tours to coober pedy

THE 5 BEST Coober Pedy Tours & Excursions

Tours in coober pedy.

• Sightseeing Tours
• 4WD, ATV & Off-Road Tours
• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Multi-day Tours
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• Good for Kids
• Budget-friendly
• Good for Couples
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• Adventurous
• Good for a Rainy Day
• Hidden Gems
• Honeymoon spot
• Good for Adrenaline Seekers
• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Noble Tours Australia

2. Arid Areas Tours

3. Coober Pedy Tours

4. Oasis Tourist Park and Oasis Tours

5. Mail Run Tour

6. Follow Me DownUnder

7. Stuart Range Outback Tours

8. Big Winch 360 Circlevison Cinematic Experience

9. Outback Mail Run South Australia

What travellers are saying.

• Arid Areas Tours
• Outback Mail Run South Australia
• Noble Tours Australia
• Oasis Tourist Park and Oasis Tours
• Coober Pedy Tours
• Follow Me DownUnder
• Mail Run Tour

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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Coober Pedy Tours & Trips

Find the right tour for you through Coober Pedy. We've got 11 adventures going to Coober Pedy, starting from just 4 days in length, and the longest tour is 19 days. The most popular month to go is August, which has the largest number of tour departures.

11 Coober Pedy tour packages with 11 reviews

8-Day Adelaide to Uluru Tour

This tour is absolutely amazing. Our tour guide, Dan, was incredible. He was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. I loved being able to camp in the outback and see such unique places in Australia. I met so many wonderful young people from all over the world. This tour was truly my favorite thing I did on my trip. I highly recommend this to anyone wanting to see these locations and do not want to do the long drives by themselves.

• Christmas & New Year

8-Day Uluru to Adelaide Tour

This was an incredible experience! Amazing views, beautiful sunrise hikes, (bush) camping in swags and learning so much about geological and cultural history. My tour group was very small which created a very relaxed dynamic. No one was left behind or left out. Teamwork makes the dream work. Sid, our tour guide, is pretty damn awesome in what he does. I learned so much about these parts of Australia and he really kept me engaged because he showed authenticity and genuine engagement with people and his surroundings. He was very professional and cool even when things went a little south (blown out tire with a very long drive ahead). He had to stray away from the itinerary a couple of times but I fully trusted him to give us the best experience on this tour. He noticed when you took an interest in learning specific things and would try and teach you about what he knows. Also shoutout to Gary, who was a trainee tour guide. He'll do great on his first tour through the desert and that group will be lucky to have him. This part of Australia is so unique compared to the east coast and south. It's definitely in my top 2 of tours I've been on.

Outback Explorer Uluru to Adelaide (4 Days)

• €100 deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

Outback Adventure (15 Days)

Certainly saw the highlights on what is really a quick look/see altho the time at Yulara was good. Initial background organising by AAT was poor (staff shortages?) but the staff on tour were excellent. A few negatives, we felt there was excessive chatter especially re indigenous culture (probably ok for non Aussies tho). We were required to be at least double vaxed which is good but there was no requirement for a negative RAT test before starting; in hindsight this may have saved the loss of days on tour plus the expense of isolating in Darwin. Something for AAT to address.

South Australian Outback Adventure (8 Days)

Fantastic tour, well run by our Tour Director, Dave. Ticked off two items on my bucket list - to see Wilpena Pound and Lake Eyre with some water in it (not much). Tour coordination early was a bit poor, too much generic information no detail, but once Dave from AAT Kings made contact it all came together and went very smoothly. We will definitely do another coach tour.

South Australia Outback Adventure (9 destinations)

Central Australian Discovery Adelaide → Darwin (2024)

• Hiking & Trekking

Central Australian Discovery Darwin → Adelaide (2024)

• Wildlife & Nature Photography

Central to South Explorer Adelaide → Uluru (2024)

South Australia Outback Adventure (11 destinations)

Australian Outback Adventure: With an incredibly knowledgeable guide, this was an inspirational tour, travelling through desert & mountains. It really opened my eyes to the real Australia & is a trip I will never forget. We had a small, friendly, laid-back group that was a pleasure to share the journey with. Weather happens in Australia. And when it rains in the outback, roads can be washed away & off-road tracks can become impassable. It rained in the desert once overnight during our tour, so we couldn't visit Farina. But our tour guide had our safety in mind, which meant we saw so many other places. If you want a sanitised, tourist highlights tour in a luxury coach, this will not be for you. But if you want the authentic Australia and are happy to be at one with the natural world, this tour should make you very happy.

Outback South Australia & Eyre Peninsula

• Australia Travel Guide | All You Need to Know
• Best 4 Week Australia Itineraries 2024/2025 (with Reviews)

Coober Pedy

• Leigh Creek
• Wilpena Pound
• Destinations
• Flinders Ranges and Outback

Explore Coober Pedy: a quirky underground town in the heart of the desert.

Journey to the underground town of Coober Pedy – Australia’s opal capital, boasting a sun-baked lunar landscape, fascinating history and a unique way of life. Descend beneath the ground and discover a labyrinth of underground houses, hotels and even shops. Fall asleep tucked beneath the earth’s surface in one of the town’s famous dugouts. Watch this iconic outback town change colour with the famous Outback sunsets, visit one of nature’s most iconic natural wonders, unearth the town’s mining history or fossick for your own opals.

Get Inspired

Coober pedy is a great base for exploring outback australia - start planning your outback adventure with our itineraries or guides. from road trips, to dugouts, station stays and places to stargaze, visiting coober pedy is a a great way to get closer to the heart of australia..

Explore Things to do in Coober Pedy

Known for it's underground houses and rich veins of opal, there's no shortage of interesting attractions in this iconic dessert town. find your very own coober pedy opal, take in the dramatic arid landscape or learn about the towns storied history., big winch 360 - circlevision cinematic experience, wrightsair pty ltd, kanku-breakaways conservation park, umoona opal mine and museum, big winch 360 lookout & historical poi, josephine's gallery & kangaroo orphanage, coober pedy drive-in cinema, coober pedy spectacular, tallaringa conservation park, places to stay accommodation in coober pedy, coober pedy is famous for being australia's underground city. historically, residents dug their homes into the ground to escape the summer heat, and this tradition has lead to some of australia's most unique accommodation. whether you're looking for an iconic stay in one of coober pedy's underground hotels or you'd prefer comfortable lodgings on the surface, your stay in coober pedy is bound to be memorable., mud hut motel, big4 stuart range outback resort, oasis tourist park and tours, lookout cave underground motel, the underground motel, di's dugouts, desert view apartments, tallaringa conservation park campgrounds, let’s stay in touch.

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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

When I first saw Coober Pedy, I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.

I felt like I was walking into the outback’s wild west.

The town is stark and moon-like, and there’s not many trees.

You really do feel like you’re driving into the set of a Mad Max movie!

Some 70% of the town’s 3500 residents live underground to escape the blistering summertime temperatures.

Despite the town’s less than picturesque appearance, it’s a relaxed and friendly place, with many charming quirks.

Is it worth a visit?

Absolutely. There’s much more to see here than just a bunch of tourist shops trying to sell you overpriced opals!!

