Lightning Ridge May 2023

Caravan and Cabins Tour to Lightning Ridge

No opals were found nor fortunes made, however, plenty of fun was to be had on our 8 day trip to Mudgee, Coonamble and Lightning Ridge. Mark and Linda did a fantastic job, organising 42 guests, 14 caravans and 3 dogs.

Our first stop on Monday, 15th May, was at the Mudgee Riverside Caravan Park located close to the shops and pubs of Mudgee. People were free to tour around Mudgee visiting wineries, the Honey Place and High Valley Cheese returning with lots of purchases! On Tuesday, a group of about a dozen ventured to the Goulburn River National Park, where this energetic group walked the Drip walking track to enjoy the beauty of ‘the Great Dripping Wall’ which has carved out a wave like cliff face.

Our next stop was overnight at Coonamble with a lovely meal at the Terminus Hotel.

The following day, the trip to Lightning Ridge was along a very bumpy Castlereagh Highway with a stop for lunch in Walgett, where we also viewed the impressive memorial mural of Jimmy Little on the Walgett Water Tower.

The following five days at Lightning Ridge were a look into a very different world with five interesting self guided coloured car door tours to complete. On our first night in Lightning Ridge, we had drinks watching the sunset at the Stone Labyrinth on the Green Car Door tour.

The next morning, we ventured 12 metres underground to view over 900 hand carved sculptures at the Chambers of the Black Hand Mine. Driving further, on the Yellow Car Door tour, was a graveyard of old trucks and cars and abandoned mine shafts with mullock heaps as far the eye could see. The Cactus Garden was next for the green fingers amongst us.

On Saturday morning, we all headed 50 kilometres south-west of Lightning Ridge to the Grawin Opal Fields and the Pubs in the Scrub. Our first stop was the Sheepyard Inn where many were hoping for fresh scones, only to be disappointed. Lunch was at the Glengarry Hilton surrounded by mining equipment, mine shafts and mullock heaps. The final stop for drinks was at The Pub in the Scrub where a round of golf was possible on the rocky fairways and oiled sand greens. Dinner that night was at the local Italian restaurant with the Filipino chef.

Sunday was a road trip to Queensland to the towns of Hebel and Dirranbandi. The Hebel pub was built in 1884 as a Cobb and Co Changing Station. A Russian bakery in Dirranbandi satisfied our need for sweet and savoury treats. Everyone gathered together for a group barbecue for dinner in the park pavilion. A fiercely competitive trivia quiz (run by Ro and Brian) was a great way to finish a busy day. Monday, was a free day to finish the Car Door tours, soak in the Artesian Bore Baths and visit local opal retailers.

However, the highlight of the trip was still to come! We were entertained by the newly discovered star, John Leplaw as “The Man from Ironbark”. John wooed the audience at the Bush Ballad Show with his impromptu and witty performance as Ironbark. John survived the barber’s murderous joke and returned to Ironbark.

On Tuesday, Stanley the Emu an 18 metre steel sculpture by local artist John Murray built out of scrap metal and an old VW- farewelled us as we all headed off in different directions.

An informative and enjoyable time was had by all. Story by: Susan Reus