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Lightning Ridge ( Australia ) 2021

Dustyone

Well Known Member
Another adventure in the RV-10.
My mother had considered a bus trip with her friends to see Lightning Ridge but the 15 hour bus trip put her off the idea. After the successful trip to Longreach the year before, the RV-10 was pressed into service for another adventure.

The name Lightning Ridge is said to have originated when in the 1870s, some passers-by found the bodies of a farmer, his dog, and 200 sheep, which had been struck by lightning. The ridge and surrounding areas is full of ironstone boulders which make for spectacular lightning strikes in the summer storms.

These days Lightning Ridge is known for the famous Black Opal. 99% of the worlds Black Opals come from Lightning Ridge.
https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/outback-nsw/lightning-ridge-area/lightning-ridge

It was an easy 2 hour flight from our home base at Redcliffe.
YRED to YLRD

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On approach to Lightning Ridge

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Arrived and unpacked,
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There are many attractions and tours to take in Lightning Ridge. One of the most unusual is an underground art galley of sculptures were the miner had turned an unproductive mine into a sandstone gallery.
Chambers of the Black Hand
https://www.visitnsw.com/destinatio...ing-ridge/attractions/chambers-the-black-hand

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A bus tour in the afternoon was a great way to understand the mining community and the very rustic way the early pioneer miners survived.

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Beer can and bottle house,
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Cont'd
 
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Lightning Ridge Cont'd

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A Gothic Wonder with an Intriguing History, in Outback NSW.
Lightning Ridge is nothing if not unusual and Amigo's Castle is fine example of that. We had not expected a gothic style castle in the dusty outback of New South Wales. This magnificent, although incomplete castle, based on Italian ruins is built on a mining lease. The 15 metre tall structure is the work of Vittorio Stefanato, known locally as Amigo. Disenchanted with opal mining Amigo commenced building his castle from ironstone boulders he collected in the area.

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There were so many high quality world class Art galleries in LR, we only went through some of them ,with each one being different and original.
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Recommend staying at the Wallanculla Motel as they also own the Bowls Club where if you are a guest you get 10% off your meals. They are also very Pilot friendly and kindly let us hire their mini bus for the duration of our stay.

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Flying home was spectacular, with the Outback having received the best winter rain in years, the country was alive with colour.

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We landed at Goondiwindi for fuel and morning tea,

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Our trip home to Redcliffe was low and fast. With smooth air and great visibility it was a great way to finish a memorable 3 day trip.

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There is so much to do and see at Lightning Ridge, our 3 day trip only scratched the surface, we will defiantly be going back.

Until the next adventure..................
 
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