noodling tour coober pedy

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Noodling for Opal in Coober Pedy

Noodling is a fun way to spend your time & you never know what you might find!

Opals in australia.

Throughout history, the opal has been considered a coveted gem with beliefs of magical abilities. The name ‘opal’ comes from the Latin ‘Opalus’ and the Greek ‘Oppallios’, meaning “to see a colour change.” It’s also known as ‘the fire of the desert’ by Indigenous people. It is said the colours of the opal were created when a rainbow touched the earth.

Australia is responsible for over 95% of the world’s precious opal

Opal was first discovered in Australia in the mid 1800’s. It has been suggested the discovery of opal in Australia was accidental, discovered from animals and humans kicking up rock and discovering the sparkling gem. From then, opal mining spread throughout South Australia, New South Whales, and Queensland. Australia has dominated opal production since then. The quality of stone being mined, compared to that of Europe’s, quickly made Australia the top opal producer in the world.

The world’s highest quality precious opal can be found in Australia. Precious opal is opal characterised by the colourful and brilliant flashes of colours. White, grey and green opal are the most common, with black opal to be considered the rarest form of opal.

Today, Australia is responsible for over 95% of precious opal, with the majority coming from South Australia. Perhaps for this reason, the opal was declared the national gem of Australia in 1993.

Coober Pedy

Coober Pedy, SA is considered the Opal Capital of the World. The black opal found in Coober Pedy is considered some of the best in Australia. In 1956, the largest and most valuable opal ever found was discovered in Coober Pedy. It weighed 3.4kg and has been valued at around $2.5 million AUD!

Beyond opal mining, Coober Pedy offers a variety of experiences unique to the area. Coober Pedy is one of the few places on earth where most of life happens underground. In the effort to escape summer heat and the cold desert nights of winter, houses, hotels, and restaurants are built into the hillsides and are almost unnoticeable at a glance. But don’t think that life underground isn’t glamorous. Miner families have created underground homes that are practically mansions!

The landscape surrounding Coober Pedy is an inspiring sight to see. Featured in movies such as Mad Max, the burnt red landscape and breathtaking breakaways are a photographer’s (or Instagrammer’s) dream. Coober Pedy is also the perfect place to spot native Australian wildlife. From kangaroos, wallabies, and emus to bearded dragons, geckos and snakes, there is plenty of wildlife to see in the area.  At Josephine’s Kangaroo Orphanage you can play with rescued baby kangaroos. The orphanage also includes a gallery featuring local Aboriginal culture and art.

Between the underground living, beautiful desert landscape and opal mining, Coober Pedy offers a unique experience like nowhere else in the world. But your time in Coober Pedy wouldn’t be complete without taking your chances at ‘noodling’ for opal.

Coober Pedy is one of the few places on earth where most of life happens underground.

Noodling for opal.

Feeling inspired to try your luck at discovering your own opal fortune? Then where better to try your hand at ‘noodling’ for opal than the Opal Capital of the World!

Why is it called noodling? That’s a good question and hard to find an answer for. Noodling (also known as fossicking) is the sifting for small pieces of precious opal accidentally discarded by miners. When miners mine for opal, they are only looking for high-quality opal that they can sell. This means they are less interested in smaller pieces and lower quality opal. These pieces are brought up from underground and left on mullock heaps (waste rock left behind from opal mining) that surround Coober Pedy. Some people are ‘professional’ noodlers and rely on noodling for a living!

To try out noodling for yourself, you can sift through mullock heaps to see if you can find your own opal. There are mullock heaps almost everywhere and any one of them could contain opal. If you are lucky enough to find opal while noodling, it’s yours to keep! It’s a great souvenir to bring home to show off your hard work. Noodling is a fun way to spend your time in Coober Pedy and you never know what you might find!

If living life underground and trying your luck at finding opal sounds intriguing, check out one of One Stop Adventure’s Adelaide to Darwin tours. If you’re short on time but still want to see the sights, check out our Adelaide to Darwin Time Saver tour. Have a little more time on your hands? Travel north on our 10 day Cheap as Chips tour or our 13 day Adelaide to Darwin tour to get the most out of your time in the Australian outback. Or if you’re in it for big adventure, our Adelaide to Darwin Ultimate Adventure is sure to have all the adventure you need!

During your visit to Coober Pedy, you’ll discover why life is better lived underground. Experience everything Coober Pedy has to offer by sleeping in underground accommodation, checking out opal mines and visiting with rescued kangaroos. And while appreciating the beauty of opal, don’t forget to take time to appreciate Aboriginal art along the way as well.

Related article: Australian Aboriginal Art

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Underground. Opal. Family & Pet Friendly. 

GUIDED 

Pensioner $30 (concession card sighted)

Children $15

Family $85 

(2 Adults & 2 Children -  $6 per additional child )

Adult 18 and up, Child 4-17 years old,

children 3 years and under free.  

Tour Times: Peak season (April - October) 10am and 1:30pm.

BOOKINGS RECOMENDED

Please arrive 10 minutes before start time

Up to 1 ½ hours with a local tour guide. You will be equipped with a mining helmet and black light for the duration.

Enjoy the tour showcasing history of Coober Pedy, mining, and opal. Listen to the techniques of opal mining, noodling and black lighting. Live demonstration of a working Blower and Bosun Chair.  

Questions are welcomed and encouraged.

Children have the opportunity for an opal hunt along the way. 

At the end of your guided tour complimentary scones, cream & jam. Adults - barista made coffee or tea. 

Children - chocolate or strawberry milk. 

Please let us know if you have any dietary requirements e.g. dairy or gluten free. 

At the end of your tour children have the opportunity to negotiate an opal sale in exchange for a coin and/or sweets!

Bookings can be made online via Online Bookings tab above

or over the phone. 

SELF-GUIDED TOUR

Adult $15 Child $8 Family $40

Tour Times: 9am to 4pm * Please note availability can be limited during Guided Tour times due to maximum capacity in the mine. We r ecommend arriving outside of Guided Tour times (10am & 1:30pm).

You will be provided with a map, mining helmet and black light, for you to explore the mine at your leisure. Points of interest include information displayed on slides/faults and levels, history of opal mining, display of round and square tunnelling, static display of tunneling machine and opal seams throughout the mine. Don’t forget your camera! Plenty of photo opportunities.

Please call us if you have any questions! 

NOODLING PIT 

After your tour, guided or self-guided, we encourage you to try your luck at hand noodling available above the mine. Noodling is the process of sifting through spent tailings to find any opal that may have been missed during mining. Original dirt is brought from the precious opal fields for this purpose.

