About
Sonja's Bed & Breakfast
I first saw the potential for a B & B when I was visiting Lightning Ridge from the Sunshine Coast with some Opal Miners. I just happened to be here when the 2000 Opal Festival was on, and spent 10 days here and did not want to leave. When I first saw the unique architecture and wood carvings of the house I saw the potential for tourist accommodation. The B & B was opened up in 2002 after much needed renovation, but still has the European influence of the previous owner who was Hungarian.
Today we welcome guests from around the world who come here to experience the unique lifestyle of an Australian outback mining town - and to find themselves a valuable black opal.
About Lightning Ridge
Lightning
Ridge is one of the few places in the world where you can find the valuable and
rare black opal. Opal, besides being Australia's National Gemstone,
is a mineral of non-crystalline form of silica mixed with small trace elements
of other minerals, giving hints of blue, green and red.
Aboriginal legend tells of a huge wheel of fire that fell to earth and sprayed the countryside with brilliant coloured stones.
In 1902 Charles Nettleton was the first European to discover the black opal.
After a run of bad luck in 
White
Cliffs and Queensland, he started prospecting on Nettleton's Hill, Angledool Station.
This was to become the community of Lightning Ridge.
The town boasts a resident population of around 4000, although more than 80,000 tourists visit each year. Lightning Ridge offers a unique experience for visitors who want to try their luck with opal fossicking or simply experience the unique lifestyle of an outback Australian mining town.
Laurie Hudson, Cumborah Postmaster 1947-1965, described Lightning Ridge in his poem:
There's a sleepy little township, out beyond the western plains,
Lightning Ridge, the town of opal, where there's heat and scanty rains.
The location is not scenic, just rough ridges all around
Nature sired her scenes of beauty, in black opal, underground.
If you've never seen black opal, you have missed a splendid sight,
Like quicksilver gaily coloured, slipped through the shades of night.
Though you've roamed the whole world over, seen most all there is to see,
There are scenes you've never dreamed of, in the stone of mystery.
What's the Weather like?
Lightning Ridge is beautiful in Winter - the perfect escape from the cold. During Summer it's hot and dry, but you'll always find somewhere to cool down. Visitors love the free artesian bore, with relaxing hot therapeutic waters, open 24 hours, or the town's 5-star swimming pool & Water Theme Park.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Average Maximum Temperature (Celcius) | 34.7 | 34.0 | 31.5 | 27.8 | 22.3 | 19.1 | 18.2 | 20.4 | 24.0 | 28.1 | 31.5 | 34.4 |
| Average Minimum Temperature (Celcius) | 20.6 | 20.2 | 17.3 | 12.8 | 8.6 | 5.7 | 4.2 | 5.8 | 8.7 | 12.9 | 16.2 | 18.8 |
| Thanks to www.wj.com.au/towninfo/climate.html
Temperatures have been recorded well above 48 C during Summer but you'll be comfortable in Sonja's airconditioning. |
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