"Water is the soul of the earth" - W H Auden The Great Artesian Basin (GAB) is one of the miraculous contradictions of Australia, we are the driest inhabited continent on earth, only Antarctica is drier, and yet our dry inland sits atop the largest and deepest subterranean water resource in the world. The GAB … Continue reading Lightning Ridge and the Great Artesian Basin
The Art of Lightning Ridge
Renowned artist John Murray calls Lightning Ridge home and you can't escape his impact on the town. Depending on which way you approach the ridge you might be greeted by a giant emu, Stanley made from old girders, Volkswagens and satellite dishes, or on Morilla St an old combi given wings and a propeller, flown … Continue reading The Art of Lightning Ridge
The surprising creativity of Lightning Ridge
Open plains and big skies, that sums up the trip west from Toowoomba to Lightning Ridge, endless rolling plains, much of it under cotton. One of the great beauties of the west is the endless open plains and big skies. Lightning Ridge is largely defined by opal mining but despite the dreams of exceptional gems … Continue reading The surprising creativity of Lightning Ridge
Staying at the Opal caravan park in Lightning Ridge.
Life feels a bit hurried but we did pretty much completely tune out and switch off for a few days with our short escape to Lightning Ridge. Loved Lightning Ridge, it is a unique place, with a very different vibe and character. It has a kind of rough and ready character, down to earth, get … Continue reading Staying at the Opal caravan park in Lightning Ridge.
Long, long road to Lightning Ridge
As you can tell from the title, S and I have started our latest holiday travels. Been wanting to see this part of Australia for a long time. In my naivety, I decided to do the whole trip in one day. Nine hours of travelling which did include three stops so about seven and a … Continue reading Long, long road to Lightning Ridge
Gum trees and Galaxies 