Unearth treasures: where to noodle for opal in Coober Pedy

• By Emily Riches
• May 2, 2024
• Coober Pedy , South Australia

Coober Pedy, in South Australia, is a place unlike any other. Known as the opal capital of the world, this remote town is famous for its unique underground dwellings, vibrant sunsets, and, of course, the thrill of fossicking for opals. 

While traditional mining operations dominate the landscape, there are still many opportunities for enthusiasts to noodle for opal in Coober Pedy.

Opener: Tom’s Opal Mine. Image: South Australian Tourism Commission.

Where to noodle for opal in Coober Pedy

One of the most exhilarating experiences you can have in Australia’s most famous mining town is noodling for opal. This practice involves searching by hand through mullock piles: heaps of discarded rocks and dirt from mining activities. These piles often contain opal remnants overlooked by commercial miners, making them prime hunting grounds for amateur fossickers.

The Old Timers Mine and Museum is the best place to step back in time and learn about the history of opal mining in Coober Pedy. On a free self-guided tour, you can explore an original 1916 opal mine, historical museum and underground home, and see some of the original opal found by Willie Hutchison in 1915. Check out the free noodling pit with mullock brought from the opal fields.

Visit Tom’s Opal Mine for another chance at hand noodling. A guided tour through this mine that was active during the 1980s and 1990s will give you a history of Coober Pedy, opal mining and noodling techniques. You’ll be equipped with a mining helmet and blacklight to see opal seams visible throughout. Kids can go on an opal hunt on the tour, and afterwards you can try out your new skills at the free noodling pit.

There’s also a public area specifically set aside for noodling on the outskirts of town along Jewellers Shop Road. 

Do I need a permit?

Fortunately for aspiring noodlers, fossicking for opal in Coober Pedy does not typically require a permit. The town embraces its reputation as a hub for opal enthusiasts and encourages visitors to explore its opal-rich terrain. However, it’s essential to respect any private property boundaries and adhere to local regulations. 

Most importantly: you can only use your hands to noodle. Using any type of digging tool, such as a shovel or pickaxe, requires a permit as it is then regarded as mining. It’s always a good idea to check with local authorities at the Coober Pedy Visitor Information Centre for any updates or restrictions.

If you are entering the opal fields, always stay extremely vigilant of mine shafts which can drop up to 30 metres, and always check behind you before taking a step backwards. Make sure to c heck all peg tags to confirm you aren’t stepping onto an active mining lease.

What to bring

Setting out on a noodling expedition requires minimal equipment, but the right tools can greatly increase your chances of success. Make sure to wear sturdy shoes to protect your feet, while a wide-brimmed hat, fly net and sunscreen will shield you from the intense Outback sun (and those pesky flies). A pair of gloves is also useful, and don’t forget to carry plenty of water to stay hydrated.

If you plan to explore into the cooler evening hours, a headlamp and UV torch will also prove useful.

What to look for

Opals come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours, ranging from translucent white to dazzling rainbow. The most common is potch, a colourless and valueless type of opal, which lacks precious opal’s colourful play of light. 

Not every rock will yield a gemstone, and success often comes down to patience and persistence. Check each piece for the glimmer and colour that shows it’s a real opal. While there’s no guarantee of striking it rich, many fossickers have been rewarded with valuable opal specimens, ranging from small fragments to larger, more valuable stones. 

If you can’t leave without taking home a piece of opal for yourself, there are plenty of shops in town selling a variety of opal souvenirs and jewellery. Check out Desert Soul Jewellery, Old Timers Mine Opal Shop and Opal World in the Desert Cave Hotel.

If you enjoyed reading about where to noodle for opal in Coober Pedy, check out our guides to the top things to see and do  and the best places to eat and drink   in town.

Travel to Coober Pedy

Rex flies to Coober Pedy. Book your flights here and check out the route map below.

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WELCOME TO COOBER PEDY

Umoona Opal Mine – first worked in the 1920s, today we take people through the mine to see (and understand) how opal is formed and mined

WE ARE OPEN 8:30am – 5:30pm Daily

Guided underground tours at 10am, 2pm, and 4pm

Until November – Only the 4pm Tour runs on Monday and Friday

Triplet opal earrings, solid natural opal studs, **now in stock**, black light torch, underground tours.

Learn about the Story of Opal, different Types and Qualities of Opal, examples of hand dug and modern dugouts and Living underground.

Underground Cinema

Showing our award winning movie, ‘Story of Opal’, our underground cinema is included with our underground tours. 

Commercial Tour Group Accommodation

Umoona Opal Mine & Museum also offers extended and Custom Tours to suit small & big Groups.

One of the biggest ranges of Coober Pedy opal in unset cut stones and jewellery, with all types of Australian opal in our display and unique opal curios such as opalised shells and specimens.

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Free noodling area. - Tom's Opal Mine

• South Pacific    
• Australia    
• South Australia    
• Coober Pedy    
• Coober Pedy - Things to Do    
• Tom's Opal Mine

Really interesting insight into how opal mines work and the scones and milkshake at the end of the... read more

Excellent information and story telling by the guide Paul. Interacted really well with kids of all... read more

Free noodling area.

Friendly people. I hoped for the working mine tour but sadly the mine wasnt working the day I was there so I took myslef along on the self guided tour. Still interesting and fun. I tried dowsing for opal and did well. Educational and fun all in one.

Really interesting, maze of tunnels good demonstrations and even the chance to find your own opal. This should be a must visit place.

I recommend taking a tour of the mine as with a self tour you dont really get any benefit from it! I havnt been on the guided tour but it offers use of the tools and demonstrations of the machinery which we missed on the self guided tour

Not sure what happened and I hope that nothing bad had happened but the man that runs the tours didn’t show up to work the day we went and the lady that was there we so kind and very apologetic and could tell she was a bit upset as she couldn’t do the tour for us unless there was another person on site! Popped a movie on for us which was informative whilst we waiting for a bit but in the end we had to leave. We hope all was okay in the end.

Hi Jacintajm We are sorry to hear you were disappointed and didn't get a tour that day. Unfortunately the tour guide had a family emergency and had to leave. Sorry for any inconvinece this may have caused. Kind Regards, Joanne tippett

Hands down one of my favourite tours ever; and I’ve travelled the globe! Informative, fun, exciting and you walk away with a deeper understanding and appreciation for what is OPAL! Miss it and you will regret it!

It is a little bit old fashioned ... old DVD-players with old monitors, tourist-trappy, strange and the "working" is missing a little bit. Also the noddle-area is just a dirt hill. So do it but do not aspect something special.