Why You Should Visit

That’s an easy question to answer: Coober Pedy is one of the most unusual, unique places in Australia, and perhaps the world.

It’s one of those places that you really have to see to believe it’s real.

The town is built in one of the hottest and most inhospitable climates in Australia – a landscape almost devoid of trees and vegetation where summer temperatures regularly reach 47C (116F).

The climate is so hot, many people live underground to escape the oppressive summer heat.

Which is of course, why the town is world famous.

You’ll be able to visit underground houses, underground cafes, underground churches, stay in underground hotels, visit an underground bookstore, and roll out your swag in Australia’s only underground camping area!

Then there’s the opals which bring people to this stark landscape. You can visit working opal mines, mine for opals yourself, buy opals and visit historic mines which explain how opal mining was done in the old days.

Until recently, the area was the largest producer of opal in the world. In fact, opals are so important, they gave the town its name back in 1915.

‘Coober Pedy’ is an English adaptation of the local Aboriginal (Dieri) words ‘kupa piti’, meaning whiteman’s holes.

And when you’ve had enough of opals, there’s a lot to explore around the area: the Moon Plains (where Mad Max 3 was made), the  Breakaways, the Dog Fence, and further afield, places like William Creek, Lake Eyre and the Oodnadatta Track.

Ideally, two nights/three days in Coober Pedy is generally enough to see the highlights, and visit the Breakaways at sunset (a MUST!)

Getting There

It’s located right on the Stuart Highway, a full day’s drive from Adelaide – 835 kilometres (518 miles)- and half a day’s drive from Alice Springs -688 kilometres (427 miles).

You don’t have to drive, though .

The Ghan Rail service stops in Coober Pedy four times each week, and it’s a stop on the Greyhound-Pioneer bus service as well.

Also, a lot of budget backpacker tours stop overnight here, too.

If you’re driving, know you’re getting close to the town when you start to see white mounds start popping up on the vast, flat horizon.

You’ll also know you’re getting close if you’re using the Telstra 3G network for your mobile phone, and you’ve suddenly got reception again after a long break.

The town itself is small and easy to get around.

There’s one long main street, which has two supermarkets that carry all the usual food and grocery items.

There’s a large hill in the middle of the town, into which most of the underground motels are built.

You can walk just about anywhere in the town in 10 minutes, and you’ll find most of the attractions dotted around the main street.

Click here to download a map of Coober Pedy.

See & Do

One of the biggest attractions in Coober Pedy is just seeing the town itself!

The town is full of bizarre and quirky sights – like this unusual sculpture that’s up near the Big Winch, and right near a lookout that will give you panoramic views of the town.

There’s also the Big Winch:

However, visiting underground homes and churches, and seeing how people live here are a must!

We’ve been here in January when it was 47°C (116F!!), and staying underground was a must. It’s why more than 50% of the town’s people live in underground homes that are locally called ‘dugouts’.

No matter what the temperature is outside, underground homes and hotels are a constant 23°C – very pleasant even on the hottest summer days.

Several residents open their underground houses (dugouts) to the public for tours:

• Faye’s Underground Home 
• Crocodile Harry’s Underground Nest

You can also visit the Umoona Opal Mine and Museum halfway down Hutchinson Street (that’s the main street) where there’s an underground house display along with a mine display and an Aboriginal interpretive display.

Another place you mustn’t miss out on is the Old Timer’s Mine .

This is it an historic opal mine that was first dug in 1916. You can take yourself on a self guided walk to one through the mine, its displays and check out the two underground homes there as well.

Of course, visiting a real working opal mine is something that lots of people like to do when they visit the town.

The good news is that there’s quite a few working opal mines to visit. We recommend a visit to:

• Tom’s Working Opal Mine

Which is located on the Stuart Highway near the turn off to enter the town. Just look for the big truck painted in Port Power colours (Port Adelaide are an AFL football team).

And you and you couldn’t possibly leave Coober Pedy without going to one of the many opal shops and seeing an opal cutting demonstration.

Most shops are more than happy to give you a demonstration of how opals are cut and polished and will explain to you difference between singlets, doublets, and triplets.

But it’s not all just opals!

The Breakaways are striking hills that are deeply eroded, full of rich red, orange and white colours.

The best times to visit are in the early morning with an early evening.

This is when you’ll get some absolutely spectacular photographs as the colours leap out at you and constantly change.

You’ll need a minimum of two hours to visit the Breakaways. The road is passable by all vehicles, but a 4WD is recommended.

If you don’t want to drive to the Breakaways yourself, then you can arrange a tour through Radeka’s Backpackers.

As well there’s the Dingo Fence – a unique piece of Australian heritage that’s still maintained today.

This is the longest dog fence in the world, and it’s located about 30km north of the town.

And don’t forget – it’s only an hour’s drive to William Creek and the Oodnadatta Track and only two hours to Lake Eyre.

All of this makes Coober Pedy is a great base for exploring South Australia’s remote outback – and a reason for you to spend more than one night here.

Where to Stay

Something you have to do when you visit is spend a night in one of the town’s underground motels or hotels.

We visit Coober Pedy fairly regularly and have stayed in everything from a 4 Star hotel to undergroun backpacker’s accommodation. As we said above: there’s an underground campground!

The town has lot of accommodation choices both underground accommodation and above the ground options.

There’s also two caravan parks -both have shady sites and pools- and several B&Bs as well.

When to Visit?

Winter (May-September) really is the very best time to visit.

Try NOT to visit in January or February. Many tourist attractions and restaurants are closed, and it’s very bloody HOT!

We visit every year in January, and almost fall over from the heat! It’s simply too hot to get out and see things, and there really is no shade.

Average summer temperatures range from 36°C (96.8 °F) during the day and 20°C (68°F) at night.

January is the hottest month of the year, with temperatures of 42°C during the day being very common. We’ve visited when it’s been 47°C (116F) and it’s very comfortable.

Related Posts:

No matter when you visit, we’re sure you’ll find Coober Pedy one of the most remarkable and memorable places in the outback. Check out our other pages on Coober Pedy  for more information.

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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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25 Unique Things to Do in Coober Pedy in 2024: Australia’s Quirkiest Town

Looking for things to do in Coober Pedy, Australia? After a recent trip to this intriguing underground town, here’s how I recommend spending a few days in one of Australia’s quirkiest towns.

Deep in the heart of the South Australian Outback, Coober Pedy is one of Australia’s quirkiest and most intriguing towns.

Known as Opal City – Coober Pedy produces the largest amount of opal in the world by mass – it’s a boom-and-bust town that’s been built off the back of opal mining and, more recently, tourists keen to have a look at this interesting place.

After spending a few days in Coober Pedy, this remarkable town left a mark on me. It’s not your typical Australian destination, possessing a bizarre charm that’s unlike any other place I’ve visited. You either love it or you hate it. I was definitely the former.

From underground homes to eccentric residents to landscapes fit for a Hollywood film, this is one place that should be on your list as you travel through Australia.

So, if you’ve got a few days and you’re looking for something very different, here’s my guide to the best things to do in Coober Pedy, along with some handy tips for visiting.

This blog post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you book or buy something through one of these links, I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you).

