LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

Underground Mine Tours operate daily at Rubyvale. A must do giving an insight into the world of an underground gem miner.

Gems Shops and Galleries featuring Sapphires of all colours and sizes, investment stones to gift stones and specimens. Raw sapphires (rough), cut and stunning jewellery pieces.

Jewellers and Gem Cutters – Gem cutters for all your faceting and polishing needs, and Jewellers to set or remodel. Jewellery and gem cutting course available to the public during the year.

Fossicking Parks – Privately owned gem parks where you pay to sieve the gravels and keep what you find. Learn to flip a sieve and you’re sure to find some sapphires and zircons – its great fun and educational too!

Cafes/Coffee shops/Hotels – Relax and enjoy strudels, Devonshire teas, meals and takeaways in Rubyvale and Sapphire. Enjoy an ice cold beer and meal at Rubyvale and Anakie.

Fossicking – The Sapphire Gemfields caters for all ages and determination. Take a Tag-a-long Fossicking Tour into the bush following in your vehicle with all gear supplied. Operated daily for that ‘Out in the field’s experience’.

Night Sky – The Sapphire Gemfields offers a great dark location for viewing the heavens above. An Observatory operates at Rubyvale with day and night sky viewing.

Camping is allowed in the Fossicking Areas. Permits available from various outlets on the Sapphire Gemfields.

The Locals – Meet the friendly locals and characters called “Gemmies”

Miners Historical Centre – Remnant mining and mining displays. Visitors have specked this site successfully.

4WD Driving Tracks everywhere! Try a day out to Tomahawk Creek Fossicking area with 2,500 acres of 4wd tracks. Outback survival knowledge recommended.

Bush Walking – The Sapphire Wetlands is an area of 94.5 hectares situated behind the Kangoulu Park in Sapphire and is home to the endangered Fairy Shrimp.

Specking – The art of walking around, bent over, looking for Sapphires on the ground. Popular after the rain – ‘The Emu Walk’.

Exploring and Prospecting – Large areas to explore and experience the different terrains.

Mining – Commercial mining is ongoing with underground and open cut. Viewing at some mines is possible.

The Bush, Wildlife and Birds – Enjoy the genuine bush lifestyle in an easy going, relaxed and safe area. Huge variety of birdlife, kangaroos and wallabies. Freedom and peace in the bush.

Markets are held on Sundays at Sapphire Football Grounds and at Rubyvale on Saturdays during the fossicking season.

Gemfest – Festival of Gems is the highlight of the Sapphire Gemfields’ year. The whole of the Gemfields’ shines and is held the 2nd week of August since 1988. All the Towns are involved with many local miners, jewellers, artists and gem cutters trading from stores in the grounds of the Allan King Memorial Park at Anakie