Best things to do in Coober Pedy – the Ultimate Guide

If you’re planning a road trip between South Australia and the Northern Territory , Coober Pedy will be a logical place to stop.  If you’re wondering about the best things to do in Coober Pedy, then we’ve got you covered.

Coober Pedy is one of the most unique, interesting, and dare I say it, weird places we’ve ever been.  If you like quirky and eccentric places, you will love Coober Pedy just as much as we did.

I had wanted to visit Coober Pedy since I first learned about it as a little girl in primary school.  Let’s just say I wasn’t disappointed.  

We spent nine days in Coober Pedy as part of an outback South Australia road trip.  We arrived just before a big rain event which closed the Kempe road to Oodnadatta for a week.  During our nine days we managed to check out almost every attraction in town. 

This blog post contains our review of all our favourite things to see and do in Coober Pedy.

Disclaimer : This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Purchasing through these links supports our work and allows us to continue bringing you travel guides, like this, for free. Thank you for your support .

How to get to Coober Pedy

The only direct flights to Coober Pedy are from Adelaide with Rex Air.  Flights depart Adelaide on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  You can also return to Adelaide on Monday, Wednesday or a Friday.

Coober Pedy is situated 850km or 9 hours drive north of Adelaide and 687km or 7 hours drive south of Alice Springs .  This makes it a perfect place to stop for a few days if you’re travelling between the two. 

To drive from Adelaide to Coober Pedy head north to Port Augusta on the Augusta Highway, and then take the Stuart Highway.  If you’re driving south from Alice Springs to Coober Pedy you’ll also take the Stuart Highway.  

NOTE:  If you’re entering South Australia from the Northern Territory , there are quarantine regulations which forbid bringing fruit, vegetables and other food items into the state.  Check out the SA Govt website for further up-to-date information.

If you’ve driven along the Oodnadatta Track , you can reach Coober Pedy along the Kempe Road.  This road is unsealed and may be closed during wet weather.  

Getting Around

You will need a car to get around Coober Pedy.  Budget and Enterprise offer rental cars from the airport, but most people arrive with their own vehicle as part of a longer Central Australia Road Trip.

There are several unsealed roads around town, but the surface is like clay, so the road conditions are usually good, unless there has been a lot of rain.  You can keep up to date with outback road conditions on the SA Department of Infrastructure and Transport website .  For the Breakaways access road conditions, check with the Visitor Centre.

Both Oasis and Noble run Coober Pedy Day Tours.  Prices start around $50 for a day tour, or $99 for a Coober Pedy day tour combined with sunset at the Breakaways.

Best time to visit Coober Pedy

Coober Pedy has a desert climate, which means hot dry summers, and cooler dry winters with cold nights.  The average daily maximum temperature is 36 celsius (97F) in January although temperatures over 40C (104F) are very common during summer.  

In the winter, the night time temperatures can drop into the low single figures.  The average minimum temperature in July is just 6C (43F).  

The annual rainfall is only around 150mm (less than 6 inches), with rain falling on only 30 days a year.  We visited in late June 2023 when the town received over 50mm in 36 hours.  The normally dry, dusty town turned to mud!

The best time to visit Coober Pedy would be in the Spring or Autumn, when the daytime temperatures are in the mid 20s and the nights are not too cold.

Where to stay in Coober Pedy

There is a great selection of accommodation in Coober Pedy, both above ground and underground.

The one thing we didn’t do in Coober Pedy that we wish we had, was stay in an underground motel or Airbnb.  There are so many to choose from – check out availability and pricing on Booking.com here:

There are several caravan parks in town with all the usual facilities.  We chose to stay in the free camping area next to the Old Timers Mine. Camping in tents is permitted here along with caravans and RVs.  

The toilets to the right of the museum are open 24/7 for campers use.  The campsite is also pet friendly. Donations in the museum gratefully accepted.

Best things to do in Coober Pedy

There are so many things to see in Coober Pedy! Known as Opal City, Coober Pedy is the centre of Opal mining in Australia.  Opals were discovered here in 1915 and a lively city sprung up, attracting all sorts of characters seeking their fortune.  

Summer temperatures here get so hot, the miners burrowed into the hillsides, building their houses underground.

You’ll find plenty of evidence of past and present mining around the town, from the limestone rock piles on the outskirts, to the blower trucks scattered around town. There are several opal mining museums and of course many opal shops if you want to buy opal jewellery.

Old Timers Mine

The Old Timers Mine is one of the original opal mines in Coober Pedy.  It was begun in 1916 just after the discovery of opals in the town a year earlier.  In 1968 Ron and Jenny Gough were expanding their dugout house when they discovered the disused mine.  The mine entrance had been backfilled, hiding it for decades.

The Goughs opened the mine as a museum.   You can do a self-guided tour through the tunnels to learn about how opal mining was done in the early days, with pick and shovel.  You’ll be handed a map with numbers, and when you find the corresponding numbers in the tunnel, there are written descriptions of what you’re seeing.

You’ll see a few seams of opal still in the walls of the tunnels, and it’s easy to understand the “opal fever” that struck so many people who came here.

The Gough family lived right here, and their “dugout” house has been preserved as it would have looked in the 1960s.  All the furniture remains, so you can wander through and really get an understanding of living in an underground house.

The mine is now run by Nick Farantouris, who has lived in Coober Pedy most of his life.  He is a great character to stop and have a chat to after your tour through the mine.  We learned a lot about growing up in Coober Pedy and how life has changed over the last few decades.

The self guided tour costs $15 for adults.  Once you’re done with the tour, there is a shop with opals for sale, and a small pit outside for the kids to “noodle” – which means to pick amongst the discarded rubble looking for opals that the miners missed.

Tom’s Working Opal Mine

Once you’ve seen how mining was done back in the day, it’s time to check out how it’s done now, and Tom’s Working Opal Mine offers guided tours to learn the more modern methods of opal mining, with the big machinery.  

You’ll be given a blacklight torch and can see some of the opal seams in the walls of the mine as you walk through. The guide will demonstrate the “bosun chair” which is how the miners get up and down into the mine – sadly they only let kids have a ride!

You’ll also see the blower trucks and learn how they work like a giant vacuum cleaner to suck all the mullock out of the drive (mine shaft) and deposit it above ground for the miners to pick through.

We did a guided tour with Mila who came to Coober Pedy in the 1960s from Czechoslovakia and has been involved with opal mining all her life.  She was a real character, and we highly recommend this tour.  

There is a public “noodling” area just by the carpark if you want to try your luck.  Noodling is the process of picking through the discarded mullock heaps and you may just get lucky.

