Lightning Ridge

Postcode: 2834

Lightning Ridge is a town in north-western New South Wales, Australia, in Walgett Shire, near the southern border of Queensland. Lightning Ridge is a world epicenter of the mining of black opals and other opal gemstones. Lightning Ridge has the largest deposits of these luminescent stones in the world.

Lightning Ridge is about six km east of the Castlereagh Highway, and is served in commercial activities by the town of Walgett - some 75 km to the south. Lightning Ridge is a flourishing tourist town with numerous "caravan" (camper-trailer) and camping parks, the previously very rustic and contagious Diggers' Rest pub (which has burned down for the third time) and a well-appointed and vibrant bowling club with its eight artificial-grass bowling greens. Temperatures in summer can reach into the high 40s Celsius, but below ground the temperature remains at a pleasant and continual 22 degrees, year round.

Lightning Ridge hosts an annual Goat Race in the town's main street on the Easter long weekend. Goats are harnessed and ridden by children, much like harness racing in equine sports. The Goat races are accompanied by wheelie-bin races, and Horse races the following day.

Lightning Ridge has abundant hot water from a bore spring into the Great Artesian Basin and offers two hot water pools for bathing. The minerals make the water very healthy for external use and drinking. Public can tap mineral water at a hose in Harlequin Street.

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