Western opal fields

The Opalton designated fossicking land is found in the Opalton Opal Field; one of the largest and most extensively worked opal deposits in Queensland.

Some commercial mining activity is still present which s mostly limited to small-scale hand mining but some larger operations using heavy machinery are present in the surrounding area.

Access

The Opalton designated fossicking land is located about 124km south-west of Winton. From Winton, take the Jundah Road (mostly unsealed) and travel 15km, turn left and travel a further 109km (unsealed road) past Weona Homestead to Opalton.

Visitors are requested not to call at Weona.

Map

• Opalton fossicking land map (PDF, 684.6 KB)

Facilities

The Opalton Bushy Park offers camping space with shade shelters, water, toilets and showers adjacent to the designated fossicking land. A small fee applies.

Camping is also allowed inside the Opalton designated fossicking land for a maximum period of 3 months.  Fossickers must obtain a camping permit to camp inside the designated fossicking land. Camping permits can be purchased online or at the Waltzing Matilda Centre in Winton.

Fossicking notes

The Opalton area is popular with tourists as a place to speck or noodle fragments of opal or ironstone matrix from the surface or from the spoil dumps of old workings. However, known areas of shallow ground, such as the old Brilliant Claim area, may offer the more serious fossicker a chance to dig and find that outstanding gem.

Special conditions

Commercial mining activities still occur in the designated fossicking land and numerous mining claims and a mining lease (ML6032) are current (see map (PDF, 684.6 KB)). Do not enter mining tenures or mining lease applications without the written permission of the holders. Pegs mark the corners of each tenure.