There are no obligations to be met. I loved that this was a casual tour where you just leave when youve had enough. So why not join Keith and dig your own? Fossicking for sapphires is easy if you know what youre doing. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. 9. We just returned from Sovereign Hill, and the obligatory panning for gold, at which we were not very successful. Worst tourism experience I have had anywhere in the world. Capricorn Enterprise acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land and pays respect to the Elders past, present and future, representing the traditional Aboriginal land across the Capricorn Region. Now we have the gem bug! All equipment is supplied. We headed to the Miners Cottage in Rubyvale, purely because wed heard that you get free scones and coffee while you fossick. Were awaiting their arrival in the post as we speak! Stop for a Smoko and have a chat, we supply tea and coffee boiled on the campfire. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Be warned that if the weather becomes showery, everyone is asked to leave because the road in could become slippery. Even though Winter is technically peak season in Rubyvale and Sapphire, its really not crowded. Rubyvale, QLD - Aussie Towns Under new management needs Some fine tuning . Minimum of 2 people are required for the tour. Miners Heritage 205 Speciality & Gift Shops History Museums By mcgarryheaton We had a great tour with Jill, who was a wealth of information. We don't usually do tours as they are for real tourists but we liked the sound of the Fascination tagalong fossicking tour. Of course we knew we wanted to get stuck into Sapphire, but we wanted to see what else was around in The Gemfields, QLD. Specking (just scouring the surface for Sapphires lying exposed) is a common method for finding Sapphires particularly after rain. Fascination Gems & Crystals (Rubyvale) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go. Sapphire Talk! This is a guided tour of a former working mine with some accommodation madexfor tour groups. We supply all the equipment and water to enjoy a lifetime experience. The kids and us loved the underground tour. This is such a full and intensive guide! This is where we initially learnt all about Sapphires and fossicking. 1. Looking around we could see big piles of dirt everywhere along the roadside, accompanied by dug out holes, so it seemed wise not to go wandering off the track. Cafe food not exceptional.No refund. Bobby Dazzler Mine Rubyvale is located at 1688 Rubyvale Rd, The Gemfields QLD 4702, Australia What days are Bobby Dazzler Mine Rubyvale open? He took us to one area only. When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site. Get a set of Sapphire Fossicking Sieves (eBay). And so cool to know that you might find sapphires on the ground as you walk. Miners Heritage was established in 1982 as a working mine , it was then decided to run Mine Tours , after the mine entry & underground showroom were completed Miners Heritage was officially opened for it's first Tour in 1984. You will get to see first hand, how the miners actually live. 14 Awesome things you absolutely must do in Rubyvale and Sapphire I usually chase the gold, so this is all totally new to me. If youre looking for a totally unique experience for kids and adults alike, why not go sapphire fossicking in The Gemfields, QLD you wont be disappointed! 464 were here. This was a nice little surprise. Today exploring the Gemfields may encompass sapphire fossicking, mine tours, gem cutting, jewellery shops, and Gem galleries, sieving and the bush experience. All the neccessary equipment is provided & our friendly staff will show you how. Favourite part was joining in on the morning walk to the river to dig our own holes and shovel out wash. We took it back and then spent over 2 hours sifting through it. You are using an out of date browser. There are other things to do in The Gemfields besides Sapphire fossicking. I wouldnt mind getting a little dirty to find some gems on my own. There is a caravan park with a fossicking park on site and a service station nearby. He was very informative and showed us the fossicking process from where to dig, how to dig, separating the wash from the dirt and then using the willoughby to eventually looking for the gemstones. The details: Rubyvale gem fossicking Getting there: You can drive to Rubyvale from Brisbane in about 11 hours. The hero image of the big yellow sapphire at the top was taken at the Rubyvale Gem Gallery. 5. The roads are far from busy and there is no waiting in line.anywhere. The 'Heritage Room' is full of stories about famous sapphires and the characters of the Gemfields. The township of Sapphire is a bit more spread out than Rubyvale. With 160+ tours, five different travel styles, and tours that go to all seven continents, you can pick your ideal travel experience. Keith was not very forthcoming when asked questions and could not give advice about other fossicking areas for when we wanted to venture out on our own. Keith was not very forthcoming when asked questions and could not give advice about other fossicking areas for when we wanted to venture out on our own. There are a range of ways to obtain Sapphires (besides fossicking) it would be pretty difficult to leave The Gemfields without a Sapphire in your pocket! You can use your own sieve if you like, but having the proper ones will mean that you wont miss Sapphires and theyll make the job more thorough. They were also very informative. , Haha thats gold! What if youre not interested in digging, specking or fossicking while in The Gemfields, but still want to