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Why you should visit Coober Pedy

So, is Coober Pedy worth visiting?

From me, it’s a resounding yes !

It’s a dusty town that may not be much to look at, but Coober Pedy offers a unique blend of history, culture and quirkiness that you’d be hard-pressed to find elsewhere in Australia – or even the world.

This Australian underground town sits on the traditional land of the Antakirinja Matu-Yankunytjatjara people, who have a rich history dating back thousands of years.

More recent history centres on mining. Opal was first discovered here in 1915, and since then, the town has become the world’s leading supplier of this precious gemstone. Over 100 years later, the impact of the opal boom is still very much apparent, with the local landscape dotted with mounds of excavated earth.

All this has been done in one of the harshest climates, with temperatures often reaching above 45°C (113°F) in the summer months. To escape the scorching Outback heat, many of the 3,500 residents have built their homes underground, along with churches, hotels and restaurants – where else in the world can you see that?

For me, one of the most fascinating things about the town is that it demonstrates how human endeavour and persistence can transform a landscape and birth a community that thrives against the odds.

Trust me, once you step foot in this extraordinary town, you’ll understand why it’s an essential addition to any traveller’s Australia bucket list !

Fun fact: Coober Pedy comes from kupa-piti , which means ‘white man’s hole’ in the local Aboriginal language, a reference to the underground mines and homes

The best things to do in Coober Pedy

Here’s everything we did and recommend doing in Coober Pedy.

Watch! The best things to do in Coober Pedy video

1. Explore the Old Timers Mine

To understand Coober Pedy’s opal mining history, start with a visit to the Old Timers Museum.

The museum is in an original opal mine that dates back to 1916, and here you can see the inner workings of a mine, along with an original underground home and a collection of historical artefacts gathered over decades.

You can even purchase opal jewellery once you’re done exploring the museum.

Grab a miner’s hard hat and take a self-guided tour through the exhibits, which explain how miners find and dig for opal. The tour starts in the “ballroom” and from there you can explore the various caverns, “meeting” miners (they’re mannequins) from the past who tell you about the conditions they worked in.

It was really interesting to see. But opal mining is not a job I’ll be taking on any time soon! Those cramped conditions aren’t for me.

The Old Timers Mine is open 7 days a week, from 9am to 5pm (last tours at 4.30pm). The entry fee is $15 for adults.

2. Visit the Umoona Museum

The other mining museum in town is the Umoona Museum. Also located in an original opal mine dating back to the 1920s, it’s another great place to learn about the history of Coober Pedy, including Aboriginal history. (Umoona is the First Nations name for Coober Pedy, and means “long life”.)

It’s free to wander through the museum yourself, or you can join a guided tour if you want more in-depth insight.

The tour includes a 20-minute “The Story of Opal” documentary as well as explanations about the different types of opals.

Tours of the Umoona Opal Mine & Museum cost $14 for adults and are held at 10am, 2pm and 4pm daily.

3. Snap a pic at the Welcome to Coober Pedy sign

No visit to Coober Pedy is complete without a visit to the iconic Welcome to Coober Pedy sign.

Located just off the Stuart Highway, you can’t miss it when you’re coming into Coober Pedy from the south. Grab a photo here as a memento of your time in this town.

There’s also another sign next to it, “Opal City”, which is also great for a selfie when you arrive!

The best time for a photo here is at sunset or sunrise – the desert gets some magical light.

4. Photograph the Coober Pedy sign

Speaking of signs, make sure you also stop by for a snap of the Coober Pedy sign, which sits on a hill above the main street. In the style of the famous Hollywood sign, it’s nicely framed at sunset.

The sign itself is on public land, but you can get a great photo from Hutchinson Street, near the rotunda.

5. Check out The Big Winch

This is the place to be at sunset, when you can get stunning views from the lookout.

As the name suggests, there’s a big winch here (we Aussies like our oversized things!). It’s great for a photo opp, but there’s also a bar and cafe and a fancy cinema that shows a cinematic journey along Australia’s famous Explorer’s Way and the beauty of the Australian Outback.

6. Go into Faye’s Underground Home

Alongside opals, Coober Pedy is famous for its subterranean universe, with a labyrinth of underground homes designed to protect residents from the scorching summer heat. During the summer months, the temperature in Coober Pedy can hit 45°C during the day, so people started building their homes into the hills and underground to stay cool.

There are a few different homes open to the public, but my favourite is Faye’s Underground House and Mine.

Faye Nayler was the first woman to own and operate a mine in Coober Pedy, and she built this home with her fortunes. Along with two friends, it took her eight years to dig out the home with picks and shovels.

The home has a fabulous 70s vibe and one room has something completely unexpected – I won’t ruin the surprise, you have to go there and see it for yourself!

Tours of the home are $20 per person (cash or card) and also include a visit to Faye’s mine. Located underneath her home, it’s here where she discovered the opals that would make her a millionaire.

Caroline, the lady who ran our tour, is also a miner, so gave us some great insight into life working in the town.

Pro tip: If you turn up and the door’s closed, just ring the bell or wait a bit – the tour guide will be in the middle of a tour and will come get you for the next tour.

7. Have a look at the Serbian Orthodox Church

It’s not only houses that are built underground in Coober Pedy. Places of worship have also been dug out of the earth.

The most beautiful underground church in Coober Pedy is the Serbian Orthodox Church. This is a must-see landmark in Coober Pedy, I think, located just a short drive out of the main street of town.

Built in 1993 by local Serbian families who wanted to create a place of worship for the town’s growing Serbian community, the church is entirely underground.

You’ll see this church featured in many of the town’s postcards – and rightly so, as the intricate frescoes and colourful leadlight windows make it a gorgeous place to visit. The ceiling is ornately carved and the lacquer painted over it makes it seem to glow golden.

Entry is with a $5 donation (drop it in the box on your way in. And please do – we saw so many people just ignoring the sign and walking in without paying!).

8. Step inside St Peter & Paul Church

Right on the main street of Coober Pedy, you’ll find another underground church, the St Peter & Paul Church.

While it’s not as elaborate as the Serbian Orthodox Church, it’s still worth a visit because this is the first purpose-built underground Catholic Church of its type in the world. Mass services are still held here.

You may have to scramble around in the dark to turn on the lights when you arrive, as we did! Drop a gold coin donation in the box as your entry fee.

9. Visit the Catacomb Church

While more humble than the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Catacomb Church is still a remarkable underground structure. Dug out in the 1970s, the church is carved into the sandstone.

It’s still used for Sunday services, but visitors are welcome to explore at any other time – it’s open 24 hours!

It’s a beautiful place to sit still and be silent – and escape the heat of the day.

10. Visit Crocodile Harry’s Underground Nest and Dugout

One of the quirkiest things to do in Coober Pedy has to be visiting Crocodile Harry’s.

Built by Latvian-born Arvid Blumenthal, this place is filled with artwork, graffiti, a mountain of random old objects, a tonne of women’s undies and bras as well as various items left by visitors. It’s a mish-mash of eccentric stuff and quite a curious and intriguing place. You could spend quite some here looking through all the graffiti and knick-knacks.

