We RVed for 8 years in North America. There is no refund or discount if the day out is shortened to less than two hours of fossicking. Our fully guided underground mine tours depart each hour from 9.15am. There are no obligations to be met. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our. There you will find a great country pub, Jewellers, Cafes, Post Office, Laundromat, playground, service station and food store. An excellent 45 minute small group tour of an underground mine that has been modified to accommodate tourists. We had a great time and every came away with some nice sapphires . Not every shiny thing is a sapphire. Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our. We thoroughly recommend Bobby Dazzler for a fun and different experience. A great morning 24/3/2021 with Keith on a Tag-a-long Tour to one of the local public fossicking areas. We spent our first few hours picking our loads of quartz thinking it was something, but it wasnt. Everyone fossicking in The Gemfields send their tiny Sapphires overseas to a reputable company called Lambert Gems. Fossick (verb)to search for gold or gemstones typically by picking them over abandoned workings. Excellent few hours at the Bobby Dazzler Mine having a tour and learning how to fossick. As with any Self Drive Tour, you are the boss of your own time. Hi they responded and yes they are closed until March next year. For all of the other bits and pieces that you walk away with, you can get nice glass jars and lockets to put the really pretty and colourful Sapphires in. So why not join Keith and dig your own? Sapphire Fossicking Tip: After heavy rains sapphires wash down the creeks and are often found nestled aroundwashed out tree roots. Now we have the gem bug! Its the perfect way to do something you all enjoy that has a super cool outcome. Our Self Drive Tour takes you to the Glenalva Fossicking Area, approximately 20km west of Anakie, but youll meet up with Keith closer to town and hell show you the way. Check out my Facebook page Bobby Dazzler Mine Rubyvale. to have these set. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in Australia. It is a great feeling to find your own sapphires or zircons and not just out of a bucket of wash. Clearly they were old mining claims didnt they have to refill the mines once they were done? This is a guided tour of a former working mine with some accommodation madexfor tour groups. The kids and us loved the underground tour. Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page. Recommendationd for where to dig around rubyvale area? I usually chase the gold, so this is all totally new to me. Heading there around August. He's hopeless. There are no facilities, not even a pit toilet or screen. The final part of the Gemfields is The Willows. They locate old creek beds, which is where all of those gems are sitting. All the neccessary equipment is provided & our friendly staff will show you how. Rubyvale Markets every Saturday morning. I havent yet worked out their criteria for special. Miss Three is at an age where she is still fairly spirited (coughawful) when she gets tired, so I didnt want to be tied to a schedule in case it all went pear-shaped. Thanks in advance for your help This gorgeous town serves as the main Gemfields hub. Its located on the banks of Retreat Creek in which you can also try your luck at finding gems. Specking (just scouring the surface for Sapphires lying exposed) is a common method for finding Sapphires particularly after rain. It was a fun experience going down a mine and learning about what it was like to mine for gemstones back in the day. We had a great underground tour, very informative. Unfortunately we must have got Keith on an off day. 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. This review is in regards to the fascination gem fossicking tag along. 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. Learnt so much about Sapphire mining and tour guide was full of info and happy to answer questions. Leave time to head back to your campsite or accommodation fora shower. Not such a large selection but I would think least expensive. Guided Underground Mine Tour. Met the guide at designated place and followed him to a fossicking site. We stayed at theBlue Gem Tourist Park in Sapphire as we were travelling with our Jayco Swan Camper. The roads are far from busy and there is no waiting in line.anywhere. 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. 10. What do you need for DIY Sapphire Fossicking? As many buckets of wash as you can dig and process! Guided boot camp fossicking trail, it's a must for all ages. But remember you do the digging!! We were so happy we went again for a second day. Miners Heritage is on the site of a sapphire mine that started in 1906 , it was developed as a Tourist Mine in 1984. 2. Spotted around are plenty of DO NOT ENTER, DANGER, MINING CLAIM signs at every turn, so be sure to stick to the road. Wear your OLDEST cloths (this is no fashion parade you will get your hands and clothes a bit dirty). More info & enquiries | Open April October, 9am 4pm. Self-Drive Day Tour for the Serious Gem Fossicker organised by Fascination Gems & Crystals 72 Keilambete Road, RUBYVALE Queensland 4702 Australia For prices, enquiries & bookings telephone: (07) 4985 4675 or 0407 854 676 Email: fascgems@bigpond.com NOTE: As you are digging on a Designated Fossicking Area a Fossickers Licence is also required. 