From Goondiwindi, we head to the small town of Thallon to see the incredible Silo Art. Titled ‘The Watering Hole’, the mural portrays the district to perfection as it features the Moonie River, an amazing sunset and the area’s agricultural base. It also recognises the members of the indigenous community by the inclusion of a scarred tree. We head to Dirranbandi. Following lunch at the Dirranbandi Hotel we collect our local guide for a tour of the area. We will hear all about the most famous of its cotton fields, Cubbie Station, as well as get a personal insight into the cotton industry by visiting one of the local cotton and grazing properties. This afternoon we arrive in Lightning Ridge. With its stark and scarred landscape, this town has a peculiar fascination for visitors. Famous for magnificent opals, the town is home to the unique black opal, a rare and luminous gem mined from the surrounding plains. It is the only place in Australia (and one of the few places in the world) where the highly prized opal is found. We visit Down to Earth Opals, which has been mining, designing, and specialising in selling to the world one-of-a-kind jewellery pieces and top gem quality loose opals. You may also like to visit the John Murray Art Gallery. Wandering around the gallery, John’s artistic talent becomes apparent with his pieces filled with light and humour. Tonight, we are in for a treat at the Australian Opal Centre, beneath a vast night sky for SPARK. The cinematic experience is a celebration of the natural, cultural, and technological heritage of Lightning Ridges opal fields, their opal, and people. We return to our accommodation for dinner.