The Opal Route could take a few hours, or a lifetime, depending on your frame of mind. There are certainly many long-term residents in the opal fields that ‘only came for a look’ – be careful!
The route departs Walgett for Lightning Ridge, a well-travelled, sealed road that crosses the Namoi and Barwon Rivers before making a beeline north towards the famous opal town.
The Diggers Rest is the most recognisable of the historic hotels in Lightning Ridge, but the Imperial Hotel is also remembered.
Sadly, both of these buildings no longer exist, but the Outback Resort maintains a tavern-like presence with great accommodation and meals, and there are other restaurants and cafes in town as well as the well-appointed bowling club.
The Opal Route back tracks a short way to the Cumborah turn-off, which takes you to the locality of Cumborah, and into the nearby opal fields of Grawin, Glengarry, and Sheepyard.
Just a few kilometres apart, these locations are all like the car door tours, as there’s no real recognisable township, it’s all ‘camp’.
The opal fields each also have a unique pub of one description or another, and we cannot recommend highly enough that you visit the Glengarry Hilton, the Sheepyard Inn, and The Club in the Scrub at Grawin.
After the opal fields, take the sealed road straight back into Walgett, and you’ll cross the Barwon River just near the old Barwon Inn before heading back to town for a meal, and a chance to reflect on the most unusual of the Pub Routes.
| Distance | Pub Stops | Duration | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 180km | 4 | 1-3 days | 3hrs |
Road Conditions
The roads on the ‘Opal Route’ are mostly sealed with some ‘all weather’ gravel. The roads should be fine for most vehicles, though the route does cross some of the ‘black soil’ floodplain, and can be a bit sticky underfoot. Check local conditions before leaving the sealed roads.
Pub Stops on the Opal Route
Stop and enjoy some of the best pubs in Western NSW!
Pub Locations
The Map below displays historical hotel markers and Pub Stops along the Opal Route. Select a location to read more.
Use the Travel Map & Itinerary for touring information to help you on your journey. Includes distances, locations, attractions and PDF downloads.,
Historical Hotels
Take a journey back in time and discover the historical pubs of outback NSW. These locations no longer exist, but they were once dotted all along roads of the Pub Route.
Read the history of these pioneering pubs of the outback.
Towns & Villages
Visit the Towns, Villages and Pubs of the ‘Opal Route’.
