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

Images by Simon Bayliss

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....

Not open to the public - but stop, have a look and read about the builder on the front gate.

Images by Simon Bayliss

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.

Said to be the largest display of old and rare cactus in 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

Come and get the genuine underground opal mine experience. Enjoy a free town tour with free pick up from 8:45am when joining the Big Opal Tour.

Hours: Open from 10:00am 7 days

Tours: 10:00am and 2:00pm

Cost: Adults $22 Children $1 (when accompanied by an adult)

Features: Guided tour of our mine, DVD of our opal mine and surrounds, opal polishing demonstration and explanation, tar road to door, free entry aboveground opal shop, free fossicking of our opal dirt

The Black Queen            
Outstanding Outback Theatre… with a twist

Completely surprising. The Award Winning Black Queen is an inspiring collection of intertwining stories weaved together and told in a wonderfully mysterious way. Expect the unexpected.

Open: March – Nov

Performances Daily: 9am, 1pm & 5pm

Cost: Adults $25 Bookings essential

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 $5 Children free

Features: Friendly service and souvenirs

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.

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.

Open: April - November

Tour times:10.30am and 3pm (7 days a week)

Open: December - March

Tour Times: 3pm only (7 days a week)

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

Images by Simon Bayliss

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 free fossicking 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

1932 Miners' cottage and 1915 Cottage Hospital Gallery. Historical displays books and crafts.

Features: Local history, books and souvenirs

Cost: Donations accepted

Opening Hours: open 3 days a week, or by appointment, phone for details

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.

Come along with us on a tour of dicovery through this original 45 year old opal mine. Hear the tales and stories told of mining and witness for yourself the hardships that the miners endure to find that elusive Black Opal. See the actions the biggest hoist in the Southern Hemisphere comes to life as it raises the dirt from the shaft and sends it up to the top of the hoist for dumping.

Opening Hours: 9am - 5pm seven days

Features: Underground mine, mining operations, fossil display, opal and mining information talk, video and opal and jewellery showroom

Cost: Adults $16 Children $6