walk away with a Sapphire? You can check out the Lambert Gems website to find out how to send your Sapphires to them and what the process is. If youre looking for another little town whos history has sprung from gemstones, you must visit Gembrook in Victoria (near Melbourne). As a bonus, I plan to use fossicking at least once per day here in the American Midwest. The days are sunny and pleasant, and the nights are cool but not freezing. Advertise | Write for | Legal | Uncopyrights | Links, Best and Worst Things About Living in Queensland. We checked out the town, watched amused as a herd of cows wandered down the main street, and even fit in a leisurely stroll along the dry river bed behind our caravan park. The sheer range and quality available is absolutely stunning and sure to get you in the mood for Sapphires. . Spend a couple of minutes tapping the sieve in a bucket of water to clean the soilthoroughly and let the heavy sapphires sink to the bottom and sides. Heading up to rubyvale in a couple of weeks. I'm here to answer any questions you have. Its the perfect way to do something you all enjoy that has a super cool outcome. As many buckets of wash as you can dig and process! However, It gets pretty hot in outback Queensland so its worth considering visiting in Winter. Gem fossicking in Queensland turned out to be a great family activity and as an added bonus, we were able to do it on a budget (road trip and camper). Although I must admit, the kids did get over it after a while. Dave will give you an expert appraisal of any gem you find during your Fossicking Day Tour and, with an experienced eye, advise you regarding cutting to maximize their beauty and value. Gem, Jewellery & Gift shop, Buckets & Takeaway bags of wash. We do not pass your information onto third parties. specialising in Fine Unique Australian Sapphire Jewellery are a must. It was a fun experience going down a mine and learning about what it was like to mine for gemstones back in the day. But atm they are having problems with internet and power with these storms so please bring cash. A Beginner's Guide to Fossicking for Sapphires in Rubyvale Sapphire Fossicking in The Gemfields, QLD [FULL GUIDE] Is it open at the moment? If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Met the guide at designated place and followed him to a fossicking site. You can take a underground sapphire mine tour & go down 15 metres underground to discover the amazing world of sapphires. more. Your email address will not be published. The Fascination Gems self-drive tour includes a fossicking licence, tips from an experienced miner, all the tools and driving directions. Clearly they were old mining claims didnt they have to refill the mines once they were done? Thanks in advance for your help The entire Gemfields region is so interesting. Another form of fossicking is to join a 'Tag-a-Long Fossicking Tour'. Upon leaving with your days reward you are more than welcome to call in to see Dave at the Fascination booking office where he will spend time with you for an on-the-spot detailed inspection, under powerful lights and magnifying lenses, to accurately advise you on cutting and facetting of your stones turning them into truly valuable mementos of your days work. Found a heap of gems. Improve this listing All photos (19) Recommendations for fossicking areas on an impending Qld holiday? I think you always learn something about these actions and they are fun too. There are diamonds and rubies there to I believe. If youd like to try your luckand find a sapphire head to Rubyvale in Central Queensland. Keith shows you how to use a trommel to separate the fine gravel wash from larger stones. Miners' Heritage Walk-in Mine Tour | Attractions - Lonely Planet I'm heading up to Rubyvale in late April, early May to try my luck fossicking for gemstones. A nice surprise - Review of Bobby Dazzler Sapphire Mine Tours, Rubyvale Its fairly removed from the other three townships and is the least convenient place to stay as a tourist. | Prospecting Australia - Gold Prospecting & Fossicking Forum Gemstones, Minerals & Fossils Gemstones and Minerals Fossicking tours around Rubyvale? All rights reserved. This was lots of fun and we came away with a small bag of gems, nothing that will make our fortune but we really enjoyed ourselves. Register today and take advantage of membership benefits. Once at your designated fossicking area you can start digging up earth, sieving off dust and washing stones in a bucket of water so any heavy sapphires sink to the bottom. Your Sunhat Sunglasses Sunscreen blockout Insect repellent. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. During that time you are free to mine your claim as much as you like, as long as you stick within the current mining laws. Fossicking gear can be hired and licenses purchased locally, detailed maps and Information available from - Dept of Mines & Energy. Should be $10 per couple not $100. Where do you even begin? We went for lunch and came back and everything was gone, all tools and the guide. Although it was good to know that almost everyone will leave with a sapphire. If we were to stay in hotel/motel type accommodation, I would stay at theRubyvale Motel and Holiday Unitsas it has a cool observatory (the outback night sky is magnificent), a pool, and is within walking distance of fossicking sites. Most of the local businesses also have set stones for sale as well. Before you leave The Gemfields QLD, make sure you get a professional to sort out your finds. Guided Underground Mine Tour. Have a look through the various ways below to get an idea of the different sources of Sapphires in The