Lightning Ridge, NSW

Many hopeful miners have ventured to this area in search of the black opals. Some made it rich, some busted and others just hung around.

Once the kind of town you would expect to feature in a movie script, Lightning Ridge has a colourful past. Today the mining is large highly mechanised big money operations. The rules are strict and compliance is out of reach of most small operators.

Tourism is the new vogue and there are the cafes, accommodation and high end galleries to prove it. It is still worth a visit if you are heading past.Read more