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. Rude from the outset. Not such a large selection but I would think least expensive. Get a set of Sapphire Fossicking Sieves (eBay). Lyon is France's third-largest city and a major tourist destination. The details: Rubyvale gem fossicking Getting there: You can drive to Rubyvale from Brisbane in about 11 hours. Dig your own and learn how to identify the alluvial gravel bed that (may!) Clean the concentrated wash using a Willoughby. It ends up being hot, sweaty work. The Muse de Grenoble, right in the heart of the city, has an astonishing collection of 900 works of fine . We had 75 small Sapphires and a few Zircons that Lamberts have cut for us. $$ - $$$ Cafe Australian Vegetarian Friendly. Had a great day sifting for sapphires at Bobby Dazzler Elaine and Jason were very welcoming and endlessly patient with a couple of novices. At the end of the lease, if the claim isnt renewed, then the tenant has just 48 hours to vacate the site and put a large percentage of dirt back into the mine to get their bond money back. Fascination Gems & Crystals (Rubyvale) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go. First, while overlooking all of the important details for discovering sapphires and other gems while I was preoccupied with what on earth is fossicking. Then, after I finally broke down and Googled it, to get the tips you share here. Hi Lara, yes there is a fee for the guided mine tour, it takes approx. We had no luck panning but it was still fun and we took away some interesting rocks. Rubvale Gem GalleryAccommodation, food and gem gallery. I think you always learn something about these actions and they are fun too. We did the mine tour and bought a bucket and did some panning. Some 1.2km beyond Rubyvale is this former walk-in mine. We were even thinking of mailing some of our stones to him for setting. But atm they are having problems with internet and power with these storms so please bring cash. There is more to do here than just digging around in the dirt or the dry sandy creek. The Australian Sapphires found in these areas are blue, green & yellow or beautiful multi-coloured Sapphires known as Parti-Colour Sapphires. Get someone with a personality and people skills to run it or get the tour guide trained. We are keen fossickers and always goes out with Keith and we always find gems. From just two buckets of wash we found 143 caret of gems. We got buckets on the Saturday we were there they had a deal 3 buckets $50 its super good . Before you even turn off the Capricorn Highway and head in towards the town of Sapphire, you will be inundated with signs for all sorts of shops and experiences. There is one with larger holes and one with smaller holes youll need both. Miners Heritage (Rubyvale): All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go, View all hotels near Miners Heritage on Tripadvisor, Explore the Cotswolds (Private Day Tour from London), Toronto Signature Dinner Cruise on Northern Spirit in the Harbour, Giant's Causeway Tour Including Game of Thrones Locations, Helicopter Tour with Alpine Snow Landing from Queenstown, Alices Journeys Guided Walking Tours of Daylesford, Melangit River Rafting and Hidden Canyon Beji Guwang Trekking, Oslob Whale Shark watching + Canyoneering Adventure Tour. Pour some of the dirt from the bucket into a special double sieve so you can shake the excess dust out; Put the sieve into the dunking contraption called a Willoughby; Spend some time washing the dirt and mud off your rocks; Take your sieve full of rocks to the table and flip it over like a pancake; Grab your tweezers and start pulling out the Sapphires. Imagine this in a loud whiny tone with a fair amount of foot stomping. By the time you leave youll no doubt have a little baggy with bits and pieces. Wander into the Rubyvale Gem Gallery, situated in the heart of town, where you can meet the owner, Peter, who journeyed into arid Country Queensland as a young man of 21, learning the art of cutting, shaping and polishing gems from a talented local. This is why I try to avoid being tied to a schedule. We even came away with a couple of sapphires and zircons. The easiest and fun way to fossick is to visit one or more of the many Fossicking Parks. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our. The mine tour was great, Steve told some interesting stories and kept the kids interested. Where can I get a map of the gems fields from thank you. They were also very informative. Theyre an American company who are based in Thailand. Theyll all be Sapphires, but rarely will you find something big enough to retire off. 1. Oh nice. Its a25 carat sapphire with a value of $95,000. Added bonus! Of course, Id probably get my hands so grubby, eating a scone might become a bit of a gritty affair. One of Rubyvale's major attractions is the Bobby Dazzler Mine. You can find them here (Ive updated the link in the article) http://www.lambert.co.th/, I have just bought a house in Willows, and the missus and I are quite keen to get stuck in and hopefully finding some good sapphires. We only spent a few hours fossicking but all that digging, lifting and sieving is hard dirty work. Rude from the outset. Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information. 