Blumenthal – nicknamed Crocodile Harry – was quite the character. A former soldier, he came to Australia and hunted crocodiles for more than a decade before settling in Coober Pedy. He was apparently quite the womaniser and perhaps also the inspiration for Crocodile Dundee! There are a few photos of him on the wall holding up the crocs he caught.

The entry fee was $7 when we visited. There was no one there to collect it when we were there, but there is an honesty box you can put your money into.

Roaming the property is the hugest dog I’ve ever seen – but he was a gentle giant so don’t be nervous. But he did give us a fright when he came up behind us!

11. Marvel at Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park

Often shortened to The Breakaways, the Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park is a short drive from Coober Pedy and a beautiful spot to visit at sunset. The entire park is now back in the hand of the traditional owners.

The ochre-coloured plains and grand silence of the surrounding landscape are a stunning reminder of the raw beauty that exists within Australia’s heartland. There are a couple of lookout spots that are perfect to take in the immensity of the land.

Covering almost 15,000 square metres, as you drive through this area you’ll find it hard to believe that it was all under the ocean around 100 million years ago. These hills broke away from the Stuart Range a long, long time ago – hence the name “The Breakaways”.

You can easily drive out here (the road is unsealed but fine for 2WD), but we decided to take a tour with Noble Tours and were happy we did. Our guide, James, provided tonnes of interesting information about the Breakaways (and about Coober Pedy more broadly) that we wouldn’t have learned on our own.

There’s an entry fee of $11 per vehicle. You can’t pay this at the entry to the park, so you’ll need to pick up a permit online or buy one from the Coober Pedy Visitor Information Centre or Underground Books.

No camping is allowed anywhere in the Breakaways Conservation Park.

12. Check out the Dog Fence

The Dog Fence, also known as the Dingo Fence, is a barrier that runs through the Australian Outback for nearly 5,600km. It’s the longest fence in the world.

Sure, it may just be a fence that looks like any other fence, but it’s hugely important in this part of the world.

The fence runs just north of Coober Pedy and serves to protect domestic animals and wildlife in the area. It’s designed to keep out wild dogs, particularly dingoes, which can be a threat to livestock.

Of course, this also means that dingoes aren’t around to keep down feral animals like cats and foxes, and the fence also stops native animal migration, so the fence is a bit topical.

Make sure you listen out for the sirens along the road where the cow grids are – the dog fence even has motion detectors in this area.

13. See the Moon Plain

The Moon Plain, located just outside of Coober Pedy, gets its name from its lunar-like landscape and terrain.

The area is made up of rocky hillocks, claypans and desert vegetation, and is popular with photographers and filmmakers.

The Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome movie was filmed here, and it makes an appearance in several other films and TV shows, including Red Planet and Amazing Race Australia.

When we were in Coober Pedy, a show had just wrapped up filming – “Stars on Mars”, narrated by William Shatner.

14. Take a tour of Tom’s Working Opal Mine

Visiting Tom’s Working Opal Mine in Coober Pedy is a must-do for any traveller to the area. The mine is the only working underground opal mine you can visit in town.

On the tour, you’ll learn all about opal mining and the stories of miners, and you’ll even be able to try your hand at finding a gemstone yourself. You can take whatever you find home with you as a little souvenir.

Guided tours take 1.5 hours and cost $28 for adults, $14 for kids up to 17 (free 6 and under) or $75 for a family. Tours run at 10am and 1.30pm during the peak season from April to October. 

Self-guided tours can be done at your leisure between 9am and 4pm, and include a map, mining helmet and black light. Adult tickets cost $15, kids are $8 and families are $40.

15. Go Noodling

Noodling, or opal hunting, is one of the most popular things to do in Coober Pedy.

Go hunting through the mounds of sand and dirt in the hope of finding pieces of opal that were missed. People get lucky all the time finding small pieces.

The best place to go noodling is Tom’s Working Opal Mine. Here, you’ll be able to search for opal in the same conditions the miners still use today.

You can also try your luck in any of the public dry claypans around the town.

You don’t need a permit if you’re not on a pegged claim and not using a pick, shovel or any digging device. Be very careful where you noodle – trespassing is treated very seriously here!

If you decide to go noodling further afield, then be very, very careful. There are around 2 million shafts in the Coober Pedy area, and they’re dangerous – people have been known to fall in. You won’t be found quickly out here!

And if you do find an opal, the stores in town can help polish and shape it into something special.

16. Shop for opals

If you don’t get lucky finding your own opal, then there are several opal stores in town. An opal is an excellent souvenir to take home as a reminder of this quirky town.

We were given a few recommendations from a local:

• The Big Miner – look for the big copper miner statue, and enjoy having a haggle here
• Opalios – the owner has a great sense of humour

Both stores are owned and run by Greek families who’ve lived in Coober Pedy since the 1960s.

17. Pat a joey at Josephine’s Gallery and Kangaroo Orphanage

One of the most heart-warming places to visit in Coober Pedy is Josephine’s Gallery and Kangaroo Orphanage .

This amazing place cares for orphaned joeys. Many of these joeys have been found in the pouches of mama kangaroos who’ve been hit by cars or trucks.

The owners take calls at all hours of the day to rescue injured wildlife and dedicate their days to caring for them. They’re amazing people!

There’s a daily feeding at 12pm, which you can enter for $10. You’ll need to email or call the owners to register ahead of time. See the business card in the photo below for the contact details.

While you’re waiting to see the animals, take a look around the beautiful gallery, which has a stunning range of Aboriginal art.

18. Catch a flick at the Coober Pedy Drive-in Theatre

If you’re in Coober Pedy on a Saturday night, then a can’t-miss is the Coober Pedy Drive-in Theatre – the only drive-in cinema in South Australia.

Enjoy a flick under the stars at this open-air cinema. There’s a huge screen and you can buy snacks and drinks at the canteen.

It’s a bargain too – $20 for a car of up to 7 people!

Unfortunately we missed out on this because we weren’t in Coober Pedy over the weekend, but I’d love to time a trip to coincide with the cinema.

19. Have a hit at the Coober Pedy Opal Fields Golf Club

The Coober Pedy Opal Fields Golf Club is one of the most unique things to do in Coober Pedy.

Where else in the world do you have the chance to find an opal while you’re hitting a round?

With no grass in sight, the 18-hole course is made up of sand and the tee-offs are made of fake grass. In the warmer months, golf is played at night with the use of glow-in-the-dark golf balls.

The golf club has reciprocal rights with St Andrew’s Golf Club in Scotland – although the rights only exist during January and February (ie. winter in Scotland and the hottest months in Coober Pedy!).

Even if you’re not a golfer, it’s worth stopping by to have a giggle at the “Keep off the grass” signs. Sunsets are gorgeous out here.

20. Check out the Pitch Black spaceship

Wandering down the main street of Coober Pedy, you may wonder why there’s a crashed spaceship there.

It’s actually from the movie “Pitch Black” starring Vin Diesel, which was filmed in Coober Pedy.

After the filming was completed, the spaceship was gifted to the town.

The spaceship is now a popular photo spot for tourists and a symbol of the town’s filmmaking history. In addition to Pitch Black, the town has also been featured in films like Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, Red Planet and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

It’s out the front of the Umoona Opal Mine & Museum.

