AOC Australian Opal Tour 2024
25 September – 3 October 2024
This unforgettable tour is designed for those with a thirst for firsthand knowledge about Australian opal, providing a unique opportunity to experience the opal and major opal fields of Australia. See black opal in New South Wales, boulder opal in Queensland, and crystal and light opal in South Australia, with the people who know it best.
Enjoy outback landscapes and opal mining communities and feast your eyes on incredible opal gemstones and fossils. Meet opal miners, cutters, gemmologists and palaeontologists.
This special tour hosted by the Australian Opal Centre (AOC) will depart from Sydney and includes charter aircraft, ground tours, meals and accommodation.
The new Australian Opal Centre is currently under construction to become a world hub for opal knowledge, training, science, art and culture. It will celebrate Australia’s National Gemstone and be filled with astonishing treasures from the earth and the stories of the people who found them. AOC Australian Opal Tour participants will experience a pre-opening tour of this architecturally significant, partly subterranean facility.
This unique trip is only possible by having a group large enough to charter aircraft needed to cover the vast distances between our outback opal fields. Places are limited and commitments must be made as soon as possible to secure the aircraft. A more detailed itinerary and price will be available on enquiry.
To register an expression of interest, please email register@australianopalcentre.com.
Places are strictly limited.
ITINERARY
Tuesday 24 September Evening meet and greet in Sydney NSW
Wednesday 25 September Fly Sydney to Lightning Ridge NSW
Thursday 26 September Lightning Ridge and surrounding opal fields
Friday 27 September Lightning Ridge and surrounding opal fields
Saturday 28 September Fly Lightning Ridge to Winton Qld
Sunday 29 September Winton opal fields
Monday 30 September Fly Winton to Coober Pedy SA
Tuesday 1 October Coober Pedy opal fields
Wednesday 2 October Fly Coober Pedy to White Cliffs NSW. Visit opal fields
Thursday 3 October Fly White Cliffs to Sydney NSW
Every endeavour will be made to adhere to the proposed timetable. If circumstances outside our control, such as weather, cause some activities to change, there will be fun alternatives.
Email register@australianopalcentre.com to receive more information as tour details are finalised. Places are strictly limited and participants will be accepted on a first come, first served basis.