Opal Hunters: Red Dirt Road Trip, Channel 9, “An Adventure Through the Outback”

In this episode of Opal Hunters: Red Dirt Road Trip, airing on Channel 9 on Tuesday 16 April, opal greenhorn James “JC” Caruana and veteran miner Rod Manning embark on a unique cross-country Aussie adventure. With JC soon to become a father, the pair have just three months to navigate the brutal Australian outback, learn about opal mining, and earn as much as they can.

JC, an opal novice, aims to master the trade and provide for his growing family. Meanwhile, Rod, an Outback Opal Hunters personality and masterful miner, intends to teach JC the tricks of the cutthroat opal industry. Their journey begins with a challenging start as record-breaking floods block their path, and their vehicle breaks down.

As the episode unfolds, Rod and JC battle extreme weather and navigate steep terrain in their search for sapphires. They also embark on a quest to find the mythical Tassie Tiger. The duo faces a painful lesson while mining in the hot and hostile Andamooka region, where they provide a much-needed airdrop of supplies to flood-affected farmers.

With their funds dwindling and their vehicle in need of repair, Rod and JC find themselves at a crossroads. A final opal sale will determine if their adventure can continue. To boost their earnings, Rod takes on an unusual job, mustering over 200 pregnant cows in Queensland.

As the pressure mounts, JC receives news of a financial setback from home, forcing him to double his income goal for the trip. With only a week left before JC must return for the birth of his child, the pair race against time, devising money-making schemes to reach their new target of $20,000.

Opal Hunters: Red Dirt Road Trip airs on Channel 9 at 9:46 pm on Tuesday, 16 April 2024.