School excursion to Lightning Ridge

[rossbarb]

Well my hubby and i have spent the day packing in preparation for taking my class to Lightning Ridge. Hope the kids get an appreciation of a little bit of Australia and get a desire to see a bit more. If you see us say Hi! we are travelling from Grafton to Lightning Ridge staying at Lorne Station who I must say have been great to deal with. We are St Andrew's christian School Grafton
Barb

[HEM19X]

Have fun guys, there's much to learn out there [and lots of abandonded mine shafts to drop errant childeren in]

Hem

[Heiny]

School camps, what great memories

Hope you and the kids have a great time

[Black Diamond]

Used to go there a bit when i was young. A bit to see.

Have a good one 

[buildermidwife]

Very interesting destination for a school excursion .
We went there last year and stayed at free camp in the opal field .
Met one of the local miners and he showed us around  his claim and
how he mined for opals .
Also there is a very good hot (very hot) spring pool in Lightning Ridge .
Cheers Paul

[coffs camping]

Have a great time. Its a great spot. Good luck with the fossicking.

CC

[Bird]

Also there is a very good hot (very hot) spring pool in Lightning Ridge .

does it still smell like theres 5000 dead bodies in it?
had rellos that lived up there, went up to visit in ~82, and walkin to the bore I could smell this stench from about 1klm away, nobody else could...
Couldnt get used to the bore water up there...

[buildermidwife]

does it still smell like theres 5000 dead bodies in it?
had rellos that lived up there, went up to visit in ~82, and walkin to the bore I could smell this stench from about 1klm away, nobody else could...
Couldnt get used to the bore water up there...

The bore feeds into a very large inground tank . No smell  but very hot .
Change rooms and cold showers next to tank . We were only able to stay in pool for a few minutes .

[Bird]

The bore feeds into a very large inground tank . No smell  but very hot .
Change rooms and cold showers next to tank . We were only able to stay in pool for a few minutes.

If it was the one on the outskirs of town thats a blessing! (this was back in School days, so dont ask me what direction - all I remember is being picked up and driven from Walgett Airport into L/Ridge!)

its one area I would like to go back to, not sure if the rellos still live there, I know the father passed away, but the kids would all be in their 30/40's now too...

[Duchess]

The smell would be the sulphur from the bore water. It does stink a bit! 

If you happen to come through Wee Waa, you'll have to stop and grab a bite to eat at the bakery to say hi. I suspect that you'll be going through Moree and then out to the Ridge via Colly though.

One thing that has changed out there, the Olympic sized diving pool is now open after about 20 years of construction. Go have a look!

[Bird]

is the house of Bottles still there?

[Duchess]

Yes, I believe it still stands!

[JCOJ]

When I was at school we did what were called Expeditions.  One I went on was across the Simpson and the next year we went up to Kakadu.

I was able to relive both of those trips 20 years later and it brought back fantastic memories.  I am sure your students will enjoy every minute of it and look back on it throughout their lives.

[duggie]

A must see place in the Ridge is the John Murry art studio, love his art.

[GU_Thomo]

I used to have a mine there in the 1960s.
It was a 'shoot em up' wild mining settlement in those days....Ah the memories.
I haven't been back since and I think it has changed a bit since then.
Have a great time but watch the kids around the old mine shafts.

Cheers
Parry

[gronk]

I used to have a mine there in the 1960s.
It was a 'shoot em up' wild mining settlement in those days....Ah the memories.
I haven't been back since and I think it has changed a bit since then.
Have a great time but watch the kids around the old mine shafts.

Cheers
Parry

Parry, its still alive, that sort of wild west feeling.....but you need to get out to Glengarry area for it ( approx 35k's west )

One of the better places I've had the pleasure of going to! !

[buildermidwife]

We stayed at the Glengarry Hilton on the opal field this time last year .
While there we met an old miner who had lived there most of his life .
I asked what had changed and he said that he was not allowed
to wear his gun in the bar area anymore .
Cheers Paul