There are a few ways to get to Winton. I flew from Sydney to Townsville, then caught a little plane to Winton. This was fortuitous, because across the aisle from me was a lady wearing the biggest and bluest opal around her neck, with matching earrings and ring. We started chatting, and I discovered she was one of the opal business owners who was going to judge the Winton Boulder Opal Competition at the Winton Opal Festival.

When we arrived at Winton airport, I realised it was a few kilometres into town, and I hadn’t arranged a transfer. My bejewelled new friend kindly offered me a lift in the Ute with her aunt, who was the driver, and squished in the cabin in true outback fashion, we trundled off into Winton.

My accommodation was above one of the historical pubs – a newly renovated room that opened onto a common wooden verandah, overlooking the garden and the outback. The sunsets were glorious, and the dinners were great. All the hotels in town have historical significance, with The North Gregory Hotel being famous for the first performance of “Waltzing Matilda”. Winton is also the birthplace of Qantas, where early meetings were also held in The North Gregory.

The opal shops (of which there are many) along the town’s main street, each have a different aesthetic – some are dusty with a cat asleep on the counter amongst specimens, some have opal polishing machines in the corner, while others have slick glass and chrome display cabinets. The opal miners and business owners are extremely passionate about Boulder Opal, and I spent hours talking with them and learning about their “Why?”. I was gobsmacked to discover one of the stars of the Australian TV show “Opal Hunters” (yes, I am an addict!) in one of them, and I received a spontaneous private opal polishing masterclass. Gold!