Mine Your Business

This has to be one of the most unique experiences on Riparide.

Set in a genuine gold mine from the mid 1800’s and flanked by the beautiful Deua River, this stay unpretentiously highlights the beauty of this special valley in the natural way the local Yuin/Walbanga custodians would have enjoyed it, but also celebrates the rich contemporary colonial history of the area.

Lose yourself in this once in a lifetime experience. Drift away to another place, another time and leave your city woes behind.

But wait, there’s more. The mine has graffiti on the walls ranging from 1844 to the 1950’s. And there is one very special signature by none other than the infamous Australian bushranger, Ben Hall.

In 1865, approximately 3 months before he was shot and killed by police, Ben Hall along with John Gilbert, John Dunn and a 4th gang member (either Daniel Ryan or the valleys' own Thomas Clarke), attempted to rob the Araluen gold escort. After the robbery failed, it would appear that the gang hid out in this very mine, and luckily for us, Ben left his moniker on the wall. And now you can (kind of) experience what life at that time might have felt like for those lawless young men.

The mine and the paved area are built and championed with hardwood recycled from an old Sydney warehouse. It’s an incredible space. There are solar lights inside and outside of the mine. The place is alive with local wildlife. Possums, sugar gliders and swamp wallabies are regular visitors and you may even catch a glimpse of a quoll or Sambar deer. You can fish for bass literally out the front of the mine. It is located on an amazing block of land that is surrounded by the river and National Park and has a fully functioning market garden. The river is clear, pristine and beautiful. It is amazing to swim in, fish or just sit next to. You have your own private swimming spot with stairs to make access easier. Hidden in an incredibly private part of the property the mine feels a million miles from anywhere. Some firewood is provided as is gas for the bbq.

Other things to note:

This is a camping experience. It is not a hotel, it is not glamping.

You will be staying in, or in front of a hand dug gold mine. All factors that may affect you on a normal camping trip in the bush, such as weather events and mosquitoes, may affect you here. You will need to bring your own food, utensils and camping gear.

You need to walk in roughly 300 metres from the car park on a track that includes some steep steps. Native microbats live in the adjoining tunnel and will visit you of an evening. There is a primitive composting toilet 200 metres away from the mine. The river is 20 metres from the mine and some simple cooking facilities (bbq and drinking water) are located 100metres away. There is a barrel stove fireplace to keep you warm. A wood bed is located in the mine as is a camping mattress and a second raised camping bed. You will need to bring at least adequate sleeping bags with you, but ideally a swag. The walls of the mine can be damp when it rains. There may be dirt, dust and leaves in and around the place. You cannot read any of the graffiti in the mine if the walls are damp.

If none of these factors appeal, then this is probably not the stay for you.

If they do not faze you, then you are in for an amazing time. The pictures do not do it justice