Opal Trail - Tour The Australian Opal Fields

Every year some of the most remote and quirky Australian outback towns come alive for a few days of fun and fortune, when the local miners and townsfolk put on a gem fair bash like no other! Whilst for most of the year the hard work goes on well behind the scenes on sun-scorched mining claims, this collection of opal festivals brings an opportunity for each town to showcase the very best that opal has to offer.

The Australia Opal Show Trail is a series of shows (mostly open to the public) that are run from April until August every year. The weather is beautifully mild at this time of the year, so you can enjoy a real outback adventure without the harsh summer temperatures. It’s a great way for people from all walks of life to travel around the country and see some of the most amazing opals and gemstones that Australia has to offer.

There are five fabulous opal festivals to see each year and together they make up the Australian Opal Show trail.

So, what are you waiting for? Plan and book your Aussie Outback adventure now!

Coober Pedy Gem Trade Show

The Coober Pedy Gem Trade Show, specialising in rough and cut opal, will be held around the middle of April. The trade show, located in outback South Australia coincides with the Opal Festival, offering visitors a vast array of entertainment over the Easter long weekend.

 The Croatian Club hosts the Gem Trade Show, providing a professional and air-conditioned environment for the numerous local and national exhibitors who will showcase high quality opals at trade prices to international and domestic buyers.

The Coober Pedy Gem Trade Show continues to strengthen its reputation as one of Australia’s pre-eminent opal trade shows. Organisers will be continuing the tradition of holding a welcoming dinner on the Saturday night, so that exhibitors and buyers can meet in a relaxed environment with the aim of establishing and strengthening business networks.

Click here to check the latest details on their website

image courtesy of cooberpedy.com

Winton Opal Trade Show

The Queensland Boulder Opal Association holds an annual Opal Trade Show in Winton at the beginning of July. The Winton Opal Trade Show is held at the North Gregory Hotel in the centre of the main street, with the Beer Garden being the area for cut and polished stones and Jewellery, and the adjoining Car Park is for tailgating.

This wonderful outback opal event is open to the general public.

Boulder Opal Jewellery Design Awards and Opal Inspired Dress Design Awards are held each year with the judging carried out at the time of the Opal Trade Show.

Go to qboa.com for the latest details

Yowah Opal Festival

Yowah is an absolute gem of a place! This little four block town in Outback Queensland celebrates their uniqueness with an annual festival – The Yowah Opal Festival. Yowah opal celebrations occur on the third weekend of July each year and is located two hours’ drive from Cunnamulla on a sealed road.

World class museum specimens of Yowah Nut Opal, Ironstone Matrix Opal, Opalized Wood Opal, Yowah Boulder Opal and Boulder Opal are on display as the locals share their prize collections with all. The Yowah Opal festival is fully catered and licensed for the festival weekend. Morning and afternoon tea, and three meals a day are cooked on the premises. Fresh food is provided including pit roasts, bar-b-ques, and smorgasbord to offer variety over the three days. And music and dancing is also very much part of the festivities.

The townspeople encourage everyone to talk to a miner. Yowah is billed as the ‘friendly opal field’ and local people gather to prove to you why!

Visit their site for more details

Lightning Ridge Opal Festival

In the 1980’s the Lightning Ridge Opal Festival became a hallmark event with locals, attracting hundreds of people to the social activities. Aspiring locals provided their version of ‘celebrity’ entertainment such as tributes to Michael Jackson, Cindy Lauper and even Dr Who! Around this time, the Opal & Gem Expo was first launched. An opal and gem trade show was set up in the car park of the Lightning Ridge Bowling Club and the event attracted hundreds of miners, jewellers, wholesalers and opal trade from all over Australia.

Today the Lightning Ridge Opal Festival is a 4-day event on the last weekend of July. The Opal Festival includes the Opal Queen Ball and the Opal and Gem Expo. The Lightning Ridge opal festival, in outback New South Wales attracts around 4000 people over the four days, and the event is billed as the largest on the Australian opal events circuit. There is also the Opal Jewellery Design Awards which is a biennial event that runs concurrently with the Lightning Ridge opal festival to promote freeform and or undulating opal, and showcases the stunning and innovative use of opal by jewellery designers around the world.

Visit their website for more information

Australian Opal Exhibition Gold Coast

The Australian Opal Exhibition on Queensland’s Gold Coast allows mine owners, wholesalers and manufacturers of opal jewellery to present a huge selection of opals and opal jewellery in a pleasant fair ambience.

Different types of opals, collectibles, polished stones, pearls, plus fine and fashion jewellery opals are seen at the show. The fair is aimed exclusively at professionals who can build on their new collections for their needs.

The Australian Opal Exhibition Gold Coast will be held at the landmark Surfers Paradise QT resort during August.

Visit their site for more information