21. Take a scenic flight

While Coober Pedy is fascinating from the ground, it’s even more breathtaking from the air. Wrightsair can show you a bird’s-eye view of the unique landscape and opal mines.

They’ve got a range of different tours, but most go over Coober Pedy, Lake Eyre and the Painted Hills.

It’s a splurge, for sure, but you’ll get to see beautiful scenery that you can’t access on foot or by car.

22. Drink underground at the Desert Cave Hotel

There are few places in the world where you can have a drink underground, and the place to do it in Coober Pedy is at the Desert Cave Hotel.

The Desert Cave Hotel is the only fully underground hotel in the world, and all of its rooms and other facilities are carved out of the sandstone rocks.

Enjoy a relaxing drink in the underground bar or have a hit at pool.

23. Walk the Coober Pedy Heritage Trail

While it’s easy to meander about the town without a plan, it’s better to follow the Coober Pedy Heritage Trail to learn about the town at some key landmarks.

There are 12 stops on the trail, covering everything from the town’s first cemetery to the churches I’ve already talked about to the John McDouall Stuart Monument.

Pick up a map from the Coober Pedy Visitor Information Centre or your accommodation.

24. Join the mail run

To truly get a sense of just how remote this area is, join an Outback Mail Run tour .

It’s exactly as it says – join a real Aussie Post mailman as he delivers the mail to the Outback towns of Oodnadatta and William Creek and remote cattle stations.

Tours run every Monday and Thursday and cover more than 600km of Outback roads. Lunch is at the famous Pink Roadhouse, and there’s even a stop for a beer at William Creek Hotel.

It’s a unique way to explore the landscape and learn about the history and people of the region.

Unfortunately I didn’t get time to do this Coober Pedy tour, but it would be such a different and unique way to see this area.

25. Photograph the Painted Desert

The Painted Desert is a remarkable natural wonder about 2.5 hours from Coober Pedy.

This area of the Outback is famous for its stunning red and orange hues. The ever-changing landscape is a photographer’s dream, with rolling hills, rock formations and a vast array of colours that seem to change with the light.

Take a guided tour or drive out there yourself.

Sunset is the best time to visit – but do be careful driving on the road after dark, as there’s a lot of wildlife around. Arckaringa Homestead has camping facilities and basic accommodation if you’d prefer to stay the night out there.

Map of the best things to do in Coober Pedy

As you can see from this map I’ve created, all of the best Coober Pedy attractions are pretty close to each other, so you can easily get between them.

Where is Coober Pedy?

Coober Pedy is located in the heart of Australia’s Outback, in the northern region of South Australia. It’s around 846 kilometres north of Adelaide and about 688 kilometres south of Alice Springs, and it’s the perfect stopover if you’re traversing the Stuart Highway on your way to or from spectacular Uluru .

It’s remote out here – as you can see from the following table which shows driving distances and times from the major capital cities and nearby towns.

How to get to Coober Pedy

Getting to Coober Pedy is an adventure in itself!

Most people will end up in Coober Pedy by car as they drive the Stuart Highway. The table in the previous section shows how far it is from the main cities and towns.

The Stuart Highway is sealed all the way to Coober Pedy from Adelaide and Darwin.

Mobile phone service is hit and miss, but there’s always coverage in towns and around roadhouses.

From Port Augusta to Coober Pedy , you can stop for the night at Spud’s Roadhouse in Pimba or the Glendambo Roadhouse . We stayed at Spud’s for a $5 donation. There are showers, good pub food at the roadhouse and fuel. The campground is a basic gravel pit but it’s fenced in. It can be noisy with the road trains passing at night. Get in around 3pm or 4pm as the camping area starts to fill up.

From Alice Springs to Coober Pedy , you’ve got the Erldunda Roadhouse and the Kulgera Roadhouse (both in the Northern Territory) or Cadney Park Homestead and Marla Travellers Rest (both in South Australia). All have fuel.

We really like the Erldunda Roadhouse (we stayed there previously on our Central Australia road trip ) because the sites are nice, there’s unpowered overflow sites and the pub is good.

WikiCamps has more rest stop options (including free camps), and PetrolSpy is the best app for checking the cheapest fuel.

If long drives aren’t your thing, don’t worry, you can still reach Coober Pedy by air.

The town has a small airport that’s serviced by Regional Express (Rex). Flights to Coober Pedy are available from Adelaide, taking around 2 hours.

Upon arrival, you can rent a car in Coober Pedy .

Greyhound buses also run the Stuart Highway, so you can jump on a bus to Coober Pedy from Adelaide and Alice Springs, among other locations.

It’s a longer trip compared to driving or flying, taking approximately 11 hours from Adelaide and around 9 hours from Alice Springs. Buses run once daily from both cities (the Adelaide to Coober Pedy service is an overnighter).

Prefer to have someone else do all the organising? There are a couple of multi-day tours that include Coober Pedy on the itinerary:

• This 7-day, small-group trip starts and ends in Adelaide and includes Outback highlights like Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park , Coober Pedy and Lake Kati Thanda (Lake Eyre)
• This 8-day tour goes from Adelaide to Uluru – stopping in Coober Pedy on the way – as it hits the best stops in the Outback

Accommodation in Coober Pedy

Wondering where to stay in Coober Pedy? Here are some options for hotels as well as for caravanners and campers.

Hotels in Coober Pedy

A must-do in Coober Pedy is to stay in an underground hotel. Two excellent options are:

• Desert Cave Hotel : great-sized rooms with access to the hotel’s bar and restaurant (make sure you choose an underground room as they also have aboveground rooms)
• Comfort Inn Coober Pedy Experience : originally a working wine, the rooms in this motel have kitchenettes which are handy

Caravan parks and camping in Coober Pedy

We stayed at the Big4 Stuart Range Outback Resort . There’s a mix of caravan sites and cabins at this caravan park, and a pool, BBQ facilities and playground. It is on the Stuart Highway so there can be some noise at night as the road trains go by, but it’s not too bad.

I do not recommend the Opal Inn – it’s run down and unsafe. We booked in there but immediately left.

Stay in the world’s only underground campground at Riba’s Underground Campground . Set up your tent underground – this used to be a mine.

Looking for free camping in Coober Pedy ? There’s a free camp next to the Old Timers Museum. They do ask for a donation so they can eventually gravel the area.

Where to eat in Coober Pedy

For a small town, there are some good places to eat in Coober Pedy.

My recommendations for restaurants in Coober Pedy are:

• The Big Winch 360 – the “fanciest” place in town, this is a great spot for sunset views. There’s good food (salads, pasta and typical cafe food) and a decent wine list
• The Outback Bar & Grill – meat-oriented menu with lots of lamb, chicken and beef. It’s a licensed venue
• John’s Pizza – claims to have the best pizzas in Australia… I’d say they’re pretty good for the Outback!
• The Greek Club – if you’re in Coober Pedy on a Friday night, make sure to head to the Greek Club. A plate of amazing home-cooked food will set you back $20, and the atmosphere is super fun

Essential Services in Coober Pedy

Coober Pedy may be small, but it has what you need for your stay.

