Emerald / Gemfields, info wanted.

Just google Anakie and Rubyvale.

Just spent a week in Rubyvale staying at the Gemseekers Caravan Park. Lovely park, quiet and close to town centre. They have two Willoughby's sent up for clients to use - bring your own wash back to the park and sieve it there. Owners very nice and have lots of info on where to go etc.

There are some 9300 hectares of 'common' you can both camp and fossick on here between Rubyvale and Sapphire, the rates for a camping and fossicking permits are very little. The Gem Gallery has a brilliant display and the best café in town for excellent lunches.

I have written an article on the gem fields, will be published in Caravan World mag in a few months time and another in Gold Gem and Treasure mag - about the same time frame.

Enjoy John and Jean

The gem fields have changed since your last visit. The main difference is that there are no large commercial operators. We stayed at Rubyvale a few years ago, the pub is really good.

There are a few places to hire equipment and there are a couple of tour operators.

There is a demo mine where I think can give the kids a go and they guarantee there are gems to be found. All very touristy though.

Just walk the street and visit the various shops. Just be careful they are all ready to rip off the innocent visitor.

Most of the ground has been gone over previously just be careful if you go out onto the leased areas, they are eye openers but the lessees are very suspicious. We met a father and 2 sons who had an underground mine. The father told us he was legally blind but was driving around in a ute.

After we told him that my wife's family once lived on the gemfields he agreed to show us his mine.