After this most relaxing experience at Rose hill Aviaries we packed up to move on to Lightning Ridge in New South Wales for an Opal experience.
For our over seas friends Lightning Ridge produces the only black opals in the world and they are gorgeous beyond belief.
We had to stop at the little town of Hebal for a beer in the little pub, What a gem grin.
The inside of this Pub was a typically great little outback licensed establishment, providing a little light relief and refreshments for the travelling public as well as the few locals that frequent it.
After refreshing the weary bodies we left Hebal and crossed into New South Wales from Queensland.
This town my friends is one of the great attractions of the west.
There is a hot bore bath here but most found it too hot and crowded so we just enjoyed the rest of the town.
Our original plan was to book for 3 nights in case we needed a bit more time here. We only paid for 2 nights in case their was not enough to keep us there any longer.
Gotta tell you that this place has some of the best tourist attractions that we have ever seen. So much so that we stayed for 4 nights and left reluctantly on the 5th day vowing to return to see more of the area.
Staying at the Lightning Ridge Hotel Motel Caravan Park we booked a tour with the Black Opal Tour company. This cost us $25 each for a 3 hour tour of the Ridge. Money very well spent.
Margaret our tour guide treated us to a great first hand knowledge of life on the Ridge and some of the attractions, culminating with coffee and scones at the Tour companies old train carriages where they had a great opal shop (revisited by some later on 
.
As a result of the tour we decided to visit two of the famous attractions in the Ridge the next day. They were booked that evening
The first was “The Black Queen” in the morning with the
“Chambers of the Black Hand “ mine tour in the afternoon.
Both of these attractions were first class. “The Black Queen” being our favourite while the Chambers ran a close second. It is hard to compare the two as they offer a completely different experience but both never to be forgotten.
Gale and Roger Collins own and operate this magnificent establishment that is “The Black Queen”.
Gail being the orator to a magnificent story concerning Joan Andrews the original occupant and builder of this not to be missed attraction.
The “Black Queen” was the most moving theatrical experience that we have seen and included a priceless museum collections of oil lamps, some absolutely priceless.
We were treated to a display of the lamps during the performance by Gale.
This display of lamps dated back to 200bc. We were allowed to not only view but hold some of the lamps and some were alight for our viewing.
Gale Collins.
The lamp on the right dates to 200BC.
We won’t go into this great attraction too far as we think it would spoil the experience for those that subsequently visit. Suffice to say it must be seen as one of the true wonders of Australia.
“Chambers of the Black Hand “ mine tour was fantastic.
It is a display of over 400 carvings in the sandstone walls of an opal mine and display of how the mining was done before mechanisation in a 100 year old mine shaft.
This is an ongoing work of art with some of the carvings having been painted.
Absolutely fantastic display and presentation.
I was very proud of Mavis who overcame her fear of confined spaces ( thanks to the compassionate guide) to view the carvings.
A great effort and a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
The themes ranged from movie s, religion to an Egyptian room where he had carved and painted Tutankhamen s tomb. Wonderful viewing.
It is hard to imagine that this is all done in sandstone 40 feet underground.
The next day was a bit of a rest day,although we did visit Bevins cactus nursery. Another great experience in the Ridge,consisting a garden filled with cacti from all over the world
It is probably a good time to say that Lynda and Neville had adopted a pee wee in Surat. This bird was fascinated with their windows and mirrors on the car. We know it is a long shot but we think that they smuggled the bird into Lightning Ridge, because this bird was seen behaving exactly the same in the Ridge. Terrible mess on the glass grin. It even managed to remove shopping bags that were placed to deter its amorous advances to the mirrors.
After relieving some of the opal dealers of some of their heavy burden we reluctantly although excitedly said farewell to the Ridge and headed for Burren Junction.
Part 4 soon.