'''Coober Pedy''' [http://www.opalcapitaloftheworld.com.au/], (pronounced Coober Peedy) population 3,500, is a small town in South Australia, 846 kilometers north of Adelaide on the Stuart Highway.

Understand

It is self-described as the "opal capital of the world" and the opals are the only reason why there is a town. Located in the Outback, it is hundreds of kilometers from the nearest settlement. The harsh summer temperatures and the dominant industry mean that most residents live underground, ie in caves bored into the rock of the hills around the town. There are houses and other buildings on the surface but the advantage of being in a cave is that the temperature remains fairly constant. Surface living requires air conditioning.

Get in

By plane

[http://www.rex.com.au/ Regional Express] operates flights from Adelaide to Coober Pedy on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The flight departs at 9.55am and arrives 11.55am.

By bus

McCaffertys/Greyhound Adelaide to Coober Pedy - departs 7:45PM arrives 6:15AM. Alice Springs to Coober Pedy - departs 10:30AM arrives 7:30PM.

By car

The Stuart Highway
  • Adelaide 846 km
  • Alice Springs 685 km
  • Darwin 2,170 km
  • Port Augusta 535 km
  • Tennant Creek 1,173 km
  • Yulara 725 km
  • woooo! :)

    By train

    Coober Pedy can be accessed by rail via the Ghan route from Adelaide to Alice Springs. Transportation from Manguri Station, 47 km from Coober Pedy, has to be arranged prior to departure from Adelaide or Alice Springs. Departs Adelaide on Sundays & Wednesdays and arrives at Manguri Station on Mondays & Thursdays.

    Qantas and Virgin Blue both fly to Ayers rock and Adelaide. Daily coach bus departs twice an hour to Coober Pedy.

    Get around

    See

    Some of the interesting attractions in Coober Pedy include:

  • '''Mines''' It is dangerous to wander among the diggings. You could fall down a shaft or be mistaken for a thief. Miners in Coober Pedy are a secretive lot and suspicious of interlopers. It is much safer to go to a worked out mine that has been opened as a tourist attraction. The owner collects bras and one of the attractions is his collection of bras together with photographs of the donors. Apparently the first bra in the collection was donated by Tina Turner when the mine was used as a set during the filming of ''Mad Max Beyond The Thunderdome''.
  • :One of the tours takes you to a mine dump where you can legally fossick for opals among the waste rock.

  • '''Graveyard''' This is a fascinating site where you will see headstones for a large number of nationalities. The town is a veritable "united nations" and the graves reflect this. One intriguing monument is an empty beer keg which acts as a headstone for a miner who left his fortune to his mates for them to have a drink on him. Unfortunately his debts exceeded his assets. However, his mates saw him off as he wanted and the keg serves as a reminder of the wake and the man.
  • '''Churches''' The Serbian Orthodox Church is bored out of solid rock and its beautifully ornamented interior is a must see. The Catholic Church is not quite as intricate or as large but is still a significant site.
  • '''The stars''' The night sky in the Outback has to be seen especially on a moonless night. The stars and planets are awe-inspiring. At about 20km from town there is no electric light pollution and you can see by starlight. The constellations and planets appear to move across the sky and if you can get on a tour with a local expert it is a learning experience not to be missed.
  • '''Other''' The first tree ever seen in the town was welded together from scrap iron and sits on a hillside overlooking the town. The golf course is completely free of grass and golfers take a small piece of "turf" around to use for teeing off.
  • There are a number of shops selling opal jewelery and single stones.

    The town of Coober Pedy is the setting for the recent film ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opal_Dream Opal Dream]'' (2005) which tells the story of a young girl and her imaginary friends. The countryside around Coober Pedy has also featured as a backdrop to some movies including ''Mad Max Beyond The Thunderdome'' and ''Priscilla Queen of the Desert.'' Some of the film props from ''Mad Max'' are still to be seen in town.

    Do

  • . The Opal mine tour. it is a great experience for all

    Buy

  • " Do not buy Opals at Coober Pedy. They can be found much cheaper elsewhere.

    Eat

    Many restaurants are located underground. The '''Opal Inn''' serves many tourists with unique food.

    Sleep

  • Mud Hut Motel. ud Hotel Motel, Coober Pedy. t Nicholas Street, Coober Pedy. n your right as you drive into town from the south.. 61 8 8672 3003. ttp://www.mudhutmotel.com.au/. Made of rammed earth. The motel is small (28 rooms in total). Fast, reliable broadband internet available in most rooms. Dining area and bar.

    Drink

    Get out