This tour costs $38 for adults and bookings are recommended.  Tom’s Working Opal Mine is open from April to October, and tours run daily at 10am and 1:30pm.  You can also do a self-guided tour for $15.

We thought this was the best Coober Pedy Mine Tour, as the mine is still in operation.

BONUS They serve free tea and scones after the guided tour!!

Umoona Opal Mine and Museum

The Umoona Opal Mine and Museum is right in the middle of the main street of Coober Pedy.  The museum is free to enter, and there is an award winning movie about Opal mining showing here throughout the day.

You can take a guided tour through the Umoona Mine.   Tours are available at 10am, 2pm and 4pm daily except Tuesdays when the museum is closed.  Tours cost $14 for adults and $7.50 for children.

Public Noodling area

Just north of the town centre is an area where you can “noodle”, which means digging on the surface looking for Opals.  You require a permit if you wish to dig underground.  We dug for about 5 minutes but didn’t find anything.

Underground Houses

We were surprised to learn that at least half the population in Coober Pedy lives in dugout houses.  However, with constant temperatures between 22-24 degrees its little wonder.  

There are a number of underground houses that are open to visitors including Faye’s which was built by three women, and even includes an underground swimming pool! Our favourite was the house in the Old Timers Mine.

The Big Winch

The Big Winch is on the hill above the town.  You can drive to the top where there is a carpark, or walk up the (steep) concrete path if you’re coming from the Old Timers Mine.  In addition to the Big Winch, there is a Blower Truck, and a restaurant.  This was our favourite place to watch the sunset in Coober Pedy.

If you want to eat here we would recommend booking a table, although both times we visited we managed to get a good table outside – maybe because it was cold and most people wanted to be inside!

There is also a 360 degree cinema here which shows a movie of the surrounding area including the Breakaways.

Coober Pedy Signs

There are several large signs in Coober Pedy where you can get that perfect Instagram shot with you (or your vehicle).

You’ll find the Coober Pedy Blower Truck sign and Opal City sign on the Stuart Highway, just before you turn off into town.  There is a large area where you can drive in and line up to park in front of the sign for a photo.  

There is a large Coober Pedy sign up on the hill near the Big Winch.  This one is a little tricky to get to, you’re better off walking from the town.  From Brewster Street, turn into Naylor Place and then you will see the little trail that heads up to the sign.

Underground Churches

Not only do the residents of Coober Pedy live underground, they also worship underground. As testament to the multi-cultural and multi-denominational population, there are many different churches in town.

St Peter and Paul Catholic Church

The Catholic Church is located right in the centre of town.  It’s only a small church, but the main feature is the stained glass window.

Anglican Church

The Anglican Catacomb church is a couple of kilometres from the town centre, and features an altar made like a mining winch.

Serbian Orthodox Church

The Serbian Orthodox Church – the Church of St Elijah the Prophet, is the largest church in town, and the furthest from the centre.  This church was built in 1992 by Serbians who had come to look for opals, and other volunteers.

The stained glass window here is very impressive, as is looking down onto the church from the gallery.  This was our favourite underground church in town.

FUN FACT:  In the movie Limbo, the protagonist Travis visits the Serbian Church, the exterior shots are of this church but the interior shots are of the Catholic Church of St Peter and Paul.

Boot Hill Cemetery

On the way back to town from the Serbian Church, drop into the Boot Hill cemetery.  This is not the only cemetery in town, but it may be the weirdest.  Well, the cemetery isn’t weird, but some of the graves definitely are.  

There’s a grave decorated with a beer keg, one shaped like a medieval castle, and even a gravestone for a cat!  One of Coober Pedy’s most infamous characters, Crocodile Harry, is buried here in a very plain grave.

Crocodile Harry’s Underground Nest and Dugout

If you want to see the quirky weirdness that is Coober Pedy in one place, you can’t go past a visit to Crocodile Harry’s.  Harry (real name Avid von Blumenthal) was a Latvian Baron (according to himself) who came to Australia after fighting for the Germans in WW2.  

He hunted crocodiles in the north of Australia in the 60s before coming to Coober Pedy in 1975, where he hunted Opals.  Intrepid visitors to Coober Pedy would go visit Harry in the 80s and 90s and he became a bit of a cult hero.  My dad claims to have visited Harry when he went to Coober Pedy.

The interior of Crocodile Harry’s dugout is covered in grafitti, photos, memorabilia, and women’s underwear. According to Harry, the knickers hanging around his dugout home belong to all the women he’s bedded. 

After Harry’s death in 2006, his home has been kept as it was when he lived here.  The home is now opened as a museum.  The entry fee is $7 which you pay into an honesty box just inside the door.  Crocodile Harry’s Nest is around 6km from Coober Pedy.

Kanku – Breakaways Conservation Area

The Breakaways are a series of low hills that were once connected to the Stuart Range, hence the name.  The hills are a variety of colours, and the best time to visit is sunset when you can see the colours change as the light drops. 

Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Area is located around 30km from Coober Pedy.  You can access the area from either the Stuart Highway or from the Kempe Road (the road to Oodnadatta).  

There are several landmarks in the park, such as the “Castle” and “Salt and Pepper”.  You can see these landmarks from one of the two lookouts, but the best way is to drive through on a loop.  

If you enter the park from Kempe Road, you’ll drive through the Moon Plain, a vast, barren, rocky red dirt area.  You’ll then drive along the Dog Fence, before driving through the Breakaways and arriving at the Breakaways lookouts.  

We preferred Lookout 2 (Angkata) – there were less people here and we thought the views were better, especially at sunset.  Try to time your visit so you’re here for sunset.  The Breakaways was one of the highlights of our visit to Coober Pedy.

The road through the Breakaways is unsealed and may be closed during wet weather.  Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Area is owned and jointly managed by the Antakir­in­ja Matun­t­jara Yankun­yt­jat­jara peo­ple and the government.  There is an $11 entry fee to the park which you can buy online or from the Coober Pedy Visitor Centre.  

BONUS:  You can bring your dog to the Breakaways – but you need to keep him on a leash.

Dog (Dingo) Fence

Speaking of dogs, when you visit the Breakaways, if you drive out to the Moon Plain you’ll see the Dog Fence.  The 1.8m high dog fence stretches for 5,600km across three states.   The fence was built in the 1930s to keep dingos and feral dogs away from the rich sheep grazing pastures of the south east of the country.  

If you drive the Breakaways loop, you will drive alongside the fence (or you can cycle, like we did).

