Lightning Ridge NSW Explorer 6 days/5 nights - MyDiscoveries Lightning Ridge, located in outback NSW on the world's richest deposit of black opal, is a place that abounds with colourful characters, barrels of dreams, opportunities and experiences! The 'Ridge', as it is known to the locals, will welcome you with classic country hospitality but it will certainly not be 'more of the same'. They are a unique bunch out there and pride themselves on a wonderful eccentricity; it is something about the pioneering spirit that allowed this area to develop and many visitors become so enamoured with the place that a 3 day holiday can turn into a lifetime of pleasure for the many who are so captivated by the place, they stay. HIGHLIGHTS Return Coach from Brisbane Roma Street Guided Tour of Abbey of the Roses Moree Town Tour Pecan Farm Visit Lost Treasure Opal Mine Chambers of the Black Hand Grawin, Glengarry and Sheepyard Opal Fields Cubbie Station Guided Tour Goondiwindi Tour Gundi Cotton Retail Outlet Itinerary
Day 1, Monday, 09 OCT Welcome to our 6 day tour to Western New South Wales. Bags packed, coach loaded and we re on our way to Moree. We head inland, travelling through Warwick where we stop for a guided tour of Abbey of the Roses, a beautifully restored former Our Lady of Assumption Convent completed in 1891. We have time to explore the beautiful gardens before our lunch. This afternoon, we continue to Moree for our overnight stop. This town is famous for its Hot Mineral Baths which originated in 1895. The baths were discovered accidentally when searching for irrigation water. These mercurial waters are from bores sunk into the Great Artesian Basin. Many people believe in the healing powers of the artesian mineral waters. Our motel has its own baths, so make sure you bring your bathers. Not only are the waters good for health problems but also for those seeking relief from the normal aches and pains of daily life! Accommodation: Artesian Spa Motor Inn or similar. Day 2, Tuesday, 10 OCT Following breakfast we take in the local sights. Prior to the 1830s the Moree district was the province of the Kamilaroi Tribe, whose culture remains an integral part of today s society. The name Moree means the long waterhole although some historians have translated the name to the rising sun. After a town tour we head off to visit a local Pecan Farm, the largest in the southern hemisphere. We enjoy a tour and view an interesting presentation on the actual farm operations and processing of the pecan nut. We then return to Moree for some free time to buy lunch before our afternoon drive to Lightning Ridge. Located near the Queensland border, Lightning Ridge is a huge opal field, which is the world s only reliable source of black opals. Despite the emphasis on tourism, the beauty of this town is that it remains a mining community where any battler could strike it rich! With its stark and scarred landscape this town has a peculiar fascination for visitors. Opals can be purchased direct from the miners while the novice fossicker can occasionally stumble across a choice stone among the heaps of mullock known locally as shin-cracker. On arrival we check into the Wallangulla Motel in the main street. Our dinners over the next three nights will be served in the Lightning Ridge Bowling Club opposite the motel and our breakfasts will be in the motel dining room. Accommodation: Wallangulla Motel or similar. Day 3, Wednesday, 11 OCT This morning, we head across to the Lost Treasure Opal Mine to experience the atmosphere of an underground mine. We also have a tour including a video presentation and explanation about opal mining. We can visit the showroom to view the opals that came from the mines in this area and have the opportunity to purchase an opal. We now take a town tour with our local guide pointing out some weird and wonderful structures and the stories that go with them! Back in town, we can stop at the John Murray Art Gallery before some free time in the main street. Early afternoon, we visit the Chambers of the Black Hand. Opened in April, 2007, this is a unique tourist mine. More than 11 metres underground local artist Ron Canlin has created the most awesome paintings and sculptures. There are The Last Supper, Archangel Gabriel and the Chinese Terracotta Warriors. Ron is constantly carving new work such as a samuri warrior, so there are changes every day as there is no end to his talent. The second level is a mine that has been worked for over 100 years, and all the old shafts and
drives that were dug by the old timers are still there. On this level you get a geology tour on the different strata s opal formation, which is an experience not be missed. It is amazing and there is nothing like it in Australia. After our tour we return to the motel, with time to relax before dinner. Accommodation: Wallangulla Motel or similar. Day 4, Thursday, 12 OCT No trip to Lightning Ridge would be complete without a trip to The Grawin. If you think the Ridge is unique, you have to see places like The Pub in the Scrub, The Glengarry Hilton and Sheepyard Flats. Located about 70 kilometres west of Lightning Ridge, The Grawin was established in 1908 with the discovery of the opal at "Hammond Hill". Further discoveries in 1920 at "Richards Hill" put the unofficial village on the map. It was at Grawin that the largest opal 'Light of the World' was found in 1928. Since the first discovery of opal in the region, people have come and gone in tides with each new strike, seeking their fortune in search of the rainbow in the rock. It is believed that a field at Grawin was discovered in 1905, but it wasn t until the 1970's that it became a major field in its own right. The Mulga Rush, which began in 2000, is the biggest opal rush since the Coocoran was discovered in the early 1900's. The Sheepyard area was named after a find of opal near the fence of the old Sheepyards. A local guide joins us on a days touring to the Grawin, Glengarry and Sheepyard opal fields and we enjoy lunch at the Glengarry Hilton. After a great day we head back to Lightning Ridge with some time to freshen up and relax before dinner. Our tour today includes lunch and the chance to fossick for