Lightning Ridge

城市概覽

Long-time residents will tell you of a time when the town was rough and lawless, populated by those in search of a fortune, or on the run. It was home to 2,300 people in 2016. The Lightning Ridge region provides many visual experiences that can't be had elsewhere in Australia.

Visitors information centre 1 Lightning Ridge Visitors Information Centre, Lions Park, Morilla Street (Bill O'Brien Way), ☏ +61 2 6829 1670, [email protected]. M-F 9AM-5PM.

如何抵達

Lightning Ridge is easily accessible on a paved road about four kilometres east of the Castlereagh Highway, approximately 75 km north of Walgett. There is a daily connecting coach service from the Dubbo XPT, leaving at 2:20PM and arrives in the Ridge before 7PM (and leaves the Ridge just before 6AM). It's the best part of a day's trip from Sydney. Murrays also operates a coach from St George and often onwards from Toowoomba and Brisbane, which costs $160 one way. There is an airport around 3 km from town, with a walking and cycling path into town. Or most motels offer some kind of pick-up. There is no scheduled passenger service, but the runway is long and sealed, and it is simple to get a charter flight if you wish.

當地交通

The town has no public transport and no taxi service. However, the Bowling Club operates a transfer service for patrons, and many of the hotels will also assist with pickups from the airport and other locations for their patrons. You can think of the town as being the town centre, and the mining areas surrounding it. The town centre is easily walkable, and you can stroll between the club, the art galleries, cafes, pool and artesian baths. The mining areas start further out, and it can be hard to get to sightseeing locations outside of the town centre without a car or a tour. There are some half-day and full-day tours available in town. A vehicle is required to visit the many interesting out of town sightseeing locations such as Grawin with 'The Glengarry Hilton' and 'Sheepyard Inn'.

必看景點

Amigo's Castle, Lightning Ridge. (updated Mar 2019) Australian Opal Centre, 3/11 Morilla St. The, Displays of opal and fossils. Chambers of the Black Hand, 3 Mile Opal Field, Lightning Ridge, ☏ +61 2 68290221. The first level is 11 metres underground with images carved and painted in the sandstone walls and pillars. The Bottle House and museum, 60 Opal St. Lightning Ridge Open most days 9-5. 1 John Murray Art Gallery, 8 Opal Street, ☏ +61 2 6829 1130. M-F 9AM-5PM, Sa 9AM-2PM Sun 9AM-1PM. An impressive collection of locally inspired works, in a stylish, air-conditioned setting. Free. Visit the Walk In Mine to take an underground tour of the opal mines. 2 The Big Opal, ☏ +61 2 6829 0247. Self-guided tour 30 m underground, exploring three dug tunnels. You can see a seam of Opal. Expect to take around 45 min to walk the mine yourself. $20 per adult, $50 family. (updated Apr 2019)

體驗活動

The Lightning Ridge Easter festival with the Lightning Ridge Races is the highlight of the events calendar for the year. Rodeo at night, following by the races on Easter Sunday. If you want a room in a hotel, expect to have to book around a year in advance - or go on the waiting list for a cancellation. Many food trucks and market stalls roll into town as the population swells by thousands. Lightning Ridge Bore Baths, Lightning Ridge Ro (via Pandora St), ☏ +61 2 6829 1670. Open 24 hours a day. Warm artesian waters from the subartesian basin 900 metres below ground level. These waters are therapeutic for tired and aching muscles. Free. Water Theme Park, Gem Street (Adjacent to the Lightning Ridge Olympic Pool), ☏ +61 2 6829 0150. M-F 3-7PM; Sa Su holidays 11AM-7PM. Open during the summer months. The Olympic Pool has good diving facilities. The Water Theme park has a wave machine and other features. Go fossicking (noodling) after enquiring at the Visitor Information Centre as to where it is possible to do so. It goes without saying that you can't just fossick across the mining leases, so do check first.

購物

A black opal at one of the Ridge's opal shops. Artworks produced by local artists.

美食

Restaurants, cafes and take-aways cluster on the main street.

Lightning Ridge Bowling Club, Agate Street (next to the Telecom tower), ☏ +61 2 6829 0408. The Bowling Club is the centre of the town. It is large and well patronised. There are three dining options in the club.

住宿

There are two main motels right downtown. There are also caravan parks where you can rent a cabin, park your caravan/RV, or pitch a tent.

Wallangulla Motel, 22 Morilla St (opposite the Bowling Club), ☏ +61 2 6829 0542, toll-free: 1800 247 376. The Wallangulla Motel consists of 42 self-contained rooms with air conditioning. TVs in all rooms with Foxtel. The hotel is owned and run by the Bowling Club across the road. 1 Bluey Motel, 32 Morilla St, ☏ +61 2 6829 0380, [email protected]. On the main street, central to the Ridge.

順遊推薦

Grawin Opal field and the unusual dwellings that are here and elsewhere. Glengarry and visit the "Hilton" hotel Take yourself on a Car Door Explorer trip after obtaining a map from the Visitor Information Centre. These four routes are marked by numbered car doors painted in red, yellow, blue or green. This trip will give you an insight into the lives of miners on the opal fields.