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Fossil Digs 

Lightning Ridge Fossil Dig
August 2025

Registrations are OPEN for the Lightning Ridge Fossil Dig of August 2025.

Places are limited, so complete and send in your registration form and deposit now to avoid disappointment.

WEEK 1: Monday 18 to Saturday 23 August 2025
WEEK 2: Monday 25 to Saturday 30 August 2025 (return participants only)

ANNOUNCEMENT: if you’ve been thinking about doing a fossil dig or travelling to northwestern NSW, seize the day and join us in August 2025! Stage 1 of the incredible, nationally-significant new Australian Opal Centre will have just opened, and your registration will include a special VIP 2025 Fossil Dig tour, with special commemorative souvenirs of the launch - an opportunity never to be repeated.

About the Lightning Ridge Fossil Dig

100 million years ago, dinosaurs roamed the lands around a great Australian inland sea. Giant sauropods, ferocious theropods and diminutive ornithopods shared this world with everything from crocodiles and turtles to tiny mammals, yabbies and snails. Lightning Ridge, once a forested plain near this ancient sea, is famed for dazzling opal and as one of Australia’s most important dinosaur fossil sites.

Searching for opalised fossils is a privilege usually available only to opal miners and scientists. You can share these incredible moments of discovery by joining the Australian Opal Centre and Australian Geographic Society as we search for and learn about fossils at the Lightning Ridge opal fields, on beautiful Yuwaalaraay Country.

Since our first Dig in 2014, Dig participants have discovered important opalised fossils including the world’s first published opalised ankylosaur dinosaur osteoderm (bony skin armour) and tiny bones from baby dinosaurs that died inside their eggs - Australia’s smallest dinosaur babies. They’ve added dozens of shells, teeth, bones and other fossils to the AOC’s incredible collection.

Six days packed with discovery
Our team of fossil experts will take you to special locations seeking new opalised fossils for the Australian Opal Centre’s globally significant collection. Your discoveries will contribute to a world-class scientific and cultural resource. 

  • Learn about opalised fossils and Australia in the Age of Dinosaurs

  • Learn to distinguish opalised fossils from geological specimens

  • Search for opalised plant and animal fossils at special sites

  • Experience the excitement of a tailout - moment of truth for the opal miner!

  • Collect and process fossil-rich claystones

  • Mend, reassemble or prepare fossils

  • Attend fascinating lectures on opals, opal mining, opalised fossils and dinosaur hunting

  • Experience an underground opal mine

Contribute to science, seize opportunities for experiences not available outside the Lightning Ridge Fossil Dig, make lasting friendships and enjoy the extraordinary sights, sounds and hospitality of the opal fields.

Eligibility
Anyone 18 years and over is eligible to participate in a Fossil Dig; no experience is required. There is a maximum of 40 places available only (two separate groups of 20 volunteers). 

When
WEEK 1: Monday 18th to Saturday 23rd August 2025
WEEK 2: Monday 25th to Saturday 30th August 2025

Important: Week 2 is for return participants only.

Location
The incredible outback opal mining town of Lightning Ridge, Australia. 

Your guides
Dig participants will be led and guided by a fabulous team of experts. Team leaders for 2025 are yet to be confirmed, but may include:

  • Jenni Brammall: Australian Opal Centre palaeontologist, gemmologist, opal specialist, collection manager and CEO.

  • Clytie Smith: super fossil finder and discoverer of rare opalised mammal fossils.

  • Dr Elizabeth Smith - world expert on opalised fossils.

  • Dr Timothy Fraunfelder: dinosaur tooth specialist and university medal winner for his research on opalised sauropod dinosaur teeth, with field experience at Lightning Ridge, Winton and Surat (Queensland), and in Canada and Argentina.

  • Hayden Henderson: postgraduate researcher investigating opalised sauropod dinosaur bones from Lightning Ridge at the University of New England (UNE), Armidale.

  • Sherri Donaldson: postgraduate researcher (UNE) working on the opalised molluscs and palaeoenvironments of Lightning Ridge.

  • Jake Kotevski: megaraptorid dinosaur postgraduate researcher at Monash University.

  • Other great team leaders and residents of Lightning Ridge.

Cost
$2,420 per person (incl. GST); return digger $2,200.
Price includes all activities (including a highly recommended optional program of evening activities) and most meals. Excludes accommodation and transport. This is a scientific and fundraising venture for the Australian Opal Centre.

Can’t manage the whole fee now? No problem. Pay a deposit to secure your place, then pay your balance in instalments.

Secure your place
Don't miss out! Complete and send in your registration form and deposit; participants will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. 

Contact
To find out more, please email dig@australianopalcentre.com or call Jenni Brammall on 0427 904 587.