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. Around mid-day it starting going something like this, Muuuuum, Ripley is looooooking at me! and, Muuuum, Ripley went fiiiiiiiirst. Total waste of time and money. Gemfields full-year profit rises 2% on record ruby, emerald sales - Reuters, MAPPED: Qlds top schools revealed in new NAPLAN results - Courier Mail, Central Qlds top performing NAPLAN schools revealed - Courier Mail, Our own Country Champs - Central Queensland Today - CQ Today, Gem-A releases latest edition of The Journal of Gemmology - Professional Jeweller, Australia's famous sapphires and their colourful history starting in Queensland's Gemfields - ABC News, Mount Morgan businesses lament delay in establishing gold fossicking areas - ABC News, Queensland government lifts new small-scale mining claim ban, proposes new, short-term leases - ABC News, Australian Man Finds 834-Carat Monster Sapphire in Queensland - Israel Diamond Institute, QLD dad finds $12,500 sapphire less than 100m from home - Kidspot, Your own transport to and from the digging site (usually about 20km away), Your own food and drinks (bring plenty of water). Most of the local businesses also have set stones for sale as well. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. First up, we bought a bucket of wash for $15 and the friendly staff walked us through the process. Zac was amazing with our two young boys and was very patient with us novice fossickers. We went for lunch and came back and everything was gone, all tools and the guide. While we enjoyed learning how to sieve the wash for sapphires our first afternoon, the boot camp fossick next morning was a highlight. The 'Heritage Room' is full of stories about famous sapphires and the characters of the Gemfields. Get your Glass Jars and Round Lockets and Heart/ Tear Drop Lockets off eBay! The towns of Rubyvale and Sapphire have 3 general stores, hotel, Post Offices, fuel, cafes, take-aways, Sunday markets, jewellery shops, gem gallery, gem cutters, goldsmiths and jewellers. Do you know what to look for when fossicking for sapphires? Another thing weve learnt is that if the bucket of wash youre going through has clay in it, then you know its genuine wash from a mine that hasnt been previously sorted or tampered with thats the stuff you want! 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. Alongside the sieves youll need a bucket or drum of water to dunk the sieves in and out of to wash the rocks. Bobby Dazzler Sapphire Mine Tours (Rubyvale): All You Need to Know, Things to do near Bobby Dazzler Sapphire Mine Tours, Dubai Airport (DXB) to Port Rashid Dubai Cruise port -Roundtrip Private Transfer, Premium Glow Worm AdventureAll Inclusive Full Day Tour, Japanese-style Lymphatic Massage in Tokyo, Dubai Marina Dinner Cruise with Live Music, The Cave Tour with Fijian Village, Local School and Snorkeling, Santorini Day Tour from Heraklion by Sea Jets, McLaren Vale and Glenelg Wine Tasting and Sightseeing (Half-day Afternoon). 3. If you fossick at a Fossicking Park, the staff will go through your finds and make sure that youve sorted the Quartz from the Sapphires and will put the cutters (ones big enough to get cut) into a separate bag for you. Already made? Speciality & Gift Shops History Museums. Today exploring the Gemfields may encompass sapphire fossicking, mine tours, gem cutting, jewellery shops, and Gem galleries, sieving and the bush experience. This review is in regards to the fascination gem fossicking tag along. There are plenty of places that can show you the ropes in Rubyvale or Sapphire, but we went with this particular Tag-A-Long tour as you stay as long as you like, and you get to keep everything you find. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our. There were no extra costs, and all equipment and expert tuition were supplied. Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our. Click below to see the other local attractions in The Gemfields, including pics and info. Our 'WASH' comes direct from our working mine, just for you. Visiting the local markets is sure to bring up the goods with selections to suit every style and budget. Peak season in outback Queensland is nothing like peak season on the coast. You can pop into the Rubvale Gem Gallery and buy a cut gem or a piece of sapphire jewelry but unearthing your own rough sapphire will make your holiday souvenir even more precious. Conservative estimate $6000 - $8000. Your Sapphires will be examined and categorised. The staff there are great and will happily help you sort the rubbish from the worthwhile. Tiffany, Hi Tiffany, I sent all of my sapphires to Lamberts that were cuttable. 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. