Black Opal Tours || Lightning Ridge, NSW, Australia

Black Opal Tours was established in 1972 by opal mining couple Val and Robina Boardman.

Val and Robina had been mining at the top of the Historic 3 Mile Opal Field at Lightning Ridge since 1969. Like so many others, they came to "the Ridge" for a short stay, but caught the opal bug. Four decades on, they're still here!

The idea of a tour operation came to Val and Robina when curious visitors would call down their mineshaft to chat with the friendly couple, or share a yarn while eating lunch under the shade of their truck. Needless to say, the visitors asked endless questions about mining and the way of life in Lightning Ridge.

Val and Robina found they were natural tour guides. Their friendly nature and genuine love of opal and opal mining endeared them to the visitors of Lightning Ridge. Besides, you don't always find opal, no matter how hard you look for it! To supplement their income, Val and Robina started "Enlightening Opal Tours", which then became the famous and always remembered Black Opal Tours.

Val and Robina recently retired from Black Opal Tours, a product of their hard work, dedication and love of opal that has made an indelible mark on the township of Lightning Ridge. But don't fear! The Boardmans passed the business on to another crazy opal loving couple, Peter and Vicki Drackett.

Like Val and Robina's story, Peter and Vicki's is a tale of love, passion and all things opal. They arrived in Lightning Ridge fresh from Queensland's Gold Coast in 1991 for a 6-month stay and are still here today! Peter and Vicki now live and breathe all things opal. Peter is a full time opal miner and Vicki concentrates on the wholesale and retail business of opal. They are very active in the opal industry both locally, around Australia and overseas, and love sharing their passion for opal. You couldn't get a better couple to take over Black Opal Tours.

"What would we change?" they asked themselves.

"I've been on Black Opal Tours a few times over the years when our friends and relatives visited us," Vicki said, "and I love the tour, it's fantastic! We wouldn't change a thing - all we would do is add even more to the excitement of the tour."

"When we heard it was for sale, and knowing Val and Robina the way we do, there was no hesitation," said Vicki.

"Black Opal Tours has a fantastic, dedicated team. We all love our town and all it has to offer. When you go on a Black Opal Tour, it's not just a tour, it's part of our life we are sharing with you."

Contact us - Phone: (02) 6829 0368 e-mail: