outbackbeds.com.au

Your Hosts:

Your host, Sonja Cairns, will make you feel at home. She has a wealth of local knowledge, is a keen opal fossicker and a volunteer at the local Tourist Information Centre. You'll never be lost for something to do. Sonja first saw the potential for a B & B when I was visiting Lightning Ridge from the Sunshine Coast with some Opal Miners. I just happened to be here when the 2000 Opal Festival was on, and spent 10 days here and did not want to leave. When I first saw the unique architecture and wood carvings of the house I saw the potential for tourist accommodation. The B & B was opened up in 2002 after much needed renovation, but still has the European influence of the previous owner who was Hungarian. Today we welcome guests from around the world who come here to experience the unique lifestyle of an Australian outback mining town - and to find themselves a valuable black opal.

Accommodation:

We have 4 Private Self-Contained Suites,each designed around a special theme. Our AAA rating is 3 1/2 stars. Facilities & Services:

Sunset Room - Queen Bed Ensuite Kitchenette Leather Lounge Writing Desk Sleep 2	Opal Room Double Bed Ensuite Kitchenette Opal Photos Sleeps 1 - 2
Miner's Room Queen Bed Ensuite Kitchenette Leather Lounge Opal Field Views Sleeps 2	Butterfly Room Double Bed 2 Single Beds 1 Trundle Bed Ensuite Kitchenette Sleeps 4 - 5

Things to Do:

Tours to the opal fields for fascinating insights into opal mining and the unique lifesyle of the opal miner. Contact Sonja or jot a note on the booking form if you would like us to arrange a ticket on Black Opal Tours.

Lightning Ridge is a fascinating outback town. Although our population is only a few thousand, more than 80,000 tourists visit us each year to fossick for the valuable black opal. That means we've got plenty of fun activities for every visitor.

Getting Here:

Lightning Ridge is at the centre, top of New South Wales. Driving - Travel the Great Inland Way from Sydney, Canberra or Melbourne to Cairns via Dubbo and Lightning Ridge.

When you arrive in town, drive up Morilla Street then turn right into Opal Street at the Diggers Rest Hotel. Continue for approximately one kilometre and just before the opal fields turn right into Butterfly Avenue. Sonja's is the second building on the left.