Blower Trucks

As soon as we arrived in Coober Pedy we became curious about these weird trucks everywhere.  Apparently, there are at least 60 around the town.  We learned that they are called Blower Trucks, and operate like a vacuum, sucking the dirt out of a mine shaft after it has been blasted and blowing all the dirt out onto the surface.  

The miners can then sift through this dirt and rocks to (hopefully) find opal.  Surrounding the town are white dirt and rockpiles that have been left by the blower trucks.

Many of the trucks seem to sit idle, but we wanted to see one in action.  We finally saw it at Tom’s Mine and as a bonus we saw the operation from below, in the mine.  Nigel even got to have a go shovelling the mullock into the pipe.

Coober Pedy UFOs

At the top of the hill by the Big Winch and the Italian Club, you might come across the UFO.  This is not another discarded movie set, but rather the ruin of a half-built house.  

The spaceship outside the Umoona Mine is a movie prop from  Pitch Black , a movie Vin Diesel made before he was famous.  There’s also a couple of crashed “rockets” in the free camp outside the Old Timers Mine, also discarded movie props.

Wellbeing Labyrinth

You will find the Coober Pedy Wellbeing Labyrinth just by the football oval.  There is plenty of parking available.  Walking this classic 7 circuit, 25m diameter labyrinth is said to promote peace and well-being.

Public Orchard

When we were walking through town one day we came across an olive grove, and learned it was part of the Coober Pedy Public Orchard, which is owned and managed by the district council.  All the fruit and olives here are available to the public free of charge.

Desert Cave Hotel Underground Bar

Sadly the one thing we found missing in Coober Pedy was a quirky outback style underground bar.  A business opportunity perhaps??

The Desert Cave Hotel has a bar, which is “underground” although it doesn’t really feel like it.  Unfortunately it’s really just like any other big hotel bar, and we thought there was no atmosphere here.

We found the Big Winch a much better place to go for an evening coldie.

Suggested Coober Pedy Itinerary

This 4 day Coober Pedy itinerary covers the highlights of the town, based on spending two full days here. Some people only spend two nights here, which would give you only one full day.

Day 1 – Arrive Coober Pedy

Whichever direction you’ve come from, you’ll probably arrive late in the afternoon.  Stop off at the Welcome to Coober Pedy sign for a photo.  Drive up to the Big Winch to get the lay of the land.  There are great 360 degree views from here.

Visit the Old Timers Mine for a look at how mining was done in the early years and see a great example of a dugout house.

Watch the sunset from the Big Winch. 

Day 2 – Coober Pedy Sights

Take a walk around the town and check out some of the sights including the Umoona Mining Museum, the St Peter and Paul Church and Josephine’s Art Gallery.  Stop in at the Visitor Centre and get your permit for the Breakaways.

After lunch, visit Crocodile Harry’s Crocodile Nest then do a loop through the Breakaways.  Drive 15km up the Kempe Road and turn into the Breakaways.  You’ll drive along the Dog Fence and pass the Moon Plain before dropping down to drive through the actual Breakaways.

Watch the sunset from one of the two lookouts.

Day 3 – Coober Pedy Sights

In the morning head out to Tom’s Working Opal Mine for the 10am guided tour.

In the afternoon drive out to the Serbian Underground Church and on the way back take a stroll through the Boot Hill Cemetery.

Day 4 – Leave Coober Pedy

Make sure your fuel tanks are full, stock up on any groceries you need from the IGA and say a fond farewell to the quirkiest town in Australia.

Essential Information

Food and water.

You can fill your water tanks at the taps by the visitor centre and council offices.  There is a meter by the taps, but it wasn’t working when we visited.  Simply pay your $1 per 30 litres to the Council Office or Visitor Centre.  

There is an IGA supermarket in town which was well stocked for our entire visit.  Prices were a bit higher than in Adelaide, but I guess that is to be expected.

There is a Dump Point by the Visitor Centre.

There are several fuel stations in town, and they all seem to keep their pricing the same.  If you’re heading further afield, we would recommend filling up in Coober Pedy, as the next fuel is a couple of hundred kilometres in any direction.

Phone and Internet

There is a good 5G Telstra Tower in the middle of town, and a 4G Optus Tower.  We got great phone and internet reception the whole time we were in town.  The reception only lasts about 5-10km from the town centre.

Check out our Coober Pedy Travel Video

You can watch the video here, or on YouTube

How long should you spend in Coober Pedy?

Most people and blogs suggest a 2 night stay in Coober Pedy.  However depending on where you’re coming from and going to, you may not have much time on your arrival day or departure day to check out the town.  We would recommend at least two full days (three nights) in town.

Do you need a car in Coober Pedy?

There is no public transport in Coober Pedy, so unless you take a guided tour you will need a car to get around to see some of the sights out of the centre.  

Do you need a 4×4 in Coober Pedy?

While many of the roads around the town are unsealed, the surface is like clay, so when dry, it’s very smooth.  After heavy rain (which almost never happens!) the roads become muddy, so you may need a 4×4 then.  Often the roads will be closed after rain.

What is special about Coober Pedy?

Coober Pedy is one of the most unique towns in Australia.  The desert landscape looks like something from another planet, and is made even more eerie with all the mullock heaps left over from underground mining activity.

The environment is very harsh, and the weather ranges from summer days well into the 40s, and winter nights can be freezing.  For this reason, early settlers who came here seeking opals built there homes in their disused mine shafts.  Even today, over half the population lives in underground houses (called dugouts).  The temperature in a dugout will be around 24 C (75F) year round, day and night.

Do people still live underground in Coober Pedy?  

Yes!  Around half the population still live in dugouts, and there are several underground house museums in town that you can visit to get an idea of what life is like.  You can even spend the night in an underground motel or Airbnb.

Can you still find opal in Coober Pedy?

We spoke to a long time local about current mining in Coober Pedy and he told us that the population has reduced from around 6,000 in the 70s and 80s to around 1,800 people today. 

The main reason for this is that there really isn’t so much opal being found these days.  Having said that, there is definitely still opal to be found, and you’ll see mining operations going on around town.

Is Coober Pedy safe?

We had heard stories of people having issues with safety in Coober Pedy, particularly being concerned about leaving their caravans during the day.  After spending 9 days in town we never had any issues, nor did we hear directly from anyone who had.  We did see a few people drinking on the streets, but they didn’t bother us.

Our biggest concern was the large number of big dogs in town.  One day we rode our bikes out towards the Breakaways, and we were scared by a couple of large dogs on the loose on the edge of town.  Most of the dogs were secured in peoples yards though and just barked very loudly.

Where to Next?

Continue your road trip north into the Northern Territory , and check out our Central Australia Road Trip Itinerary .  Or, if you’re planning to visit outback South Australia further, check out the Oodnadatta Track  .

