Coober Pedy

Coober Pedy is a fascinating town located in the harsh and unforgiving outback of South Australia. It offers a treasure chest of experiences to those willing to tough out the desert heat.

The truly alien landscape that is Coober Pedy is home to the world's largest opal mining region. Opals were first discovered here in 1915 and soon the pilgrimage to this opal ridden land began, with soldiers returning home from World War I making up a large percentage of the population. Today, you can venture underground into the "dugouts" and see the creative architecture that was born out of escapism from the unrelenting heat. Try your hand at mining for opals on guided tours, or visit the Umoona Opal Mine & Museum and be amazed by the fossils collected from what was once an inland sea.

There are plenty of wacky adventures to be had, from glow in the dark golf on grassless golf courses to Crocodile Harry's Underground Nest - a miner's home turned movie set with bizarre decor including bra covered walls.