Lightning Ridge, New South Wales — interactive Google street map, satellite and terrain views, Street View, live local weather conditions and 7-day forecasts, real-time local and world news, and an editorial description of Lightning Ridge, in the Walgett Shire Council local government area.
| Locality | Lightning Ridge |
| State | New South Wales (NSW) |
| Local Government Area | Walgett Shire Council |
| Country | Australia |
| Timezone | Australian Eastern Time (AEST/AEDT) |
| Remoteness | Remote Australia |
| Latitude | -29.33156 |
| Longitude | 147.9272 |
| Population | 2,636 |
| Density | 1.2 /km² |
| Area | 2141.3 km² |
| Elevation | 149 m |
| Postcode | 2834 |
| Area Code | 02 |
| Distance to Sydney | 592 km north-northwest |
Lightning Ridge is a locality in the Walgett Shire Council local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It has a population of approximately 2,636. The locality covers an area of 2141.3 km², giving a population density of about 1.2 people per km². It sits at an elevation of around 149 m above sea level. It lies approximately 592 km north-northwest of Sydney. Lightning Ridge is located at 29.3316°S, 147.9272°E. It observes Australian Eastern Time (AEST/AEDT). Postcode: 2834. The Australian Bureau of Statistics classifies the area as Remote Australia.
Lightning Ridge shimmers under a vast, bleached sky, a place where the earth itself seems to hold its breath. It lies 334.5 km north-north-west of Dubbo, NSW (from Dubbo, NSW: bearing 348°T), and is situated 57.9 km west of Collarenebri. The landscape here is a study in ochre and muted greens, a flat expanse punctuated by the curious mounds and scars of human endeavour. Dust, fine as talc, coats everything, catching the light in a perpetual, hazy glow. The air, when it moves, carries the dry, mineral scent of baked earth and the faintest whisper of eucalyptus. In the distance, the horizon is a clean, sharp line, unbroken save for the occasional silhouette of a shearing shed or a water tank.
This is a town born of a singular, fervent pursuit: the opal. For generations, Lightning Ridge has drawn prospectors and dreamers, its economy intricately bound to the elusive shimmer of precious stone. The network of underground shafts, a labyrinth beneath the surface, speaks of a history etched in relentless digging and the quiet hope of striking it rich. While opal mining remains its beating heart, a steady stream of travellers now passes through, drawn by the unique character of this outback settlement and the promise of finding their own piece of the earth's hidden fire.
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This page provides an interactive Google map of Lightning Ridge, New South Wales with street, satellite and terrain views and integrated Street View imagery. Live weather conditions with current observations and a 7-day forecast are powered by Open-Meteo. Real-time local news and world news feeds keep the page current, while an editorially written description provides background on Lightning Ridge, in the Walgett Shire Council local government area.
Detailed location data for Lightning Ridge includes the postcode (2834), telephone area code (02), and local government area (Walgett Shire Council), with an ABS remoteness classification of Remote Australia. These are among the most commonly searched location details for any Australian city, town or locality.
Location data is drawn from Geoscape Administrative Boundaries (GDA2020) and enriched with GeoNames and Australian Bureau of Statistics data, matched by coordinate proximity — ensuring the correct Lightning Ridge is identified even where the name is shared across multiple localities.
| Page generated | June 2026 |
| Location data | Geoscape Administrative Boundaries (GDA2020); enriched with GeoNames and ABS 2021 Census data, matched by coordinate proximity |
| Description | Editorial description generated with AI assistance from verified Geoscape, ABS and GeoNames location data. |