Need help planning your Coober Pedy Itinerary?

Hopefully we’ve given you a good idea of what to do in Coober Pedy in this blog post. If you have any questions simply drop a comment down below, or get in touch via email . We’d love to help you plan your trip.

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COOBER PEDY TOURS

Tours to coober pedy showcase a fascinating part of outback south australia. a bizarre and very unique town with underground living, moon landscape and brilliant opal. only here can you arrive with nothing and leave as one of the richest people in the world..

Coober Pedy is the adapted version for the Aboriginal term “kupa piti”, which means ‘white man in a hole’. Prior to 1920 Coober Pedy was known as the Stuart Range Opal Field named after the first European settler, John McDouall Stuart.

No matter what the weather is outside, underground temperatures remain between 23 and 25 degrees. You can easily be confronted with 45 degrees or more in the summer and very cold winter nights. The annual rainfall is only small at around 175mm a year.

The first opal was discovered in 1915 and people reliased it is not bad to live underground. While their homes were very basic back then, nowadays you can find entire hotels and luxury mansions underground.

You may not  see from the outside how far the tunnels and properties go, but the many chimneys rising from the sand are a good indication on how large these dugouts expand.

The opal value is depended on the body tone, colour, pattern, size and the way it was cut and polished. A black or darker body toned opal is more valuable because of the way it displays the other colours within the stone. You may pay as much money for a rare opal as you do for an expensive diamond or ruby.

• See underground old mining shafts and homes,  explore an opal museum
• Visit an underground church, the Serbian Orthodox and Catacomb Church are the most visited because of their architecture
• See the Opal Fossils of South Australia including opalised shells, worms and the backbone of an Ichthyosaur, a large but extinct marine reptile
• Wander through the local indigeneous art gallery and fall in love with the orphaned kangaroo babies that they raise
• Play Golf surrounded by Outback desert
• Try your luck in Noodling, a term used for searching for opal through mullock piles

• Get up to the hilltop overlooking the town and also home to the first tree ever seen in town, a scrap iron tree
• Take in the views from the Big Winch Lookout
• Stop at the Blower Truck just outside of town
• Check out the spaceship from the movie Pitch Black
• See the Dingo Fence, a 5300 km long fence stretching across three states in Australia
• Moon plains with fossilised shells and cracks
• Watch a movie at local Drive In
• Visit Crocodile Harry’s Underground Nest
• Marvel at the Breakaways, part of the Kanku Breakaways Conservation Park and a stunning example of Outback Scenery

Tours and scenic flights over the town, Lake Eyre and Painted Desert are available pretty much every day, but keep in mind the high summer temperatures in the Australian Outback. The hottest months are December, January and February. No matter what time of the year, travelling to the Australian Outback takes good preparation, sufficient water and food supply, a reliable 4WD vehicle and adequate equipment.

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15 Best Things To Do In Coober Pedy, South Australia | 2023 Guide

Set in the arid Australian Outback, Coober Pedy is a quirky town with a unique charm unlike anywhere else. The town earned its place on the map through  years of opal mining  and a  bizarre moon-like appearance  that feels otherworldly.

*This post may contain affiliate links, as a result, we may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) on any bookings/purchases you make through the links in this post. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Read our full disclosure

Many of the most popular things to do in Coober Pedy revolve around—you guessed it, opals! Coober Pedy gained global fame as the Opal Capital of the World during the opal mining boom. Today, it remains both an active opal mining town and a popular tourist destination. But, there’s more to this town than the noteworthy gemstone. 

The harsh climate has driven nearly  half of the population to live underground  to escape the heat and pesky flies. Almost everywhere you go, life in here happens underground! 

We had fun walking around the underground network of buildings and admiring the amazing opal shops along the way. There are many places that you can visit that offer insights into the Coober Pedy history and the opal mining industry. 

Here, you can spend a tranquil early morning in underground churches, try your hand at opal fossicking, or explore the nearby natural wonders with Coober Pedy tours. Above ground, this town is just as spectacular. 

For an unforgettable trip, here are  15 of the best things to do in Coober Pedy .

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About The Town

Coober Pedy is famous for being the  opal capital of the world,  with a mining town industry built on opal fields. The Coober Pedy opal fields have graced the screens of many movies with their unearthly moon-plain appearance. And, of course, the  underground houses, shops, and underground hotels  are some of the most popular things in Coober Pedy. 

Coober Pedy is famous for its underground homes, with roughly half the population living in these unique dwellings. Due to extreme temperatures, the majority of the population of Coober Pedy town lives underground in modern-day dug-outs. 

It’s estimated around half of the town’s population lives in somewhat modern underground homes.

Where Is Coober Pedy?

Coober Pedy is located in the rugged  South Australian Outback  in the northern part of South Australia. Travelling from the Flinders Ranges all the way to Uluru, you’ll encounter some of the Outback’s most iconic sights. It’s nearly  halfway between Adelaide and Alice Springs  on the Stuart Highway.

What Is The Best Time To Visit Coober Pedy?

With its dry desert climate, it goes without saying that Coober Pedy can get pretty hot in the summer months. 

To avoid the sizzling summer temperatures and potential dust storms, the best time to visit Coober Pedy is  from March to November . The days are warm and comfortable, and the evenings are cool.

During our visit in April, the daily highs were around 25°C, but nights cooled down to a comfortable 5-10°C. It was perfect!

How To Get To Coober Pedy, South Australia 

The quickest way to reach Coober Pedy is to get from  Adelaide to Coober Pedy is a 9-hour (850 km) drive  along the Stuart Highway. The road is sealed and easily travelled with any vehicle. The same goes if you’re coming from Alice Springs to the north via the 7-hour (690 km) journey southbound. 

You might be wondering, is Coober Pedy worth visiting if you have to drive all the way? Well, the answer depends on what you’re looking for. If you want something unique, a bit quirky, and a taste of real outback adventure, then Coober Pedy is worth a visit. 

That being said, we all know the quickest way isn’t always the most fun! Thanks to our 4WD Troopy, we drove to Coober Pedy via the famous  Oodnadatta track from Marree to Marla  when we visited Coober Pedy. This 617 km unsealed corrugated outback track doesn’t necessarily require 4WD, but it can cause a bit of havoc on caravans and 2WD vehicles. 

If you’re not planning to drive, you can fly into Coober Pedy on  Rex’s  daily flights from  Adelaide  or take a  Greyhound . It’s a 2-hour flight from Adelaide or a much longer 11-hour bus journey.