opal. Accommodation: Wallangulla Motel or similar. Day 5, Friday, 13 OCT This morning we farewell Lightning Ridge and travel over the border into Queensland and onto Dirranbandi. At the centre of a cotton-growing area, Dirranbandi s population almost doubles at harvest time when backpackers flock into town to pick the crop. Nearby Cubbie Station is believed to be the largest, privately-owned cotton farm in the Southern Hemisphere. We enjoy a locally guided tour before a pub lunch. This afternoon, we make our way to Goondiwindi for our final night s accommodation. Accommodation: Jolly Swagman Motel or similar. Day 6, Saturday, 14 OCT Apart from being right on the QLD/NSW border, Goondiwindi or Gundy as the locals call it, is at the junction of a number of major highways including the Newell which runs all the way to Victoria. After breakfast we collect our local guide who will join us for a tour of Gundy and surrounds. We will hear of the great floods: in 1956 Goodiwindi experienced three major floods within six months which prompted the building of levee banks to protect the town. Since then the 1996 flood set a record of 10.6 metres which stood as a record until Jan 2011 when the Macintyre River reached 10.64 metres! We will see the memorial to another famous resident, the great horse, Gunsynd the Goondiwindi Grey! In the late 1960s and early 1970s Gunsynd had 29 wins including the 1971 Epsom Handicap and the 1972 Cox Plate and came third in the 1972 Melbourne Cup. We also visit the Gundi Cotton Retail Outlet. Although the garments are no longer made in Goondiwindi, we visit the place
where it all started and have the opportunity to purchase. We farewell our guide and head to the Victoria Hotel where we enjoy a tour of this grand old lady, followed by lunch. This afternoon we set our sights on home, arriving into Brisbane late afternoon to complete a sensational 6 day holiday! INCLUDES Return Coach from Brisbane Roma Street Guided Tour of Abbey of the Roses Moree Town Tour Pecan Farm Visit Lost Treasure Opal Mine Chambers of the Black Hand Grawin, Glengarry and Sheepyard Opal Fields Cubbie Station Guided Tour Goondiwindi Tour Gundi Cotton Retail Outlet EXCLUDES Travel Insurance Meals unless specified Items of a personal nature Optional activities FACILITIES All the accomodation is carefully selected for our tours. Moree - Artesian Spa Motor Inn or similar. The Artesian Spa Motel has 46 guest rooms and is rated 3.5 stars. All rooms have private bathrooms and air-conditioning, with free AUSTAR channels. Lightning Ridge - Wallangulla Motel or similar. The Wallangulla Motel has a pool, sundeck and BBQ area Goondiwindi - Jolly Swagman Motel or similar. The motel has a spa and sauna or enjoy the Coral-Le Restaurant with family and friends. Stop by the family-owned The Jolly Swagman Motor Inn for personalised service and comfortable accommodation.
TRAVEL PERIOD Tour departs 9 October 2017 BOOKING ESSENTIALS Once your MyDiscoveries holiday has been purchased you will receive a voucher with full redemption details for you to book your travel. Should you have any questions on this holiday simply call the customer service team on 1300 404 606 who are on-hand to answer your queries. If for any reason you are unable to book your preferred dates please refer to the MyDiscoveries 30 Day Booking Guarantee to understand our refund policy. When booking in your travel dates, make sure you have your travel voucher number, traveller names (as they appear on their passport), age of travellers and details of any special requirements you wish to highlight to the resort (e.g. vegetarian etc). We recommend you purchase travel insurance as soon as your travel dates are confirmed. FINE PRINT This itinerary is subject to change due to weather conditions/road conditions and occasional restrictions in opening times/days of some attractions, e.g. churches, wineries etc. CANCELLATIONS, REFUNDS & AMENDMENTS Cancellation must be made in writing for your reservation to be cancelled. Any cancellations of the Tour will result in the following cancellation fees: 91 days or more prior to departure, loss of deposit plus the cost of the airline ticket if issued. Less than 91 days prior to departure, 100% of the tour package price. HEALTH & FITNESS/ACTIVITY LEVEL You must ensure that you are aware of any health requirements for your travel and that you are able to participate in the activities included in your itinerary. This tour requires a moderate fitness level to participate. All passengers must be able to: Walk 10 mins without having to stop, sit down or rest Walk over uneven ground with no paving Walk an incline equal to a flight of stairs, without stopping Get in and out of transportation unassisted Stand for 30 mins, without needing to sit down Manage own luggage. PRICES Schedules and availability, fare conditions and prices can change at any time.
Price changes may occur for reason or matters outside our control which increase the cost of the products or service. Such factors include adverse currency fluctuations. Please note all our holidays are subject to availability at time of booking. Should your dates not be available please note the My Discoveries Booking Guarantee applies. The MyDiscoveries 30 Day Booking Guarantee means that if you can't get the travel dates you want within 30 days of buying the voucher, we'll give you your money back, no questions asked. The MyDiscoveries 30 Day Booking Guarantee means that if you can't get the travel dates you want within 30 days of buying the voucher, we'll give you your money back, no questions asked. Maturity Twin / Single Price adult single $2,240.00 adult twin $1,820.00 Promotional prices and offers valid from 01-08-2017 until 01-08-2017 or while stocks last. Note: While all due care has been taken in the preparation of this document, MyDiscoveries shall not be liable for any inaccuracies or omissions which may occur. This document has been prepared from material supplied by our Travel Suppliers and from their websites.mydiscoveries reserves the right to change information without notice and the most up to date version will always be found on Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited.