Thurs, 23rd May, 2024 (afternoon) Coocoran Opalfield, Lightning Ridge to Lightning Ridge Rest Area, Castlereagh Highway, NSW (exploring Lightning Ridge)

Back through town to follow the Blue Door Tour.

We stopped at the Opal Mine Adventure for a look around. Lots of quirky things to check out and you can noodle here on their pile if you do the tour. Having just done a tour we declined the walk-through one here. It was the first tourist venture in town and is as old as me! They also have leases in the Queensland opal fields and have heaps of Boulder Opal on display and for sale as well. I bought a bag of ‘dirt’ guaranteed to have a bit of opal in it for $7 - we will see.

Some great information boards too.

Sent this photo to Valerie and Russell in case they come through here on their way to Kirsten’s and they need some power for their Tesla!!

Continued on past the cactus nursery which apparently has the largest collection of Cacti in the Southern Hemisphere - over 2300 species but we didn’t stop to check them out. Back to the bitumen and then around to do the Red Door Tour.

First stop was the site of the first settlement, Wallangulla. The opal rush boomed here in 1905.

The next place was a Bottle House. I didn’t realise it was actually open to the public till we went by. Wasn’t mentioned on the brochure. Great recyclers around here.

Next was another quirky house - Ridge Castle. Great clock tower.

Sim’s Hill is the highest point in the district.

Through different types of ‘camps’ then around to Amigo’s Castle. It was single-handedly built of ironstone. Started in 1981 - very impressive, though can’t see much as there is a big high fence and they charge admission fee. They don't have the underground homes here but they certainly have created some very interesting homes.

Lots of cacti all around the place.

Back to the bitumen again to another bottle house with museum. Lucky all the heavy drinkers didn't smash their bottles when they had finished or they wouldn't have anything to work with.

Back through town to check out Charlie Nettleton’s statue outside the old slab hut built in 1932.

Interesting chair out the front with a plaque about the Imperial Hotel.

Behind the cottage was the old 1914 Cottage Hospital with a display in the window. An old car in the carport that used to be owned by one of the early opal buyers.

On the corner we checked out Jack Murray’s corner - first recorded opal miner in 1901. Lots of old machinery etc scattered over the 50x50m mineral lease.

Back to the Info Centre for a cuppa. I found this in the great Visitors Guide we picked up. John Murray’s art on the front, the opal found while the miners found while filming an episode of Outback Opal Hunters that we saw at Down to Earth Opals and what I was hoping to find when I was hammering rocks at the Fossickers Piles.

Along the Yellow Door Tour to the Opal Centre Shed where we will be watching a show called ‘Spark’ tonight. Will need our jackets and beanies as it is open air show!

Parked nearby then went for a walk along the ‘Old Chum’s Track’ which goes through the opal fields to the heritage precinct of Nettleton, the second settlement of the diggings. We were following yellow dots on poles. A lease boundary marker.

Meandered along finding shafts, interesting rest areas and lots of different cacti.

Needs a bit of a mow around here - hope we don’t find any snakes. Continued on into the trees and around to another old abandoned lease though the machinery doesn’t look too abandoned.

Back to a main track which leads back up to Lunatic Hill. Fred’s camp looks like it could tell some stories. Near it was the info plaque about the settlement of Nettleton.

Big cactus with a seed pod and another small type.

Another interesting camp and old cars make good signs.

Back to the camper for drinks and to dig out our coats etc.

Walked across to the shed and checked out the information and displays inside before the show starts. Will be good when they have the new centre open.

The old Morris axle was used to turn an agitator or shake the drum to get the dirt off the opal.

An old opal cutting machine.

We went back outside and chose our seats as the stars appeared overhead. The show started with beautiful opals which I managed to photograph a couple as they described the different types and how they are formed etc.

Then it went through lots of pictures with voice overs of locals and old stories of past miners etc. This one had a lightning strike coming down as they explained how the town got its name. The photos were projected onto the side of the shed.

Very interesting and certainly a bit chilly sitting out here. Back to the camper. We took the Yellow Tour out to the highway, shorter than going back through town, and drove back down to the Rest Area to camp for the night. A couple of other travellers were already set up.