By Edith

“Millions of years in the making, this abundance of rainbow gems have put Coober Pedy on the map as the opal capital of the world.” ¹

Coober Pedy has long been on my bucket list of places to visit in Australia. I’ve come close a few times, but each trip something got in the way — whether it was the weather, limited supplies, or simply running out of time. It’s one of those truly unique outback towns that continues to tempt me back, and one day I’m determined to finally make it there.

I’m hoping to make it there as either part of a club trip or with my friends and husband — it would be a great adventure to share and the perfect way to tick it off my travel list, finally.

Coober Pedy Visitor Information Centre

Address: Lot 773, Hutchison Street

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and weekends and public holidays 9am to 1pm  (Summer trading hours may differ).

My Top Things I Want To See

• Umoona Opal Mine & Museum
  • Explore Coober Pedy’s history through an underground museum showcasing opal mining, Aboriginal heritage, and fossils. You can also tour a real opal mine and see how people live underground.
• Old Timers Mine
  • A preserved opal mine dating back to 1916, where you can walk through hand-dug tunnels, view old mining tools, and even try “noodling” (fossicking) for opal yourself.
• Underground Churches
  • Coober Pedy is famous for its underground buildings, and the churches are among the most beautiful. Don’t miss:
    • St Peter & Paul’s Catholic Church – one of the oldest underground churches.
    • Serbian Orthodox Church – features stunning carvings and stained glass.
    • Catacomb Church –
• Underground Homes (Dugouts)
  • See how locals beat the desert heat by living below ground. You can visit display homes like Faye’s Underground Home, built entirely by hand, to experience this unique way of life.
• The Big Winch 360
  • A great stop for panoramic views over Coober Pedy and its surrounding desert. The site also features an interactive 360° cinematic experience about the town’s history and culture.
• Tom’s Working Opal Mine
  • Offers visitors an authentic underground experience, where you can see real opal seams, learn about mining techniques, and even try your hand at fossicking for opals yourself.
• Josephine’s Gallery & Kangaroo Orphanage
  • A local gem combining Aboriginal art, opal jewellery, and a kangaroo rescue centre, where visitors can learn about and sometimes meet rescued joeys.
• Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park
  • About 30 km north of town, this stunning park features colourful, eroded hills and mesas rising from the flat desert plain. It’s a popular spot for photos and sunset views, with significant Aboriginal heritage.
• The Moon Plain
  • A vast, barren landscape used as a film location for movies like Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome and Pitch Black. Its lunar-like surface makes it one of the most photographed areas near Coober Pedy.
• The Dog Fence (Dingo Fence)
  • One of the world’s longest structures, stretching over 5,600 km. Near Coober Pedy, you can see a section of the fence that separates sheep country from dingo territory.
• Crocodile Harry’s Underground Nest
  • An eccentric underground home filled with quirky art, carvings, and graffiti from travellers — once belonging to a famous local character and featured in Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome.
• Centenary Mosaic Garden
  • Colourful outdoor artwork featuring mosaics created by local artists to celebrate the town’s community spirit and multicultural heritage.
• John McDouall Stuart Monument
  • Honours the explorer who led the first successful south-to-north crossing of Australia, marking his significant contribution to outback exploration.
• Well Being Labyrinth
  • Peaceful, stone-lined walking path designed for reflection and relaxation, offering visitors a quiet space to unwind amid the rugged outback landscape.
• Pitch Black Spaceship
  • Movie prop left behind after filming the 2000 sci-fi film Pitch Black, starring Vin Diesel. It’s become a quirky roadside attraction and a fun photo stop for movie fans exploring the outback.
• Coober Pedy Heritage Trail

If you have any suggestions for places to visit or things to see, please share them in the comments below.

Useful Links

• Coober Pedy, SA: https://www.aussietowns.com.au/town/coober-pedy-sa
• Coober Pedy: https://southaustralia.com/destinations/flinders-ranges-and-outback/places/coober-pedy
• About Coober Pedy: https://www.cooberpedy.com/about-coober-pedy-2/
• Best experiences in Coober Pedy: https://southaustralia.com/guides/best-experiences-in-coober-pedy
• Explore Coober Pedy: https://www.cooberpedy.sa.gov.au/explore-coober-pedy
• A complete travel guide to Coober Pedy: https://seaustravl.com/blog/a-complete-travel-guide-to-coober-pedy
• What’s to See?: https://www.cooberpedy.com/attractions/
• The Strange Underground Homes in the Middle of the Australian Desert: https://www.cnet.com/pictures/the-strange-underground-homes-in-the-coober-pedy-desert-australia/
• The Australian town where people live underground: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230803-the-town-where-people-live-underground
• Opal Mining in Coober Pedy: History and Methods: https://www.gemsociety.org/article/opal-mining-coober-pedy/
• Coober Pedy: https://www.australiantraveller.com/sa/outback-sa/coober-pedy/
• Where to Stay?: https://www.cooberpedy.com/accommodation/
• Climate and Average Weather Year Round in Coober Pedy: https://weatherspark.com/y/143303/Average-Weather-in-Coober-Pedy-South-Australia-Australia-Year-Round

1. https://www.cooberpedy.com/ ↩︎