angle between the locales, but I guess I have to weigh $$$ vs. time. And yes, I had meant relatively as in 'relatively'
Broken Hill did originally strike me as the place to go, and seeing as there are tours and such, as well as the underground houses, churches, etc. it might just be the best place. And thanks for your concern about sending me out into the wild blue yonder. I'm interested in seeing the "ends of the earth" but a larger 'center' like BH and the surrounds might give me a little more peace of mind re: girl on her own in a strange land...And that would be great if you could ask your friend, much obliged! Stef

Hi Liz,
When were you in "the Ridge" last, & did you stay at the "Diggers Rest"?
Cheers
Bokhara (after the river not too far from there !!)

Hi B. It would have been a good 10 years since I was in LR. I cannot remember the name of the hotel but they also had camping sites and caravan sites and had this wonderful bbq outside with all the extras inside. We stayed for about 5 days and I loved it. Then we took the road marked "desert track" heading east to Collarenebri when we indeed looked forward to getting on the Gwydir Highway - which was actually worse than the bone shaking "desert track".
We had bypassed White Cliffs as it was about 80K off the highway so I would be grateful to know if it has the sort of housing that Coober Pedy has.
I think any sort of a trip into those areas would be wonderful and the added interest of Broken Hill is of course the wonderful painters that live there who call themselves the Brushmen of the Bush. I did call into both Pro Hart and whatshisnames ( the one who did a TV programme)- very well worth the visit in both cases. The colours around BH are wonderful too and of course you do get the same kind of sky there as you do in LR.

Hi Liz, Have stayed at Underground Motel in White Cliffs once on outback trip from Sydney-Lawn Hill in Qld. Yep, homes are dug-outs, just jackhammered out from the silica rock, apparently low humidity keeps them dry, then a shaft is put into through the ground above for light and cement slab is laid for floor. So when you need more room, just jackhammer a bit more rock away.

The dug-outs were quite comfortable and snug, was there in winter so very cold at night - place looks a bit like a moonscape. There was an incredibly rare opalised fossil found there, wish I could remember where it is now - someone may know???

Perhaps a red herring since you're opting for Lightning Ridge, but I agree with Liz - Coober Pedy is much better and more interesting given its size, the range of dug outs and the amazing population. Because it is full of European migrants it has some surprising delights - fantastic coffee and reliable Greek food! This, in the middle of absolutely nowhere. Not exactly handy to Sydney but if you were branching out to Adelaide and Alice, worth a think (although a 10+ hour drive from Adelaide). If it's geology you're interested in, combining a Coober Pedy trip with the spectacular Flinders Ranges would offer a very different outback experience from Lightning Ridge, with some great sights along the way - the Parachilna Pub, Afghan settlement in Marree, etc etc. Way off the beaten track.

Hi Stephanie, I think your decision to go for Broken Hill on this occasion is a good one as you'll get a broader experience in 3 days. As the others say,L.R., Cooper Pedy and the gemfields in New England & Central Qld (Emerald etc) would be great for another time when you've a bit more time.

Thanks so much for your replies. I think I will be opting for Broken Hill, but I got a better idea of what's available...thanks again. This site is a wonderful resource, and I hope one day to return to Oz! Stef

You're welcome, Steph - please let us know about your Broken Hill trip when you get back.