Water is a precious resource in Coober Pedy. If you’re travelling by caravan or campervan, like we were, you can pay for potable water from the dispenser next to the Coober Pedy Visitor Information Centre. It’s $1 for 30 litres .

The IGA on Hutchinson Street has a variety of goods, from fresh produce to household items.

If you’re travelling by car and need to refuel, there are three petrol stations in Coober Pedy: Mobil, Shell and Ampol, all on the main street. Check an app like PetrolSpy before you fill up to find the cheapest fuel. The Mobil (Perry’s) has a good convenience store.

Finally, for any tourist information or assistance, the Coober Pedy Visitor Information Centre is your go-to place. It’s at 773 Hutchison Street and the friendly staff can help you make bookings and give advice. They’ve got tips for beyond Coober Pedy as well.

What to do in Coober Pedy: Final thoughts

Coober Pedy is known as one of the quirkiest towns in Australia and it certainly lives up to its reputation. I absolutely loved it here and found it so interesting and unlike anywhere else I’ve ever been.

Whether you’re looking for a unique outback experience, an educational adventure or a relaxing getaway, there are plenty of things to do in Coober Pedy. Come and check out its eccentricity for yourself!

Things to do in Coober Pedy: Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to visit coober pedy.

The weather in Coober Pedy can be incredibly harsh. The best time to visit Coober Pedy is during the Australian winter (May to August). During this time, the temperatures are more bearable.

It’s unlikely to rain during these months – although we did get caught in a major storm front passing through the whole of Australia when we were in Coober Pedy! Rain turns everything into a mud pit.

In the summer months, Coober Pedy can reach scorching temperatures, sometimes exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. There’s no shade in this treeless town! This is heat that can make you pass out, so avoid these months.

How many days do you need in Coober Pedy?

You can get a great feel for Coober Pedy in two to three days.

Is Coober Pedy good to visit with kids?

Absolutely! There are plenty of things to do in Coober Pedy with kids. They’ll be fascinated by the unique underground homes and churches, and the mining museums are fun for all ages. We even saw a family using the Old Timers Mine as an opportunity to home-school their kids! More fun kids’ activities in Coober Pedy are “noodling” to search for opals, and Josephine’s Gallery and Kangaroo Orphanage is also always a winner with children.

Is Coober Pedy safe to visit?

Yes, Coober Pedy is a safe place to visit. Tourist crime is low. The locals may be quirky but they’re friendly and there’s a police station in town. As in any town, always use common sense and stay aware of your surroundings. One thing to always be aware of is the threat of mines in Coober Pedy – with more than 2 million mineshafts in the area, people do fall in.

Did you find this article helpful? Consider buying me a coffee as a way to say thanks!

Have you ever been to Coober Pedy? What did you think of the town?

Related posts

Before you go… you might like these other Australian road trip articles:

• Top Things to Do in Flinders Ranges National Park
• 15 BEST Things to Do in Alice Springs, Australia
• Alice Springs to Uluru Road Trip: The Ultimate Red Centre Way Itinerary
• 19 Spectacular Things To Do at Uluru
• Great Ocean Road Itinerary: 3 Days on Australia’s Best Road Trip
• The Ultimate Australia Bucket List: 75+ Adventures and Activities to Experience Down Under

AUSTRALIA TRIP ESSENTIALS

• Book your flight to Australia online with Skyscanner . I like this site because it shows me which dates are cheaper.
• Find a great hotel in Australia. Check prices on Booking.com   and Expedia online.
• Check out the huge range of day tours throughout Australia on GetYourGuide or Viator . There’s something for everyone.
• A copy of the  Lonely Planet guide to Australia will be handy.
• One thing I always purchase is  travel insurance ! Travel Insurance Master allows you to compare across multiple policy providers, while SafetyWing is great for long-term travellers and digital nomads.
• Pack sunscreen (look for SPF50 or higher), a hat and sunglasses because the sun is hot!

PIN IT FOR LATER:

Save this guide to the most fun things to do in Coober Pedy to Pinterest so you can plan your trip later!

About REBECCA

I'm a travel junkie who started dreaming about seeing the world from a very young age. I've visited more than 40 countries and have a Master of International Sustainable Tourism Management. A former expat, I've lived in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Argentina and the United States. I share travel resources, tips and stories based on my personal experiences, and my goal is to make travel planning just that bit easier.

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The Painted Desert Tour

Discover the magic of the painted desert..

Explore the Painted Desert in a comfortable air conditioned 4WD vehicle.

Departing every Saturday from Coober Pedy, join us for an expedition through the stunning Painted Desert in Outback South Australia. This one day tour takes you north on the Kempe Road, revealing the Moon Plains, pastoral country, and ultimately the breathtaking Arckaringa Hills. This mesmerising landscape, shaped over millions of years by ancient seas and erosion, boasts vibrant colours, majestic mesas, and unique geological formations.

Led by experienced guides, you'll have the opportunity to explore this remote and untouched terrain on foot, immersing yourself in its natural beauty and encountering diverse flora and fauna. Enjoy a delightful picnic lunch amidst the scenic hills, providing ample time to appreciate the surroundings and capture unforgettable moments.

As we journey back to Coober Pedy, marvel at the Breakaways country, where dramatic land formations contrast against the vast desert backdrop, creating a perfect finale to your adventure. Our intimate group excursions promise authenticity, camaraderie, and a profound connection to the rugged beauty of the Australian outback. 

Don't miss this chance to discover the magic of the Painted Desert with us.

The Painted Desert Tour departs on Saturdays.

Maximum number of 4 guests per trip.

Ensure that we know your accommodation details for a morning pick-up, and please provide your phone number. Be ready for pick-up by 8:45 am for a 9 am departure and in the event of delays, we will contact you. Bring a shady hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, a camera, and your water bottle (refills available on board). Lunch and drinks are included and snack packs are available during the tour.  

Vehicles  & Safety

Travel in comfort with air-conditioned 4WD vehicles equipped with UHF Radios, Satellite Phones and First Aid Kits. Note that due to unsealed roads and adverse weather conditions, the itinerary may be subject to change for passenger safety. We do not accept responsibility for personal expenses or loss/damage to personal effects during the tour caused by delays or unforeseen circumstances.

Coober Pedy Tours

Are you looking for a tour to take in Coober Pedy?

Whether you are looking to explore the town of Coober Pedy or if you want to take a tour to The Breakaways or join a Mail Run Tour to see the small Outback towns and cattle stations near Coober Pedy, there is a tour for you.

From self-guided tours of underground opal mines to guided tours that include helicopter rides and multi-day tours in South Australia, there are plenty of ways to see the best of Coober Pedy.

Keep reading to find the best Coober Pedy Tours.

Faye’s Underground Home and Mine Tour

Tours of Faye’s Underground Home and Mine are available Monday to Saturday by appointment, seasonally.

Faye dug out this home with two girlfriends in the 1960s.

On this tour, you can see Coober Pedy’s 1st in-ground swimming pool and an opal mine.

Tom’s Opal Mine

Spend up to 1.5 hours on a guided tour at Tom’s Opal Mine where kids under 6 are free.