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Worst tourism experience I have had anywhere in the world. The tour guide was informative, however the lights where turned off 5 minutes into the tour of the mine. Be my guest in Rubyvale. We are keen fossickers and always goes out with Keith and we always find gems. There are no facilities, not even a pit toilet or screen. Not bad, and surely worth a little fuel money and sweat on the willoughby. Rubyvale Queensland 4702 Australia. The digging of the Sapphire bearing gravel (called wash) has been done for you and all you have to do is sieve and sort for any treasures. The new above ground Air-Conditioned Showroom was completed in 2004 for our 20th Anniversary. Tag along surface mining experience with all equipment and tuition provided and we found some good gems. Be prepared for this unforgettable highlight of your visit to the Central Queensland Gem Fields. All we needed to bring was our own sandwiches and drinks. for the While we didn't have time to participate in the fossicking activity after the tour, we came away knowing a lot more about the sapphire mining industry and its history. Tour guide belittles people. Best I found was a nice 14.2ct beaut parti colour sapphire. Locals tell me she doesn't bother opening in "low season". We can surely help you find the best one according to your needs. Want to book a hotel in New South Wales? Rubyvale is an oasis in the moonscape scenery, with its unique local architecture of billy boulders and ironbark logs. 4. The mine is Under new management. We have a few Members that have leases up there, perhaps send them a PM and they may sort you out Gilly47 has one and lives up there now.. Btw - has everyone seen the Tomahawk Tiger? If you find Sapphires outside of a Fossicking Park (through specking or doing it yourself on the fossicking lands), take your finds into the Miners Heritage. Save your $90 and buy couple bags of washed stones. Another great experience with Keith. Pat's Gems Tourist Fossicking Park . Did you strike it rich? This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. The tour lasts approximately 40 minutes and is suitable for all ages. I would suggest booking accommodation before you leave just in case though. There are diamonds and rubies there to I believe. It is now Under New Managment so I really hope you visit again. Browse the many Sapphire shops and galleries where you will find magnificent gem and Jewellery to dazzle and tempt every taste and price. Our price includes all of the above. There are 2 underground Sapphire Mines in Rubyvale where you can experience what life is like as a gem prospector below the surface. The main thing youll need for Sapphire fossicking is a sieve, tweezers and some water. If youre keen to walk away with some beautiful gems but dont want to go Sapphire fossicking in The Gemfields, there are plenty of jewellery stores on hand. 9. You can drive to Rubyvalefrom Brisbane in about 11 hours but if youre short on time its a one hour flight from Brisbane to Emerald and then a one hour drive from Emerald to Rubyvale. Bobby Dazzler Mine Rubyvale is open: Monday:8:30 AM - 4:00 PM Tuesday:8:30 AM - 4:00 PM Wednesday:8:30 AM - 4:00 PM Thursday:8:30 AM - 4:00 PM Friday:8:30 AM - 4:00 PM Saturday:8:30 AM - 4:00 PM Oh, thats not just exciting for kids! It can be hot, dirty, sweaty work considering you need to be in the full sunlight to really see the glint of the Sapphire. Whilst here you can embark on an underground tour of our mine, spend time in our park fossicking for your own gems, browse our range of Australian Sapphire Jewellery, there's something for everyone you can even pack a lunch and enjoy our undercover area. Gemfest Festival of Gems is an annual event held in August every year and is a must! 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. When you drive into The Gemfields, the prospect of fossicking for a whole bundle of glorious Sapphires is alluring and exciting. Were you happy with the cut result? When youve cooled off and cleaned uphead to Policemans Knob just outside Rubyvale to watch the sunset. There is no plan B. If you do strike it lucky in the gemfields, there are a few options in town for having your gem cut and made into a unique piece of jewellery. The bonus of finding a beautiful cutter is that you get to have it set right into a piece of jewellery during your stay if you like and take it home with you without having to send it off or wait too long. 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. At least now we can swap the gravel in the special rock bucket under Mr Fives bed with some nicer specimens! I'm not sure he will appeal to everyone but we found him to be great. I also never heard of Mining Claims before so it was interesting to read about leasing a plot of land. Fascination Gems & Crystals (Rubyvale): All You Need to Know. Extremely well run and affordable tour- established since the 1980s. Of course we knew we wanted to get stuck into Sapphire, but we wanted to see what else was around in The Gemfields, QLD. 2. Another great experience with Keith. Was quite off-putting and was not keen to explain much. Camping on the Fossicking Fields is $3.50 per night for up to 3 months. Sounds easy right? Bullwinkle, check out this mob - I've heard good things about them. This is where you get to go out onsite with an expert who will show you how to dig your own dirt, clean it, sort it and find the gems. All the equipment is supplied and some basic instruction then you are set free to use some muscles which don't get much workout. From the elderly couple in the huge bus beside us who stay here three months out of every year, to the lady we met buying ice-creams who purchased a mining lease to retire on. Followed by optional activity sieving for your own sapphires- we got quite a few (not good enough quality to cut) but great fun! We were even thinking of mailing some of our stones to him for setting.