Australia’s ancient geologic formations provide an opportunity for visitors to try their luck hunting for gemstones. Coober Pedy is famous for it’s opal mines, huge underground pits where brilliantly colorful opals are found. Elsewhere in Australia there are more opal mines, gold mines and gemfields where sapphires are plentiful.

Gemini Caravan Park, Sapphire (closed)

The Anakie gemfields yield some 60% of the world’s sapphires, including blues, greens, partis and yellows. Visitors are welcome to visit this area and purchase a fossicking license (A$5.55) then head to a fossicking area to dig or just “speck” for sapphires. You are welcome to camp on fossicking land with a permit (about A$16 a week). This means you can bring your tent or caravan out there and stay for as long as you like, really cutting down your expenses.

The nearby towns of Sapphire and Rubyvale provide services to the miners including fuel, supplies, groceries and even Internet access (dialup only at present). There are also a small number of hotels and caravan parks for those who don’t want to rough it.