Everyone gets a mining helmet and a black light for the tour. A live demonstration of a working blower and a bosun chair are included.

After the tour, there is a free noodling pit that you are welcome to use.

Umoona Opal Mine and Museum

Umoona Opal Mine offers both public and private underground guided tours.

Visitors can watch a video in an underground theatre, learn about opals and living underground, and receive tea or coffee after the tour.

Public guided tours are offered seasonally 3x daily, except they are closed on Tuesdays.

Riba’s Evening Opal Mine Tour

Head to Riba’s Underground Campground for the only evening mine tour in Coober Pedy.

Almost every evening, a tour of Riba’s Opal Mine takes place and lasts 1.5 hours.

A free unpowered campsite is included with a tour booking and discounts are available for those that are staying at powered campsites.

Kids 5 and under can participate for free.

Coober Pedy Caravan Parks

Coober Pedy Town and Mine Tour

Join Oasis Parks and Tours on a tour of the town on their Town and Mine Tour for a 3-hour tour that takes you to the best of Coober Pedy.

Stops include:

• underground churches
• underground homes
• underground opal mine
• underground cinema
• opal fields
• golf course

Sunset Breakaways Tour

Another tour from Oasis Park and Tours that can be taken on its own or combined with the Town and Mine Tour is the Sunset Breakaways Tour .

This 3-hour-long tour leaves town 2.5 hours before sunset. See Dingo Fence, Moon Plains, and the Breakaways where you will enjoy a muffin and tea or coffee as the sun sets.

The Best of Coober Pedy and The Breakaways Tour

Noble Tours offers The Best of Coober Pedy and The Breakaways Tour .

This 5-hour tour includes a ride on a 4WD air-conditioned bus and it takes place seasonally. Pickup and drop off from local hotels or the visitor centre are included.

The tour includes visits to

• an underground mine
• an underground home
• an underground church
• Dingo Fence
• Moon Plains
• The Breakaways
• a private claim in the opal fields with large underground tunnels

Kids must be at least 5 years old to participate in this tour.

Best Things to Do in Coober Pedy

Coober Pedy Self-Guided Tours

Crocodile harry’s underground dugout.

Located slightly out of town, Crocodile Harry’s Underground Dugout was empty of people when we arrived.

A true self-guided tour, visitors can explore on their own time and stay as long as they wish.

Crocodile Harry’s has unique artwork and lots of names on the wall going back to the 80s. The home is set up as though someone lives there, though no one does.

Old Timers Mine

Opt to wear a helmet and explore underground on your own at Old Timers Mine and Museum.

Visitors receive a booklet with information that corresponds with various areas of the mine.

An underground museum shows how locals live in their dugout homes.

Take a map, helmet, and a black light and explore Tom’s Underground Opal Mine on your own.

A free noodling pit is available to try after your self-guided tour.

Tom’s Opal Mine is pet-friendly and kids 6 and under tour for free.

Unique Coober Pedy Outback Tours

The mail run and beyond.

Due to this tour including an actual mail run, it only runs on Mondays and Thursdays unless one of those days is a public holiday.

Ride in an air-conditioned 4WD van as the mail is delivered to cattle stations and Outback towns. Lunch is included at a pub.

The Mail Run Tour is a great way to learn about Outback South Australia and see famous sites.

Coober Pedy 3-Day Outback Adventure

Just 2 passengers are needed to participate in a 3-Day Outback Adventure from Coober Pedy.

This unique tour includes 2 nights at the William Creek Hotel as well as flights, some meals, and excursions. You will even get to tour the town with the mayor.

Coober Pedy Scenic Flights

View Coober Pedy’s unique landscape from above on one of the scenic flights offered by Wrightsair .

All of their flights include time on the ground and some of them include a morning tea.

Tour options are:

• Coober Pedy Outback Spectacular
• Coober Pedy Deluxe Flight
• Coober Pedy, Dalhousie Springs, and Lake Eyre

These tours run between 4.5 and 7 hours. There is a 2-person minimum on each tour.

Coober Pedy from Adelaide Tours

7 day 4wd eco safari.

Join a small group tour that leaves from Adelaide and spends 7 days exploring Lake Eyre, Flinders Ranges National Park, and Coober Pedy as well as small outback towns and famous locations.

Some meals are included as are some admission costs on the 4WD Eco Safari .

8-Day Tour to Uluru

Spend a night in Coober Pedy on this 8-day tour from Adelaide to Uluru .

Most of the nights will be spent in a swag while camping though when in Coober Pedy you will stay in an underground multi-share bunkhouse.

Many of the meals are included as are national park tickets and entrance fees.

This tour is for those 9+ and requires a minimum of 8 guests to proceed.

7-Day Lake Eyre and Flinders Range Tour

Travel round trip from Adelaide on a 7-day tour that includes Lake Eyre, Flinders Ranges, and Coober Pedy.

Optional add-ons include a scenic flight, the night sky observatory, and a 4WD tour.

Coober Pedy Tours Wrap-Up

Though Coober Pedy is a small outback town, there are plenty of tours that can be taken in town. Plus, there are tours to Coober Pedy from Adelaide and tours of the surrounding area from Coober Pedy.

Whether you want to take a guided tour or a self-guided tour, there are options in Coober Pedy, especially in the underground mines and dugouts.

There are day tours that will take you around the best spots in Coober Pedy and for those who want to explore more, there are tours that will take you to nearby national parks and outback town. You can even join in on a mail run.

Don’t have a car? Take a tour that leaves from Adelaide and provides transportation and accommodations.

Whichever tour you choose, there is plenty to learn about the unique town of Coober Pedy.

Pin Coober Pedy Tours for Later

Lanie is the owner and author of Make More Adventures, a family travel blog that helps families make the most of their holidays. Lanie is an American living in Australia with her husband and 2 kids who love to travel almost as much as she does. When she is not traveling, working on her blog, or planning her next vacation, Lanie is watching Bravo, reading, or working with kids.

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Coober Pedy

Explore coober pedy, included in fare.

This full day tour takes in the highlights of Coober Pedy,  including a visit to a subterranean place of worship – The  Serbian Orthodox Church. It was chiselled from the earth  and it’s lofty ‘ballroom’ style design and stained glass  windows make it one of Coober Pedy’s most awe-inspiring  structures. ​

At the Umoona Opal Mine and Museum, you will be given  the historical context of the town’s emergence, see an  example of a ‘dugout’, as the locals call the underground  homes, and learn about the ancient Indigenous connection  to the region.  ​

At Quest Mine, you’ll be able to don a hard hat and try your luck finding fortune after enjoying an underground  lunch. ​​

Finally, you will be captivated by the view out over the  Breakaways – a vast plain of flat-topped mesas that once  presided over an inland sea.  ​

When you return to the Manguri siding in the early evening,  you’ll have the opportunity to snap an iconic photo of The  Ghan locomotives. 

Recommended Fitness Level: Moderate level mobility – Stairs, steep inclines, short walks  and navigating underground tunnels required. Guests are  strongly encouraged to dress for the weather conditions.  Warm clothes are advised as underground tunnels may be  cold. Enclosed sturdy shoes are required. Sunscreen, a hat,  trousers and long sleeves are highly recommended.

