When we visited the Bourke Visitor Information Centre and told the lovely lady where we were planning on going she asked “Have you thought of visiting Lightning Ridge”? She said if you have been to Coober Pedy then you will love ‘The Ridge’ as the locals refer to it. 😉👍
So we changed direction and headed to Lightning Ridge👍 and why not. We ended up staying a few nights and are so glad we did. I don’t think it is anything like Coober Pedy, to be very honest, but Lightning Ridge has its own unique, quirky style as a town. It’s home to the rare black Opal, not that we found it, and also some very popular naturally-heated Artesian bore baths.
I guess it’s something you really need to love to do and quite frankly it’s not something I always feel the need to do. But if that is your thing you will probably love submerging your body into a pool which has temps of 40 – 50c. Before you say anything YES we have both indulged into submerging into the baths…….
While at the Ridge we stayed at the Lightning Ridge Outback Resort which was perfect for us as we could walk into town and check out the wonderful variety of Galleries and more. There is a large selection of jewelers specializing in Opal. We loved all the painted street art murals throughout the town and we couldn’t resist stopping into John Murray’s personal Gallery.
We love when we can walk around a town and take in pics and more and then spend some dollars in a pub, café, butcher, baker and more.
Who doesn’t love a good coffee? Check out Morillas Café for a great coffee and when we stopped by we also enjoyed a yummy lunch.
👉Lightning Ridge Outback Resort offers👇
👉Power and water level gravelled drive-thru sites – $33 per night 2A (at the moment)🔌
👉Amenities/laundry – I need to be very honest. These have certainly seen better days and I had to laugh each time I went to the loo…..why because they were the ones you could lean over the top of the wall and have a chat with your neighbor. They were clean enough but I have certainly seen better. 👕🚽🚿
👉Camp kitchen🍽 – Good luck if you need to use a camp kitchen. Many of the local roos 🦘🦘🦘 have adopted this area and seem to be there all day until sunset.
👉Pet friendly 🐶
👉Telstra reception 📱 is great and TV reception is again touch and go.
👉Swimming pool 🏊♂️
👉Pub/restaurant on the property🍻🥘
Below are a list of others places we have visited that may be of interest to you:
-
- Alice Springs NT to Broken Hill NSW
- Broken Hill to Sawtell – NSW
- Crossing the Nullarbor
- Free Camps – Broken Hill to Cobar -NSW
- NSW – Free camps, Donation camps, Showgrounds and Caravan Parks 2019
- Northern Territory – Free camps, Donation camps and Caravan Parks 2018/2019
- Queensland Road Trip 2017/2018
- South Australia to Western Australia 2019
- South Australia trip 2017/2018
- Victoria 2017/2018
- Western Australia Coastal Trip 2018
- WA’s Got the Lot 2019
Cheers
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Happy Aussie Caravanning Lifestyle
Dixie and Graeme