Tuesday 21/9/11
Well so much for leaving at 6am it was 8.30am before we got underway and got to the freeway and realised we left the ecopot and the adapter for the fridge so we had to turn around and go back oh well you get that. Today we plan on getting to Goondiwindi.
Well we got a long way before our first stop Coomera service centre for petrol oh and Maccas seeings as it was there lol. Ok back on the road and we travelled a fair distance this time not stopping again until Captains Mountain just before Millmerran. We can tell we are heading west as the road narrows and the farms are a plenty. Was surprised by all the big cactus plants on the side of the road.
We arrived at Goondiwindi early afternoon, filled up with petrol and started to notice car wasnt being very fuel efficient. While Darrell filled up i went across to the Information centre and I have to say the couple that work there were the most lovely people very helpful giving me information on some free camps just south of Goondiwindi on the river. Also in the Information centre they have a mueseum to honour the race horse Gunsynd which for a gold coin donation you could look through I loved it and to my surprise Tom really enjoyed it also.
After a few discussions we decided we would keep going and make a decision once we got to Moree. Once we arrived at Moree it was about 4pm and we got out the Camps 6 book and decided we would head for a free camp at Collerenabri (this town has left a big impact on me). We arrived at Collerenabri and went to get fuel and the ladies at the petrol station said they wouldnt recommend camping there so we decided we would get some hot chips for dinner and continue through to Lightning Ridge.
Now the reason this town has left such a big impression is I cannot believe how small the town was absolutely nothing there except a pub,service station and a few shops. But the people we came in contact with in this town were so friendly and the chips and gravy we bought for dinner was the best chips we have ever had. So we sat in the park by the river and had our dinner.
As it was starting to get dark we decided to take the main highway rather than the dirt road due to kangaroos being out. It wasnt far down the road when the kids got extremely excited and thought they were seeing things when they saw 2 emus running along the road they just could not believe there eyes. We saw plenty of kangaroos dead and alive. We arrived into Lightning Ridge at around 7.30pm and found our way to Lorne Station. As we were pretty tired we only set up the main part leaving the annex til morning. When checking in at Lorne Station I asked the lady for a grassy spot for the Camper Trailer she just laughed and said you havent been out here before have you. It wasnt until the morning I understood what she meant.
It is amazing when you are out in the country how many stars are in the sky it is beautiful. After a warm day it was a very cold night but we were warm and snug in our beds.
Wednesday 22/9/11
After setting up the annex i went to try out the showers and I have to say they were excellent lovely and hot. I strolled around taking photos of Lorne station. This place is amazing we loved it and thoroughly recommend it if you ever go to Lightning Ridge.
After checking out Lorne Station and meeting some other campers it was off to the Information Centre to see what was on offer. This Information Centre is staffed by amazing people with lots of knowledge of the Lightning Ridge area. We loved the look of the car door tours but thought if we booked one of the bus tours we would see more and learn more so we booked a tour on Black Opal tours. So we had a couple of hours before the tour started so we headed into town to look around we found the most amazing shop that sold everything you walked into it and it had everything spent ages browsing even Darrell and the kids were impressed. After the shop it was off to the John Murray Art gallery this was awesome and free entry. John Murray is well known for his art which is full of bush humour. I really wish I got that Budgie Smuggler print lol. Next it was a stroll through the main street and past the court house but I just had to stop at the local op shop oh how I love op shops. Next we went to Coopers Cottage a little hut built in 1916 Tom and Taz could not believe people lived in these types of cottages and wanted to know where did the TV plug in lol.
It was time for an ice-cream in the park at the information centre why we waited for our tour bus to pick us up. Once on the bus our first port of call was Big Opal mine, then a stop and look at a miners hut Fred Bodel's hut is the oldest mining hut in Lightning Ridge they are actually called camps not huts, they live very primitive indeed, they are not allowed electricity on their sites and a mining licence allows them a lease of land 50 metres by 50 metres. We then went and looked at Lunatic Hill open cut mine and stopped for a bit of a fossick. We then drove past the bottle house, the Astonomers Monument was very interesting, as was Amigos castle we had afternoon tea at the opal railway then it was off to the Walk-in-Mine to go underground once this was completed we drove past the cactus garden and thermal pool before being dropped back to our car.
After our tour it was back to Lorne Station for some dinner and a chat to the other campers around the fire. Before we got to settled we thought we would go down and try out the hot Artesan spa at a balmy 41.5 degrees we thought what a great way to wind down a brilliant day. After about an hour of soaking in these natural hot spring mineral bath. It was back to camp and a bit of a rest gazing into the beautiful sky I have never seen so many stars.
Thursday 23/9/11
After our soak in the thermal pool i can honestly say we all had the best nights sleep. Well it was much discussion we decided we would pack up and make our way to Dubbo today so we would have the full day to spend with Denise, Steve and the girls. Once we packed up we headed to the thermal pool for one last soak. Then it was destination Dubbo.
We absolutely loved Lightning Ridge and would recommend this place we missed out on doing the Chambers of the Blackhand tour and from what everyone told us this is simply amazing so I guess we will do that on our next visit as we will be definately coming back especiallyas Tom thinks he may become an opal miner when he grows up.
Contact details:
Lorne Station - $8 per adult per night unpowered site children free
Black Opal Tours - $68 family of four
Enjoyed your story, just love that pool. I always stay in far too long :)
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