Tingha Gems Caravan Park/Tingha Sands

[Ranger Itchy]

Hi Guys,


Off to Tingha for a week or so fossicking around the area from the 04-04-18 WHO'S in?


More the merrier!!


Cheers Ranger itchy

[Ausdigfam]

Hi Ranger Itchy,
    Hubby and myself are up there's abouts also in April, but we are at the other end of your dates. Enjoy.

[Ranger Itchy]

Is there nobody heading for Tingha? the week after Easter!!

[bak]

just put up a post.  We are heading there on the 9th and 10th for a quick look around.

[Ranger Itchy]

Hi Bak,


I should still be there at that time, just look for the green Ford Ranger with the Blue Tongue camper and come and say hello!!


Cheers Ranger Itchy

[Ranger Itchy]

Hi Guys,


3 days to go, till I'm off to Tingha, not looking forward too the drive there, but can't wait to get up there!!


Cheers Ranger Itchy

[Jimnyjerry]

Have a good trip Ranger Itchy 

[Ranger Itchy]

If this trip is anything like the last(2/3 of a bucket of crystals) in 3 days, in 2 weeks I should be able to collect a couple of buckets full!!


Cheers Ranger Itchy

[Ranger Itchy]

Well Guys, that trip is done dusted again, Hell of a drive from Melbourne!!


Stayed at Tingha Gems Caravan and Camping park with great hosts Rebel & Craig who couldn't do enough for there guests.
I would recommend for anybody going to the area to give them a try, fees for a powered site for a single are just $90 a week, I think that worked out to something like $13:85 a day you can't beat that. Park is always neat and tidy, and the amenities are always clean.


While your there say hello to Maxine and Paula who live in park(down in the corner near the amenities block) they love fossicking also and can point you in the right direction to find a crystal or 2.


I did have some good finds in the area, some just by discovering my own fossicking places and others by being shown by the local fossicking legend Jim Curtin.


It is well worth a trip to Jim's place on Old Mill Rd, have a look at his collection on what has been found around the area, he has some excellent specimens and he also has some for sale if you don't want to dig for them eg: he has a 44 gallon drum of smoky quartz crystals for $10 a kilo.
I also did a day at Tingha Sands, it was very dissapointing compared to last time, the mining operation has ceased but they are still allowing fossickers in.


Because mining ceased over a month ago all the material has dried out and is as hard as concrete and it is very hard digging to find anything, although I did find a very nice clear almost citrine crystal just specking around the old dumps over the back.


On Saturday the 14th of April we had a massive tropical storm go through Tingha, it started in the distance around 6:00pm and went through until about 9:30pm when it had passed over, literally thousands of lightning strikes, rain, hail and wind, it was a hell of a show from mother nature!


The next day in the afternoon I was talking to our neighbour who is a fossicker and ask how she had done that day, she said she had gone to Tingha sands and picked up a heap of crystals on the surface that had been washed clean by the previous nights storm, all she had to do was walk around and pick them up, I thought to myself, why didn't I think of that! another opportunity missed!


I will be going back to area again at some time, but I will be doing a lot more research next time, now that I know where and what to look for! I think google maps is going to become my best friend.


Whether you are an expert or novice it's worth a trip to this area!


Cheers Ranger Itchy [size=78%] [/size]

[colza]

Thanks for the heads up Ranger Itchy. I like that part of the world.
Cheers,
colza

[bak]

hey Ranger, we didn't end up getting to Tingha.  We stayed an extra night at Girraween and an extra night at Inverell.  We actually did a couple of sessions at Stannifer with the plan of going to Tingha if we couldn't find anything.  That was our first time fossicking "in the wild" and we had a blast.  The kids went strong for about 5 hours so plenty there to dig up.  We also had a good day at Billabong blue with a few that I'm about to send away to get cut.  Also did the drive to Emmaville for the mining museum.  That place is incredible and the volunteers even better.  So giving with their time answering the million questions my 8 year old had.  I really want to get back and explore that area and Torrington later this year.  Just wish there were places a bit closer to North Brisbane to have a dig. 

Cheers
Brett

[Gemster]

  So you don't know the Short-cut to Inverell ?  Can do Gold Coast to Inverell in about 4hrs..
 
  Gemster....

[bak]

we're in Caboolture unfortunately (unfortunate for lots of reasons) so not sure if your shortcut is going to help us much.  I've been looking into some areas near Stanthorpe which is reasonable for weekend with young kids

[Gemster]

Yeh know what you mean.... turn off is at Warwick and head west.... Have you had a look at Lowmead (Amethyst and Smokey) that is only a few hrs north of you... Stanthorpe is a bit of a hit and miss... Most areas are on Private property and the other areas are pretty much dug out as well...

  Gemster....

[FlashGP]

Gemster, 

How do you get o Inverell via the Gold Coast?  It took me about 3.5 to 4 hours to drive to Stanthorpe from South Western Brisbane.

regards
Flash