Gemfields. Would love to hear from anyone with ideas. Thanks Keith and we will see you next year again. What an interesting adventure to actually go looking for gemstones. A fabulous way for the novice to learn a little about the history and processes of sapphire fossicking. Gemfest Festival of Gems is an annual event held in August every year and is a must! What do you need for DIY Sapphire Fossicking? We stayed at the Sapphire Reserve FREE Camp for 2 days & then spent 6 weeks at Gemini Retreat Caravan Park. Sounds easy right? The process to get the sapphires did sound easy. Hi Lara, yes there is a fee for the guided mine tour, it takes approx. Things to do near Fascination Gems & Crystals, Margaret River Beer & Wine Adventure (departs Dunsborough/Busselton), Hobart Sightseeing Cruise including Iron Pot Lighthouse, The Walls of Jerusalem Supported Trekking Tour, All-Inclusive Amsterdam Canal Cruise by Captain Jack, 4-Day Isle of Skye & West Highlands Small-Group Tour from Edinburgh, Inti Raymi 2023 Ticket Festival of the Sun on June 24, With Locals Ultimate Batu Caves PRIVATE Day Trip with hotel pick-up, View all hotels near Fascination Gems & Crystals on Tripadvisor. Specking and fossicking I just learned two new words, thank you. to have these set. When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site. Have you been Sapphire Fossicking in The Gemfields? Unfortunately, we didnt have time to stop and I was really disappointed. So if it rains while youre visiting Rubyvale you may not even need to do any digging, just walk around with your eyes trained to the ground! We had a great time and every came away with some nice sapphires . Is there an entry fee or a fee for the tour or fossicking? Well, I wasnt disappointed this time! Its a25 carat sapphire with a value of $95,000. This time we found a 6.33 ct which is with Dave to cut and a 9.69 ct unfortunately we could not do much with it. Who in the area, already have settings for rings etc. We have the most amazing array of loose Sapphires in every colour of the rainbow. We have just been to the gemfields and fossicked some small sapphires we had them graded too to send to Lamberts, but noticed there are quite small. Every fifth property has a spot out the front where you can do this you wont have any trouble finding one! Copyright 2023 MY RIG Adventures All rights reserved, Sapphire Fossicking in The Gemfields, QLD [FULL GUIDE], Innot Hot Springs [Mineral Waters], Far North QLD, 17 Things To Do In Glen Innes, Celtic Country NSW. If you do get lucky and find a big sapphire you can get itcut locally by Karen at the Little House of Gems. Leave time to head back to your campsite or accommodation fora shower. Elaine and her team were very helpful. We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location. Pretty sure he has a website, otherwise, send him an email with dimensions etc for a quote before you arrive ? As of mid 2014 were digging a new location in the Glenalva fossicking area here are a few photos to give you a feel for the place and the experience. To the untrained eye, Sapphires in the rough can very easily pass for a bunch of gravel. Conservative estimate $6000 - $8000. Australian Sapphires dominated the worlds supply of Sapphire in the 1970s & 80s. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Totally recommend this tour it only cost $20 per adult. Thank you for your review we loved having you here and hope to see you again . Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. In other words, the less stuff youve got (in the way of housing and machinery), the easier it is to strip the block back. This sounds very exciting tour to check minesfield and hunt some gemstones. You wont have to look too far to find a Gem Cutter, theyre everywhere out there! Ive checked the link and youre right, its not working. We only spent a few hours fossicking but all that digging, lifting and sieving is hard dirty work. Pretty sure he has a website, otherwise, send him an email with dimensions etc for a quote before you arrive ? Our guide was a knowledgeable, intelligent and interesting speaker. I believe diamonds are super rare there, but not impossible to find. Mark the owner was very helpful, friendly and knowledgeable about fossicking. Check out my Facebook page Bobby Dazzler Mine Rubyvale. Lovely staff, great little mine tour. Haha no worries. So thats it! You will learn valuable tips from an experienced miner on how to look for a good site to dig and how to correctly wash and identify. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Sapphire Fossicking can become very addictive! We even scored 11 tiny gems out of it! Not bad, and surely worth a little fuel money and sweat on the willoughby. (click on the image for a closer look) What's it worth? Very interesting commentary. You work at your own pace and keep everything your find. The easiest and fun way to fossick is to visit one or more of the many Fossicking Parks. $90 for a couple was too dear. At least now we can swap the gravel in the special rock bucket under Mr Fives bed with some nicer specimens! We thoroughly recommend Bobby Dazzler for a fun and different experience. What to see and do in Grenoble Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes - The Good Life France There are 2 underground Sapphire Mines in Rubyvale where you can experience what life is like as a gem prospector below the surface. Unfortunately we must have got Keith on an off day. We are open from 9am till 3pm , Tours are limited due to Covid-19 regulations, please contact us or check our Facebook page for regular updates.
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