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Prospecting for gold and opals in Coober Pedy and Lightning Ridge Australia

PROSPECTING HOLIDAYS

Prospecting for Gold and Black Opals in Australia - NSW/VIC/SA
Nothing beats the excitement and thrill of seeing the glint of gold in a pan or unearthing your own natural opals, all while experiencing the beautiful Australian bush at the same time.

Lightning Ridge, located in outback NSW, about 6 km east of the Castlereagh Highway, is famous for the elusive and distinctive Black Opal, not found anywhere else in the world. Take the self guided tour of the Walk In mine at Bald Hill, and even fossick for your own piece of unique opal.

Coober Pedy, still regarded as Australia’s last frontier of the wild outback is Australia’s Opal capital, produces more opal than any other place in the world, and is located half way between Adelaide and Alice Springs. Due to the arid heat, 80 percent of the town’s population live underground, in rose coloured sandstone caves. In fact, everything in Coober Pedy is underground, shops, hotels, motels, churches and a swimming pool, and there is even underground camping.

Take a self guided tour in the Old Timers Mine, a fun and informative tour that includes a museum and underground homes. Or take a tour of Tom’s working opal mine, to see how opal is mined and even fossick for your own piece of opal in the mullock heaps. 

Average Climate for Coober Pedy Region
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Min C 18 18 15 11 7 5 4 4 7 10 13 16
Max C 34 33 30 25 20 16 16 18 22 26 29 32
Rain mm 19 21 17 20 31 39 35 33 28 25 22 21

(all photo's courtesy of SATC)

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Prospecting for gold and opals in Coober Pedy and Lightning Ridge Australia Prospecting for gold and opals in Coober Pedy and Lightning Ridge Australia Prospecting for gold and opals in Coober Pedy and Lightning Ridge Australia Prospecting for gold and opals in Coober Pedy and Lightning Ridge Australia
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Australian Travel destination feature
Lightning Ridge, NSW
Lightning Ridge Black Opal Prospecting. New South Wales
Lightning Ridge has the largest known deposits of black opals in the world. This opal mining town is one of the few places in the world, and the only place in Australia, where the black opal can be found. Local Aboriginal legend says that the opals were created when a huge wheel of fire fell to the earth. more
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Things to do in Coober Pedy
4 wheel driving, fishing, bush walking, camping, bird watching, tours, aboriginal art fossicking and prospecting.

Other places to visit in region
Flinders Ranges, Port Auguster, Roxby Downs, Innamincka, Wilpena Pound

Best times of year to visit Coober Pedy
All year round but beware summer is very hot

What's on in Coober Pedy
Wilpena under the Stars - February
Outback Fringe Festival - April
Opal Festival - Easter
Australian Camel Cup - July
Outback Surfboat Carnival - November

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