Your host, Sonja Cairns, has been a volunteer at the Lightning Ridge Tourist Information Centre, so you’ll always have access to the best tourism tips. Feel welcome to browse one of our brochures or simply ask Sonja for her advice.
Lightning Ridge is a fascinating outback town. Although our population is only a few thousand, more that 100,000 tourists visit us each year to fossick for the valuable black opal. That means we’ve got plenty of fun activities for every visitor.
Annual & Special Events
- Easter Goat Races
- Easter Black Opal Rodeo
- Opal & Gemshow Expo
- Spring exhibition of the Arts and Crafts Council
- Opal Festival
- Aristocrat Black Opal Fours Bowls Carnival
- Annual Golf Tournament
- Annual Pistol Competition
Places to Visit
- Artesian Bore Baths – rejuvenate in the therapeutic hot waters, open 24hrs (free entry)
- John Murray Art Gallery
- The Bottle House
- Indigenous Art Displays & Cultural Information
- Cactus gardens
- Amigo’s Castle
- Chambers of the Black Hand
- Walk in Mine
- Big Opal
- Kangaroo Hill
- Grawin Pub in the Scrub
- Australian Opal Centre
- Historical Society
- Aquatic Centre
- Glengarry Hilton
Local Activities
- Fossick for opals and perhaps find yourself a valuable souvenir
- Wonderful wildlife and native plants – take a stroll from Sonja’s B & B to see kangaroos, wallabies & birds
- Enjoy a cold beer with the locals at a true-blue Aussie pub
- Watch Sunsets at Nettleton”s First Shaft lookout
- Arts and Crafts Centre
- Hot Artesian Baths
Tours & Adventures
- Tours to the opal fields for fascinating insights into opal mining and the unique lifesyle of the opal miner. Contact Sonja or jot a note on the booking form if you would like us to arrange a ticket on Black Opal Tours or Outback Opal Tours
Shopping
- Opal Shops Galore [see links]
- John Murray Art Gallery
- Down to earth opals
- Lost sea opals
- Gerd Shultz Jeweller
- Peters opals
- Opal Bin
- Australian Opal Centre
Restaurants & Pubs
- Morillas Cafe
- Lightning Ridge Bowling Club
- Nobbies Restaurant
- Bruno’s Italian Restaurant
- Glengarry Hilton
- Grawin Pub in the Scrub
For more information on our suites and facilities contact us on 02 6829 2010 or BOOK NOW your next outback adventure today!