Things To Do In Coober Pedy

Even if opals don’t make your heart sing, there are lots of really cool things to do in Coober Pedy. Here are some activities that can be found in this lovely town that will help you make the most of your Coober Pedy itinerary. It’s a destination unlike anywhere else, and the attractions are definitely unique!

1. Stay in Coober Pedy Underground At Desert Cave Hotel

Staying at an underground hotel in Coober Pedy is an absolute must for any visit. The   Desert Cave Hotel  is exactly that—an underground oasis with  no AC, no windows, and no disturbances.  Who would have thought sleeping in a cave would make for such a  peaceful sleep!  Just be sure to set an alarm because it’s way too easy to sleep in when you’re underground. 

This great hotel is located right in the town centre and offers  both underground and aboveground accommodations.  There’s an underground bar and restaurant on-site, along with underground shops, a cafe, and an opal mine interpretive centre.

2. Visit Old Timers Mine

Journey back in time to this early 1900s opal mine that earned Coober Pedy its famous mining reputation. Take a  self-guided walk around the Old Timers Mine  and discover the inner workings of an old mine that brought so many folks to the area. This was our favourite activity in Coober Pedy; we learned so much from spending a few hours in the mine!

The mine also has a section that shows off a typical underground dwelling from the 1920s and more modern times. You can explore the subterranean dwellings while learning about the extensive mining history the town was built on.

3. Check Out The Breakaways For Sunset

The Breakaways are a great example of the rugged Outback beauty that Australia is known for. Visiting the  Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park at sunset  is one of our favourite things to do in Coober Pedy. If you arrive at golden hour, you’ll watch the sandstone tablelands turn to a rich dark red colour lit up by the night sky.

The Breakaways are located 32 km north of town and make up an Aboriginal heritage site comprising colourful hills that have separated from the Stuart Range. Grab a permit from the visitors centre ($10) and enjoy a mini road trip in the surrounding area. 

There are  two lookout points  for spectacular views of the tablelands, including  Panorama Hill,  which you might recognize from Mad Max. Then, you can explore the Big Winch Lookout and an underground Catholic church before continuing your journey further into the outback.

The journey back to the town follows the  famous dog fence,  a 2-metre-high dingo fence that protects sheep from native dingos. You’ll quickly find out why the dog fence area has been nicknamed  moon plains  with its mystic lunar otherworldly landscape. 

4. Visit the Josephine’s Gallery and Kangaroo Orphanage

While there are lots of great things to do in Coober Pedy, admiring aboriginal art and baby kangaroos is pretty up there. Josephine’s Gallery is an  art gallery meets kangaroo sanctuary  filled with local Aboriginal culture and artifacts. 

This fantastic organization cares for a variety of Australian wildlife, such as wombats, birds, lizards, and kangaroos, that are unable to fend for themselves. Outside, you can mingle with baby kangaroos at the kangaroo orphanage and even  watch bottle-feeding . 

You can find Josephine’s on the main street of Coober Pedy across from the drive-in, but make sure to check their opening hours, as visitor hours are limited.

5. Umoona Opal Mine And Museum

Umoona was one of the original opal mines in Coober Pedy that has been transformed into an impressive museum. Venture below the surface and explore this underground museum and opal mine that tells the story of  Aboriginal and European mining’s fascinating history in Coober Pedy . 

Cruise for fossils from the now-extinct inland sea and get a feel for what life is like in a dugout. The museum offers underground tours through the Aboriginal Interpretive Centre that explain  how opals are formed and mined; you’ll  get a really interesting insight into how the opal mines work. The experience is quite different from the Old Timers Mine and is also well worth a go. 

Be sure to stop by the souvenir shop, where you can get a custom piece of opal jewellery to take home. 

6. Visit A Working Opal Mine

Of course, checking out a functioning opal mine is a popular thing to do in this town. The good news is, that there are several operational opal mines you can explore. If you’re keen on exploring a real opal mine, Tom’s Opal Mine is the go-to spot. Located just outside town on the Stuart Highway, you can’t miss it. They have guided and self-guided Coober Pedy mine tours, and you can even try noodling—searching for opals in discarded piles missed by miners.

7. See A Movie At The Desert Drive-In

The Coober Pedy drive-in is one of the few remaining  drive-in movie theatres in Australia . What better way to spend an evening in the desert than by watching a film under the stars. 

The drive-in has been around since 1965 and now features a digital projector that plays different movies each weekend. Tickets are $20 per car and they often play blockbusters filmed in Coober Pedy like the movie Pitch Black and Priscilla Queen of the Desert.

8. Shop For Opal

Naturally, there are many opal cave shops in Coober Pedy where you can get your own piece of the famed gemstone. The shops have all kinds of different cuts and colours on display, with some even offering  opal-cutting demonstrations . If you buy opals in Coober Pedy, you’ll get an  authenticity certificate,  as the whole town takes their opals very seriously. 

Stop by  Opalios  or  Gaea Gems to see amazing stones and beautiful handcrafted jewellery.

9. Drink Underground At The Underground Bar At Desert Cave Hotel

Sip on a refreshing cocktail in the  world’s only underground bar  at the Desert Cave Hotel. This bar is pretty cool—and we mean that literally and figuratively. Step out of the hot desert air and cool down the subterranean style while relaxing with a beverage. 

10. Enjoy A Sunset And A Show At The Big Winch

The Big Winch is a noteworthy spot in town, offering 360° views of Coober Pedy. The Big Winch restaurant is a great place for dinner/drinks at sunset while admiring the  vibrant desert landscape  painted with bright reds and oranges. 

Alternatively, for a sunset spot without the crowds, you can head to the free location above the Opal Cave shop on the main street (next to Umoona Museum).

11. Eat Underground At Desert Cave Hotel’s Crystal Cafe Or Umbertos

Whether you’re craving a fancy sit-down dinner or a quick lunch, the Desert Cave Hotel’s two restaurants won’t disappoint.  Umbertos Restaurant  features a top-notch menu of chef-crafted dishes and wine in a relaxed atmosphere. 

Meanwhile,  the Crystal Cafe  serves a light buffet or à la carte breakfast and lunch from its cool underground lair. You can also pop in throughout the day for refreshments and snacks.

12. Go Opal Noodling On A Down N’ Dirty Tour 

When you’re in Coober Pedy, you’ll hear the term “noodling” a lot. It’s what the locals like to call the act of  rummaging through the sand in search of opals left behind by miners . 

The Desert Cave offers a  Down N’ Dirty Tour  where amateur prospectors can get a taste for treasure hunting in the Quest Mine. Throw on a hard hat and get to know what mining in Coober Pedy is all about! 

