THE CENTRAL Highlands is famous for having the largest sapphire fields in the world.

In fact, the majority of sapphires on today’s market probably originate from here. They include blue, green, yellow, parti-colour and star sapphires.

The gemfields story started in 1875 when a railway surveyor working at Retreat Creek found a gemstone. Later, communities built up in Anakie, ­Sapphire and Rubyvale as people arrived to search for gemstones. And while the region is commercially mined, there are places where amateur fossickers can try their luck once they have obtained a fossicking licence.

The designated fossicking areas that can be found in the area include Divide, Reward, Rubyvale, Sapphire and Willows designated land and Big Bessie, Glen­alva, Graves Hill, Middle Ridge and Tomahawk Creek fossicking areas.

A good place to start when discovering the gemfields is the Big Sapphire and Gemfields Information Centre. It’s 200m off the main highway towards Anakie - just look for a big sapphire in front of a bougainvillea hedge.

Buy your lunch and enjoy it in the lovely picnic grounds. The award-winning garden always seems to be filled with a variety of birds. Tuck into one of their hamburgers (complete with home-made rissoles) or just enjoy a cuppa and cake break. The Big Sapphire caters for coaches as well as individual travellers.

Buy a bucket of wash, learn about dry and wet sieving and have a go at their fossicking area. You’re guaranteed to find sapphire or zircon. Even if the gems aren’t of cutting size and quality, it’s still a buzz to find a “sparkler” among the stones.

The Big Sapphire sells a wide range of souvenirs, gems and jewellery. Jewellery is available for all budgets, from sterling silver with gold plating to beauti­ful sapphires in top quality settings.

The centre also has fossicking licences, fuel and a range of hire gear for those who want to strike out on their own. Self-guided drive books are available so people can make the most of their gemfields visit

Anakie Gemfields Hotel Motel 3 Richardson Street, Anakie Queensland 4702 Phone (07) 49854100 Great meals, cold beer, accommodation

If you’re towing a van, stay at the Anakie Gemfields Caravan Park. As well as offering a shady site for your van or tent, they have cabin accommodation and can help you organise a fossicking tour. (You can pick up a fossicking licence at the park), too. Or try your luck right at the park, from either a bucket or a bag of wash.

Make the most of the happy atmosphere - bring your coffee mug and join the daily afternoon tea at the park or make new friends as you attend the weekly barbecue. Even the birds are friendly, so take the time to feed the lorikeets.

Anakie Gemfields Caravan Park Richardson St, Anakie Qld 4702 Phone/Fax (07) 4985 4142 Powered sites, cabins, kiosk, fossicking licenses, complimentary afternoon tea

For a meal or a few drinks in a convivial atmosphere, visit the Anakie Gemfields Hotel Motel. Damian and Robyn George have been doing many improvements to the pub and will make you welcome whether you’re there for a meal or to join in the darts night on Wednesday nights. You can expect a bit of entertainment on Sunday afternoons and they’re even putting in a three-rink bowling green for social barefoot bowls in 2007.

Air-conditioned motel accommodation is available and the bottle shop has a large selection of wines and other alcohol. They even have their own wine label, Fossickers Friend. It’s worth buying a bottle just to read the label.

While you’re there, find out about the story of Sparrow, and have your photo taken at Sparrow’s Perch.