Lightning Ridge is a remote, quirky town packed with interesting characters all with a story to tell.  Over 85% of residents are born overseas and have come to try their luck with the opals. A bit like gambling most find nothing of note, some find dribs and drabs of ‘colour’ and a (very) few strike it rich – and those that do make millions.  LR is the only place in the world where black opals have been found and 1 Karat yields $10k, so opal fever is a real thing.

There was loads to see in our 1 full day here . We planned our mission carefully and tried to leave no stone unturned. This was made easier by the Shire’s self guided  ‘car door routes’- four  routes covering all the local attractions – art, mining, history and sunset, signified by spray painted car doors. Some took more finding than others but we managed it – photo evidence below.

Flat and dusty, the outskirts of town (or suburbs as they call them) are full of 50x50m ‘claims’ – no permanent dwellings are allowed on claims so those trying for opals generally live in makeshift dwellings over where they sink their shafts.