RV TRAVEL
QUARTZ AND COPETON DAM
Some of the areas that were mined were thick with quartz . Some contained a lot of what ’ s known as ‘ jelly bean ’ quartz . Jelly beans are quartz crystals that have been rolled and tumbled in waterways until their original sharp , angular crystal shape has become rounded and smooth so that they look like a jelly bean . In reality , they look almost like any other water-worn , smooth pebble you may find in a river or at the beach . Yet they can be beautiful and clear , like a glass bead .
Around the masses of old mullock heaps , it ’ s pretty easy digging as you look for crystals , jelly beans , smokey and clear quartz , and others . Deep in the forests of Tingha are relics of an old stone baker ’ s oven and baking pits . Even better : the site of an unground wine cellar of the Mannix Hotel nearby . The story goes that the pub burnt down and , shortly after , the owner ’ s young daughter fell down a mine shaft and died .
Copeton Dam .
Unfortunately , the owners had enough bad luck in this area and decided not to rebuild the pub so they moved away , never to be seen again , leaving only a stark reminder where their little girl was buried .
Another attraction nearby is Copeton Dam , which has some pretty impressive stats . It is three times the size of Sydney Harbour when full , has some of the best freshwater cod fishing around ( monsters over 1m are caught regularly ), it is more than 100m deep , and offers an array of water sports . But to be honest , this place is amazing , with some of the best waterfront camping you ' ll find .
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