The magnificent Lightning Ridge Black Opal is certainly well worth visiting the Ridge for, but it does not end there... there are attractions aplenty from Outback theatre, underground sculptures, bore baths, galleries, jewelers and unique people (just to name a few).
Take a step back in time, or try your luck fossicking, whatever your taste, there is something to tickle everyone's fancy.
Lightning Ridge has a large variety of attractions to suit all needs. For those interested in purchasing Opals, many of the Lightning Ridge 'Attractions' listed below sell Opals. For specialty shops dealing with Opal purchases, please refer to our 'Opal Shopping' section.
Artesian Baths
Phone: 02 6829 0518 - Pandora Street, Lightning Ridge
A trip to the Ridge would not be complete without a visit to the free Artesian Bore Baths. At the end of a hard day fossicking and exploring, there is nothing quite as therapeutic as a long soak in the naturally heated thermal baths. Allow the water to soothe your aches while you gaze at the starry night sky and enjoy the serenity. Bliss!
Opening Hours: 24 hours/all year round Cost: Free
Astronomer's Monument
Phone: 0427 419 555 - Red Car Door Track, Pony Fence. ( P.O. Box 518 Lightning Ridge, 2834)
Take the time to browse this incredible feat of engineering and truly experience the eccentric mind of one of the Ridge's late characters. The walls of this 'concrete folly' have been carefully and lovingly inscribed and you can journey through the mind of its creator and wonder....
A private residence, available to see through Black Opal Tours
Australian Opal Centre
Phone: 02 68291667 Website - Morilla Street, Lightning Ridge
Meet a life-like dinosaur face to face! Examine rare opalised fossils from long ago, when dinosaurs and other wonderous creatures lived in streams, billabongs and mighty pine forests at the place we now call Lightning Ridge. Learn about Australian opal, opal mining and pioneering life on the opal fields.
Opening Hours: 1pm - 5pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. 9am - 1pm Tuesday. 9am - 5pm Saturday, or by appointment. Free entry.
Features: Lifelike dinosaur, opalised fossil collection, opal information, books, posters, postcards, toys, gifts and treasures from the Earth.
Bevan's Black Opal & Cactus Nursery
Phone: 02 6829 0429 www.bevanscactus.com - Blue Car Door Tour, Lightning Ridge
Said to be the largest display of old and rare cactus in the southern hemisphere, this garden is a labour of love and well worth a look! Meet the only black opal mining cactus farmers in the world!
Opening Hours: 9am - 5pm 7 days
Cost: Adults $10 Children free if accompanied by an adult.
Big Opal - Underground Mine Tour
Phone: 02 6829 0247 3 Mile Road, Lightning Ridge
Visit a genuine working Opal mine. First licenced opal mine open to the public in Lightning Ridge.
Hours: From 9:00am 7 days
Tours:
- Self guided tour of the mine. Adults $12.50 Children $2.00
Features: Opal mine, free entry to above ground opal and souvenir shop, fossicking, opal and cutting demonstartion, DVD of opal history featuring Lightning Ridge.
Black Queen - Theatre on the Ridge
Phone: 02 6829 0980 Website - Red Car Door Tour, Lightning Ridge
Black Queen, Theatre on the Ridge
One truly enlightening experience…The multi award-winning ‘Black Queen’ weaves drama, stories and history around a hand-crafted museum of light. ‘Legacy’ is an inspiring 3-act performance whose stories will stay with you forever. Hold a 4500-year-old lamp in your hands and learn about one woman’s pioneering act of self-healing as she built the house of her dreams.
- A house built with 14,000 coloured bottles…
- Enchanting stories around the fire...
- A priceless collection of antique lamps…
- Join us for an illuminating journey through the history of light.
Open Daily: March - Nov Performances at Sunset - 5pm (other times by appointment)
Black Queen provides a complimentary courtesy bus from town accommodation (Coaches welcomed)
Cost: Adults $35 Family $100 Bookings Essential
After watching the performance present you Ridge-E-Didge VIP Card and receive a FREE Black Queen Stubby cooler valued at $10
Bottle House
Phone: 02 682 9 061860 - Opal Street, Lightning Ridge
A unique structure and an intriguing example of innovative architecture.
