Discover treasures above & below in Lightning Ridge NSW
Lightning Ridge has been recognised by Australian Traveller as:
#38 in the “100 Best Aussie Towns to Visit in 2026”
#5 in the “Top 10 Aussie Outback Towns Worth Travelling For”
Lightning Ridge Seasons
Living the dream
March - November
Bragging rights
December - February
Explore Lightning Ridge and our Regions
Explore Collarenebri
Located on the Barwon River and a little over an hour east on a dirt road, or an hour and 20 minutes on the sealed road when you leave from Lightning Ridge Colly (as the locals call it) is famous for its Cod Fishing and the town overflows every year with people come for a wide to chase a “Colly Cod” It has an RV Friendly Campground. Check out the Tattersalls Hotel while you’re there.
Explore Walgett
Seventy-Five kilometres south of Lightning Ridge lies the town of Walgett. It’s where the Namoi and Barwon Rivers meet. Like Colly Walgett is a popular fishing spot. You can take stroll along the Tracker Walford Walkway, visit the Freedom Ride Park and check out the giant Jimmy Little artwork memorialising one of Australia’s most well-known Aboriginal country music singers.
Explore Burren Junction
On the edge of the Walgett Shire one hour and forty-five minutes southwest of Lightning Ridge lies the town of Burren Junction. Tourists are drawn here to soak in the warn artesian spring located minutes from the town. There’s free camping at the spring and the town has a fabulous café and an inviting country pub.
Explore Carinda
Carinda’s claim to fame is it’s the location where the film clip for David Bowie’s Lets Dance was filmed. Bowie fans flock to the town every year to re-enact scenes from the 1983 music video. Every year during the October long weekend Carinda host a Let’s Dance Festival.
Explore Rowena
Rowena is a former railway town where wheat and cotton were a familiar site. Sadly the station is now closed, and all of the action is at the Rowena Hotel. There is a campground, a few rooms, with visitors enjoying a night in front of the fire after the kids have expended all their energy at the pub’s small playground. Once a year Rowena host an old school “Cracker Night”, drawing thousands of people, it’s popular with visitors and locals alike.
Explore Come by Chance
A town near the top of the of unusual place names. With a population of just 125 people its name dates to some settlers finding an unallocated piece of land, demonstrating their tremendous, good luck. Located 130km south of Lightning Ridge it was originally named after a local sheep station. Its claim to fame now is the annual picnic races, filling the town with visitors and locals alike, all looking to experience a good old country race meet.
Explore Grawin Opal Fields
Made up of three principal areas take a drive out to Grawin, Glengarry and Sheepyard to see what mining looked like in the good old days. Here, most opals are discovered wedged between layers of opal bearing clay and stone, known as seam opals. The landscape is much more rugged in this part of the world and is noticeably different from Lightning Ridge.
Cumborah
You’ll first pass through the town of Cumborah on your way to the Opal Fields and that means you’re just 15 kilometres away from your first stop on your tour around the Opal country, namely Grawin.
Grawin
Established in 1908 after the discovery of opal at Hammond Hill. It was several years later before the ‘The Light of the World’, an opal weighing almost half a kilo, was discovered at Richards Hill, and put the opal field on the map. You’ll find a general store, airstrip, club, and a golf course. It’s most iconic business is The Club In The Scrub.
Glengarry
While opal was discovered in Glengarry in the early 1900s it wasn’t until the 1970s that it was considered to be a major opal field. About 10 kilometres from Grawin you’ll be on the dirt for this part of your adventure. Its most famous institution is the Glengarry Hilton. “The Hilton” has got all the staples of a country pub including some awesome pub grub. For those who fancy an overnight stay backpacker accommodation is available.
Sheepyard
The newest of the opal fields opened in this neck of the wood is Sheepyard, being established in 1984. There is an impressive war memorial on the road from Glengarry to Sheepyard sitting on the banks of Lake Beard. It was built by miners, many of whom were Vietnam war veterans. You can find groceries, souvenirs, fuel, meals, and of course cold beer. Plus there’s a free camp area nearby if you want to make a night of it.
FAQS
How can I get to Lightning Ridge and how long does it take?
We celebrate around 200,000 visitors a year and the primary mode of travel is by car. The Ridge is a comfortable 1 or 2 days drive from most major cities on sealed roads.
| From | Distance (km) | Time (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Brisbane | 719 | 8.5 hours |
| Newcastle | 645 | 8 hours |
| Sydney City | 727 | 9 hours |
| Melbourne | 1,198 | 13.5 hours |
| Adelaide | 1,418 | 16 hours |
The Ridge is also accessible by bus, rail + bus and air. More comprehensive details at our FAQ’s page.
When is the best time of year to visit?
Our ‘on season’ is typically when the weather cools off from the heat of summer i.e. end of March to October. During autumn, winter and early spring the weather is generally cool in the mornings with warm days, minimal rain, sunny skies and low humidity. All tours and visitor experiences operate between April and end of September. During the ‘off season’ temperatures can reach 45 – 50 degrees Celsius and many shops and visitor experiences are closed given that on the fields, it can feel much hotter. If you plan to visit over summer please check out the various tours and experiences to ensure they are open.
What are the ‘must do’ experiences in Lightning Ridge?
There is truly something for everyone in the Ridge and a multi-day stay is highly recommended.
Suggested not to be missed experiences include taking a local town tour, an underground opal mining experience, visit our one-of-a-kind above ground attractions, track down a real Outback Opal Hunter, soak in the therapeutic hot artesian bore baths, learn all about opal history, formation and processing from one of our many opal shops (and maybe take home your own opal souvenir!)
Full comprehensive details at https://lightningridgetourism.com/itineraries/
What’s the fuel availability situation and can I charge an electric vehicle in Lightning Ridge?
Yes both the Lightning Ridge Bowling Club and Wallangulla Motel have EV charging facilities.
There are three servos in the Ridge that have the full range of petrol octanes plus hi-flow and lo-flow diesel.
Fuel is also available in the neighbouring towns of Narrabri, Moree, Hebel, Dirranbandi, Collarenebri, Walgett and Brewarrina.
What type of accommodation is available?
The Ridge has accommodation options for every traveller. We have three motels, five van parks, farm stay, numerous cabins & cottages, off-grid mining camp style dwellings, backpacker style and several Airbnb’s.
We strongly urge intending travellers to book before you leave home especially during our season and school/public holidays & festival times – often accommodation can be completely booked out at these peak periods.
How many days are needed in Lightning Ridge?
Most visitors spend 3 to 5 days in Lightning Ridge to fully experience what the town has to offer. This allows enough time to explore the opal fields, visit local attractions, enjoy the artesian baths, and discover the unique character of the area.
If you’re keen to fossick for opals, take scenic drives, or explore nearby towns, you may want to stay a little longer to make the most of your outback adventure.