New South Wales - Australia 2004 - page 227

There are plenty of opal shops, galleries, walk-in opal mines, and other dis-
tinctly unique things to see in Lightning Ridge. You might want to take a look
at Gemopal Pottery ( & 02/6829 0375 ), on the road to the Bore Baths. The
resident potter makes some nice pots out of clay mine tailings and lives in one
of his five old Sydney railway carriages.
WHERE TO STAY & DINE
An interesting addition to the Lightning Ridge hotel scene is the Lightning
Ridge Hotel/Motel ( & 02/6829 0304; www.lightning-ridge-hotel-motel.com),
set in 4 hectares (10 acres) of Australian bush, complete with birdbath to attract
the native parrots. There are 40 log cabins here as well as a trailer park (for your
own trailer or motor home) and camping sites. Cabins cost A$46 (US$30) with-
out bathroom, and A$52 (US$34) with a bathroom, and motel rooms A$60
(US$39) for a double, A$80 (US$52) for a triple, and A$122 (US$79) for a
quad. If you want to stay at the Glengarry opal fields then your only option is at
the Glengarry Hilton, a rustic outback pub (not associated with the major hotel
chain). Here you stay in mobile units sleeping 24. A night costs A$12 (US$7.80).
The Wallangulla Motel My choice of the four motels in town, the Wallan-
gulla offers two standards of rooms, the cheaper ones being in an older section
of the property. Newer rooms are better furnished and generally nicer; they're
worth the extra money. Two large family rooms each have two bedrooms and a
living room; one has a Jacuzzi. Guests can use the barbecue facilities, and there
is an arrangement with the bowling club across the road for meals there to be
charged back to your room. The Bowling Club has a restaurant with pretty good
food and a very cheap bistro.
Morilla St. (at Agate St.), Lightning Ridge, NSW 2834. & 02/6829 0542. Fax [phone]. www.wj.com.
au/wallangulla. 43 units. A$55-A$85 (US$36-US$55) double; A$75-A$95 (US$49-US$62) triple;
A$95-A$110 (US$62-US$72) family room with Jacuzzi. AE, DC, MC, V. Amenities: Coin-op laundry; non-
smoking rooms. In room:A/C, TV, coffeemaker.