Originally a miner's camp, the Bottle House now houses an astonishing collection of artefacts and other items of interest.
Opening Hours: 9am - 5pm 7 days
Cost: Adults $10 Children free
Features: Friendly service and souvenirs.
Coopers Cottage
Phone: 02 6829 0221 - Morilla Street, Lightning Ridge
Coopers Cottage is an authentic abode of the early miner, built in 1916. Its historical setting embraces the living conditions of the mining pioneer.
Cost: Free entry to one of the oldest houses in The Ridge
Opening hours: 11am to 5pm 7 days a week.
Chambers of The Black Hand
Phone: 02 68290221 Website - 5 kms up the 3 mile road, Lightning Ridge
You'll be amazed... The Egyptian chamber has humorous hieroglyphics and is a replica of an Egyptian tomb. Atlas holds the world while Adam supports the roof of the entrance to the working mine - another feature of the tour. The Last Supper which took six months to complete and the pondering Nostradamus, which took five hours to carve, are depicted in magnificent detail and is testimony to the razor sharp skill and patience of Ron. Carved on the wall of an opal cave, these captivating images have been created by local opal miner Ron Canlin. Ron has transformed a number of drives (tunnels) of an old opal mine into an interactive work of art. "The only underground opal shop" in Lightning Ridge - locally mined opal set in jewelery to suit every budget. Solid Lightning Ridge opal, doublets or inlay, some Coober Pedy and boulder opal available all set in gold or silver. Complimentary tea and coffee incl in the tour.
Open: April - November
Tour times:10.30am and 3pm (7 days a week)
Open: December - March
Tour Times: 10:30am only (7 days a week)
(8:30am and 1pm Group Bookings available, prior arrangements to be made.)
Fossicking Heap
Phone: 02 6829 1670 - Visitor Information Centre, Lightning Ridge
Whether you are old hat or it is your first time - there is nothing more exciting than that first bit of colour appearing beneath your fingertips as you scratch through the seemingly endless piles of white opal dirt. Good Luck!
Opening Hours: Daylight to Dusk
Cost: Free
Kangaroo Hill Complex
Phone: 02 6829 0155Top of Opal Street, Lightning Ridge
A life of collection has led to this quirky Lightning ridge icon. A fabulous display of rocks, minerals, shells, bottles and antiques will have you captivated for hours as will the freefossicking heap outside.
Features: 1 hour free fossicking, rocks and mineral display, shells, bottles and antique display, souvenirs
Opening Hours: 9.30am - 5pm except Sundays (Closed Christmas Day)
Cost: Adults $5 Children $0.50
Historical Society & Heritage Cottage
Phone: 0419 639 1209 - Morilla Street, Lightning Ridge
Features: Local history, books and souvenirs1932 Miners' cottage and 1915 Cottage Hospital Gallery. Historical displays books and crafts.
Cost: Donations accepted
Opening Hours: open 3 days a week, or by appointment, phone for details
Olympic Pool and Water Theme Park
Phone: 02 6829 0150 - Gem Street , Lightning Ridge
The 5 Star Olympic Pool and Water Theme Park operates during the summer months. The Olympic Pool is handy for keeping fit and the Water Themepark for keeping the kids entertained.
Walk in Mine
Phone: 02 6829 0473 Website - Bald Hill Road , Lightning Ridge
At the Walk In Mine you will be able to take a trip underground and experience for yourself an Opal Mine, view a fascinating film of the many Lightning Ridge characters and their lifestyles at the 'Ridge'.
Enjoy a complimentary tea or coffee in our picnic area and try your hand at fossicking for your own opal.
Come and meet us and visit our Showroom for your Opal/Jewellery or souvenir of Lightning Ridge at the best prices.
All Day Self-Guided Tours, No Bookings Necessary
Opening Hours: 9am - 5pm daily (Summer Hours 8:30am – 12:30pm Daily)
Features: Underground Mine, Mining Operations, Opal and Mining Information Talk, Video and Jewellery Showroom
Cost Tour: Adults $15 Children $6 (aged 6-16yrs, if under 6 free) Family $40 (2 adults and 2 children)
