Lightning Ridge is dotted with different coloured car doors and they all represent a self drive tour of a different part of town. Pick up a map from the Information Centre and away you go.

Here’s some of the sights from our Car Door Tour that led us past cactus gardens, castles and caravans!

The Cactus Garden

We could have paid to tour the Cactus Garden but were happy enough to view the garden outside the fenced area. Cheapskates? Perhaps, but cactus has never been a favourite plant since I fell into my Aunt’s cactus garden as a child and had to suffer having all the prickles removed.

Astronomers Monument

Stopped to take a photo from the outside and had to skidaddle when the owner came out to ask us for money. Hey, we only wanted a photo from the street!

Amigos Castle

Now this was well worth the $5 entry to find out about how this castle happened to be here in the outback. Anita, our guide, told an interesting and entertaining story of Amigo and how the castle came about. I found this interesting story about the castle on the net.

A collector or a hoarder?

Caravans and Carriages

From castles to caravans and everything in between … some of the housing styles on the opal fields of Lightning Ridge.

Pet Cemetery

Even here pets have a special place to be remembered.

Historical Buildings

Well, I’m not so sure of the history but these old buildings caught my eye as I walked through town.

I’m fascinated with everything about Lightning Ridge. Some friends warned me that it was dusty, dirty and nothing much to see. Yet I can’t seem to get enough of it!

Yep, it’s dusty, but so colourful underneath that dusty surface.