Fossil Digs
Lightning Ridge Fossil Dig and Discovery
August 2027
AUSTRALIAN OPAL CENTRE AND THE LIGHTNING RIDGE OPAL RESERVE
Join our 6-day fossil dig at Lightning Ridge searching for and learning about rare opalised fossils from the Age of Dinosaurs, 100 million years ago.
First time participants: Monday 9 – Saturday 14 August. (Max 22 participants).
Cost: $2,495 (incl. GST). University Students $2,200.
12-18 year olds on application (limited places). Cost $2,200.
For return diggers only: Wednesday 25 – Monday 30 August. (Max 22 participants)
Cost: Return digger $2,250.
Payment plans available.
Registrations are open. Secure your place by returning a completed registration form and deposit.
Includes all activities, lunches, morning and afternoon teas, two evening meals and 3 evening activities. Excludes accommodation and transport.
Immerse yourself in hands on workshops learning how to identify opal and opalised fossil plants and animals from Lightning Ridge
Expand your knowledge through multiple skill development workshops in preparation and searching for opalised fossils including micro fossil
Be inspired by fascinating lectures on opals, opal mining, opalised fossils and dinosaur hunting around the globe
Adventure on unique field trips to searching for opalised plant and animal fossils to opal fields surrounding Lightning Ridge
Get dirty processing washing and sieving ancient sediments searching for opalised fossils
Be supported by team leaders who are local specialists or expert palaeontologists
Become a citizen scientist - contribute significant specimens to the Australian Opal Centre Collection for ongoing scientific research
Find opal and non scientifically valuable plant fossil to take home for keeps
Enjoy opportunities, fossil sites and expertise available no where else but on this dig
Create life-long friendships and connections
Love 5.5 days of activities with half day free
Relax and unwind with new friends on 3 evening activities
Have an amazing experience 100 million years in the making.
Collection Policy
Any specimens you find of scientific value will be added to the Australian Opal Centre Collection for ongoing scientific study. You will have the opportunity to take home non scientifically valuable opalised plant fossil and opal that you find during the fossil dig.
Stepping back in time…
Lightning Ridge is one of Australia’s most ecologically diverse fossil sites. Around 100 million years ago, this was a land of roaming dinosaurs, mighty conifer pines and teeming waterways. Enormous sauropods towered over giant theropods, sharing the forests and floodplains with yabbies and snails, turtles, plesiosaurs, crocodiles, pterosaurs, smaller dinosaurs, birds and mammals.
Searching for opalised fossils is a privilege usually available only to opal miners and scientists. Joining our fossil dig is a unique opportunity for discovery and learning about the rarest fossils in the world, completely opalised fossils!
Since our first Dig in 2014, Dig participants have found important specimens that are published in scientific journals. This includes the first NSW ankylosaur dinosaur (known from an osteoderm or bony skin plate), and tiny bones from baby dinosaurs that died inside their eggs. AOC Diggers have added dozens of shells, teeth, bones and other fossils to the AOC’s world-class public collection.
Eligibility
No experience is required. 12- 18’s yr olds considered on application with parental / guardian accompaniment (limited spaces). Please take into consideration that some field trips are into risky terrain including mining fields with mine shafts and other hazards.
When
First time participants: Monday 9 to Saturday 14 August 2027
Return participants only: Wednesday 25 to Monday 30 August 2027
Location
Lightning Ridge, Yuwalaraay Country, Australia.
Your guides
Dig participants will be led and guided by a team of experts. Team leader for 2027 will be Clytie Smith who grew up on the opal fields and has found important opalised fossils around Lightning Ridge for many decades. Stay tuned to find out other team leaders for 2027!
Guest Palaeontologists will include:
Dr Phil Bell from University of New England. World renowned dinosaur expert.
Dr Elizabeth Smith of the Australian Opal Centre. World expert on opalised fossils.
This is a scientific and fundraising venture for the Australian Opal Centre.
Can’t manage the whole fee now? No problem. Pay a deposit to secure your place, then pay your balance in instalments.
Secure your place
Complete and send in your registration form and deposit to secure your place.
Contact
To find out more, please email dig@australianopalcentre.com or call Clytie Smith on 0476 714 037.
Reviews:
““This was the greatest trip of my life and I’ll be coming back for more” ”
““Welcome and inclusive introduction to finding opalised fossils and palaeontology” ”
““I just loved the field trips! Finding beautiful opals and oplaised fossils under the big outback sky was just bliss””
““Fun, adventure filled and educational.” ”
““Palaeontologists were awesome. Field trips thumbs up x 2.” ”
““I was introduced to fossil preparation on the 2024 Australian Opal Centre Fossil Dig and fell in love with the process. As I gently removed its shroud of clay, the lump of rock I held magically transformed into the distal tibia and fibia of a dinosaur ankle joint! Since then I’ve completed an Undergraduate Certificate in Palaeontology at the University of New England and have begun volunteering as a fossil preparator with Dinosaur Dreaming in Victoria.” ”
““Thank you for the most enjoyable week, lovely people and great fun!” ”
““A very generous 50th birthday gift from my wife and friends saw me heading off to Lightning Ridge for a week off fossil hunting with the team from the Australian Opal Centre fossil dig.
Every day was different, and I learnt a lot about opal, fossils and just how much hard work goes into finding and preserving them. And if I can find fossils surely anyone can! Although getting lost in thought for a few hours wandering through opal rich sediment from old opal mines looking for fossils is an experience that’s hard to beat!
A bit of dust, Hudson Pear and plenty of searching for fossils with a great bunch of people to share it with. What more could you want?
Thanks to the team at the Australian Opal Centre for such a great dig. I had an absolute ball and I’m already looking forward to getting back to Lightning Ridge!” ”