13. Painted Desert Tour

Head into the picturesque Outback of Australia and explore the  ancient fossils  that dot the Painted Desert or Arckaringa Hills. The area, now commonly referred to as the moon plains, was once the bed of an ancient inland sea. Over millions of years, the rocks have eroded and left behind  marine fossils and stunning desert scapes.  The Painted Desert Tour, offered by the Desert Cave Hotel, is a day-long 4WD adventure full of history and incredible photography opportunities.

14. Outback Mail Run

Going on a mail run tour around Coober Pedy is an outback experience like none other. Join the mailman on a  route through Oodnadatta and William Creek  where you’ll learn about early explorers and cattle stations. The mail is delivered twice a week through Oodnadatta and William Creek, making the tour available on Monday and Thursday. You’ll then hit the track in a 4WD vehicle and discover the extensive Lake Eyre basin while delivering mail to historic outback towns. Seeing Lake Eyre from above isn’t just about getting a bird’s-eye view of the sparkling wonder, it’s also about the exciting journey it takes to get there. 

15. Visit The Interpretive Display At Desert Cave Hotel

Soak in the  rich history of Coober Pedy  through the colourful and informative interpretive display at the Desert Cave Hotel. Learn about how mining shaped the town, along with details on  opal formation and cutting  as you walk along sandstone passages. 

The   display is free  to visit and highlights some interesting facts about Coober Pedy.

How Many Days Do You Need For Coober Pedy?

We recommend spending  2-3 days  in this unique tourist destination to soak in all of the unique Coober Pedy attractions. 

Plus, depending on the time of year you visit, the extreme heat might dictate how many outdoor activities you can do. Thankfully, the Coober Pedy underground is always nice and cool. 

Is It Safe In Coober Pedy?

Yes, visiting Coober Pedy is safe as long as you  apply your good travel sense  like you would anywhere else. Lock up your vehicle or camper, tuck away your valuables, and enjoy the opal capital!

READ NEXT: Guide to Visiting Barossa Valley, South Australia

Have you been to Coober Pedy? Do you think you could live underground in a dugout?

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• Motels & Apartments
• Caravan Parks
• Backpackers & Group Dorms
• Other Local Accommodation
• Local Attractions
• Coober Pedy Opals
• Kanku Breakaways
• Outback Attractions
• Explorer’s Way
• Visitor Guide
• Tours & Attractions Directory
• Accommodation Directory
• Heritage Trail
• Opal Displays & Shops
• Opal Wholesalers
• Town Services
• The History of Coober Pedy
• About Coober Pedy
• Getting Here and Getting Around

Getting here…

Coober Pedy is situated in the Outback of South Australia, 846km North of Adelaide and 685km South of Alice Springs.

The Stuart Highway is one of the best highways in Australia and the journies north and south of the town is both comfortable and interesting. From Adelaide, the journey takes approximately 8-10 hours and 6-8 hours from Alice Springs. Please be aware that, when venturing off the highway, roads are unsealed and often impassable after heavy rain so please check weather forecasts and road conditions before you travel.

National coach Greyhound travel through Coober Pedy, providing various daily services. www.greyhound.com.au

Regional Express Airlines operate a daily service to and from Adelaide. www.rex.com.au

Wrights Air for Charter Flights.

www.wrightsair.com.au

The Ghan stops at Manguri, 40km West of Coober Pedy, allowing passengers to disembark (November to March), transport from the rail siding to Coober Pedy must be specially arranged. Since 2015, The Ghan is also offering day tours (March to October) into Coober Pedy as part of a travel package. www.greatsouthernrail.com.au.

Planning your trip…

There is much to discover in and around Coober Pedy and a two day/three night minimum stay is recommended to make the most of your visit. Below is a brief suggested itinerary.

Morning – Allow at least half a day to visit a museum to learn about the region’s history, mining, geology, landscape, underground lifestyle and Aboriginal culture. You will explore dugouts and see valuable opals and fossils, plus the award-winning short documentary ‘The Story of Opal’ at Umoona provides an excellent overview of the area’s ancient and recent history.

Afternoon / Evening – Visit a working mine to see how opals are traced and extracted, both by modern and older methods, and try ‘noodling’ for opal yourself. There are guided and self-guided tours available.

There is a variety of multicultural restaurants to choose from for breakfast, lunch & dinner.

Morning – Explore the town of Coober Pedy to discover the unique lifestyle. Key attractions include the underground churches, the grass-less golf course, the Kangaroo Orphanage and the numerous opal shops & displays. Take a guided tour or navigate your own way.

Afternoon / Evening – Venture out of town to see the stunning Breakaways rock formation, Moon Plain and the Dingo Fence – this is the perfect setting for a sunset experience. You may also recognise some sites used as film locations along the way.

DAY THREE / FOUR – There are day trips available out of Coober Pedy that take you to, through or over some stunning landscapes and remote Outback towns. Options include:

The Mail Run – spend a day with Outback character Rowie as he delivers the mail to historic Outback towns and stations.[sta_anchor id=”visit” /]

Arid Area Tours & Noble Australia Tours – Painted Desert Tour – a full day 4WD tour through the Moon Plains and past cattle stations and waterholes to the Painted Desert.

Wrights Air Flights over the Painted Desert, William Creek, Cattle Stations & Lake Eyre.

Great Reasons to Visit Coober Pedy…

People are attracted to Coober Pedy for a range of reasons. Some are fascinated by our underground lifestyle which is like nowhere else on earth. Many of our homes, hotels, churches and restaurants are tunnelled into hillsides and are almost invisible on first inspection.

Others are drawn by the very thing that has pulled people from 47 nations to this desert region over the past decade – opal. Then there are those who come to see the landscapes: the majesty of The Breakaways, the spectacle of the Painted Desert and the bizarre, moon-like surface of the mining fields.

Of course it’s the combination of all these elements that truly make Coober Pedy a place like nowhere on earth. We encourage you to explore all of Coober Pedy and understand how they are in fact all quite intertwined.

Climate Between March and November, the weather is very pleasant. Typical of a semi-desert climate, the days are warm but the desert nights are cold. From December to February, the weather warms up and summer temperatures range upwards from 35ºC in the shade. The annual rainfall is minimal, at around 175mm (5 inches) per annum, so summer dust storms can occur.

Terrain Coober Pedy lies on the edge of the erosional scarp of the Stuart Ranges, on beds of sand and siltstone 30m deep, topped with a stony, treeless desert. Very little plant life exists in town due to the region’s low rainfall, sandstone and lack of topsoil. A popular attraction is the golf course which, despite its full 18 holes, is entirely grass-less.