Camping is permitted on the designated fossicking land. You need to be self sufficient including plenty of water. A permit is required and is available at the Queensland Department of Mines and Energy offices. Some supplies are available at the General Store.

Specking—walking around the old mine dumps can yield some opal, especially after rain. Alternatively take a spray bottle and squirt likely pieces of potch with water. The water enhances the colour of the opal in the sunlight.

Fossicking / Noodling-Boulder Opal is mostly found in or attached to ironstone matrix found in the old mine dumps. In the old "Brilliant Claim" area the weathered Cretaceous sedimentary rock comes close to the surface, serious fossickers may dig and chance onto some workable pieces of Opal. The old mine spoil dumps often yield workable pieces of Opal for the hobbyist.

Examine potential opal bearing material by turning it over and inspecting it carefully for any show of "colour". The use of the Water Spray bottle is recommended as the water cleans away the dust and provides a reflective surface enabling colours of opal to be more readily seen.

A 4WD vehicle is recommended as the roadway can be very rough and can be slippery especially after rain. Since the new Tourist Attraction has been installed at "Lark Quarry Dinosaur Centre" the first half of the roadway has been better maintained. Roadway conditions should be checked at Winton if towing, or inclement weather been in the area.

Opalton is an old mining area with open shafts and potentially hazardous areas. Avoid the edges of the old shafts and mullock heaps as they may collapse.