DISCOVER THE MAJESTIC BREAKAWAYS

The Breakaways Reserve got its name from the colourful low  hills that appear from a distance as if they are ‘broken away’  from the higher ground of the reserve. The landscape was  once an inland sea and over time has been transformed into  a dramatic landscape that changes colour with the passing of  the sun creating an almost surreal panorama.  ​

A visit to Quest Mine is where you will be able to don a hard hat and try your luck finding fortune while  enjoying an underground lunch. ​

You will discover the beauty and history of Australia’s  national gemstone at the Umoona Opal Mine and Museum,  one of Coober Pedy’s original attractions showcasing  Aboriginal history and fossils. ​​

A guided interactive tour of the museum is a perfect back  drop to allow you the opportunity to explore the  underground caverns, hand dug shafts and tunnels featuring  an original underground dugout home and memorabilia from  the past. ​

Return to the Manguri siding in the early evening and snap an iconic photo of the Ghan locomotives. 

Recommended Fitness Level: Moderate level mobility – Approx. 500m of walking and  standing for periods at the Breakaways. Guests are strongly  encouraged to dress for the weather conditions. Warm  clothes are advised as underground tunnels may be cold and  the Breakaways can be windy. Enclosed sturdy shoes are  required. Sunscreen, a hat, trousers and long sleeves are  highly recommended.

OPAL EXPERIENCE

On this shorter tour, you’ll learn about the beauty and  history of Australia’s national gemstone at the Umoona Opal  Mine and Museum, one of Coober Pedy’s most popular  attractions. This immersive experience reveals all there is to  know about these alluring gemstones and you will also see  some of the best examples on display. ​​

Umoona  features historic artefacts, underground caverns,  hand-dug shafts and tunnels, as well as one of the original  underground homes.  ​

At Quest Mine, you’ll be able to don a hard hat and try your luck finding fortune. You’ll also enjoy an  underground lunch here. ​​

Before departing Coober Pedy, you’ll stop at the Big Winch.  With spectacular views over the town, the Big Winch has  been a popular attraction and meeting place since it was  built in the early 1970s. This iconic attraction has played an  important role in the development of Coober Pedy’s tourist  industry. ​

Returning to Manguri siding in the early afternoon, you’ll  have the opportunity to snap a photo of the iconic Ghan  locomotives.  ​

Painted Hills & Lake Eyre Scenic Flight

Optional upgrade experience - $1,250 per person (limited availability).

The Anna Creek Painted Hills is a rocky outcrop of large and  small hills, which emerge out of a flat, desert landscape. It’s  spectacular from the air and you can be part of the small  number of people who land and enjoy a guided tour of this  magnificent landscape.  ​

You’ll also fly over Lake Eyre, which was formed  approximately 200 million years ago and is the lowest point  below sea level on the Australian continent. When the lake’s  water level is low, its glittering crystallised surface stretches  as far as the eye can see. As the  water begins to evaporate,  the lake takes-on a spectacular pink hue caused by a  pigment found within a specific type of salt-loving algae. ​

Enjoy a classic pub meal at the William Creek Hotel for  lunch. The town is reputed to be the smallest in South  Australia, surrounded by the world’s largest pastoral station,  Anna Creek Station. The town has a permanent population  of 6, however during the winter months, this exceeds over  30… and a dog.  ​​

On return to the airport, board your aircraft and take to the  skies again, fly over the town of Coober Pedy for a different  perspective on underground living. ​

You’ll arrive at Manguri siding in the early evening and have  the opportunity to snap an photo of the iconic Ghan  locomotives. 

If you choose this experience, you will not be able to participate in the included Off Train Experiences.

Recommended Fitness Level: Moderate level mobility – Guests required to board and disembark aircraft unassisted. Guided walk with standing required. Weight restrictions apply – a maximum weight of any individual cannot exceed 130kg. Guests are strongly encouraged to dress for the weather conditions. Enclosed sturdy shoes are required. Sunscreen, a hat, trousers and long sleeves are highly recommended.

To avoid disappointment, we highly recommend guests pre-book this tour, for more information on how to pre-book please contact our team.

PLEASE NOTE: This tour is subject to availability and conditions; all upgrade optional experiences are non-refundable.

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To book this package please call or email [email protected] .

TOURIST PARK & TOURS COOBER PEDY

Sunset Breakaways Tour

 This is a 70 km roundtrip which will take you to the Breakaways situated out of town and on the edge of the Moon Plain. Daily Departure : two and a half hours before sunset (This of course changes through the year) Duration : approximately 3 hours Departs from the Caravan Park Free local pick up and drop off

Book at reception by 2 pm or by phone : (08) 8672 5169

Adults : $60 Children : $30

You will be taken out to Kanku National Park where you will be able to appreciate the unique physical features of the area with explanations from your guide. A warm muffin with tea/coffee as you take in the sunset (and at times the moonrise as well) over the majestic Breakaways is an unforgettable experience.  Some features to note :

 Dingo Fence

 Moon Plain

A mineral expanse bearing witness to milleniums gone by. The flat stones often with rounded edges originated in the Flinders Ranges and were transported, reshaped and polished by glacial activity. The area appears empty, dead, yet life pulses everywhere : rabbits, lizards, insects, snakes inhabit this terrain.  It only needs a good rain and the place is transformed – a carpet of little yellow flowers which bring to mind the green hills of Scotland. Evidence of ancient rainforests from 350 million years ago.

 Breakaways

The Breakaways themselves When you reach the Breakaways you have the impression that the ground has fallen away by thirty metres and an endless plain stretches out,  studded with rocky outcrops.  It is as if you are witnessing the birth of a new world and that you have arrived at the gates of paradise after many lengthy detours, as in the film “Ice”.  The landscape is full of hope, a new Eden.

 On the way back

On the way back and perhaps picking up a pizza at John's, George will drop you back at your hotel, or your preferred restaurant and will even go round the tourist park and drop you in front of your tent, caravan or motorhome.

Book the sunset Breakaways tour

Starting time two and a half hours before  sunset. Sunset times change throughout the year, so call reception to find out the starting time for that day . Book at reception or by phone : 08 8672 5169 by 2 PM

Book the Town and Mine Tour + the Sunset Breakaways Tours

Adults : $100 Children : $50

Coober Pedy

• 1.1 Visitor information centre
• 2.1 By plane
• 2.4 By train
• 3 Get around
• 11 Stay safe

Coober Pedy , (pronounced Coober Peedy), is a small town in South Australia 846 km (526 mi) north of Adelaide on the Stuart Highway with a population of 3,500.

Understand [ edit ]

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 kilometres from the nearest settlement. The harsh summer temperatures and the dominant industry mean that most residents live underground, that is, 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.

Visitor information centre [ edit ]

• -29.014986 134.756171 1 Coober Pedy Tourist Information Centre , LOT 773 Hutchison St , ☏ +61 8 8672 4600 . M-F 9AM-5PM Sa-Su 9AM-1PM . ( updated Sep 2021 )

Get in [ edit ]

By plane [ edit ].

Regional Express flies between Adelaide and Coober Pedy three times per week using turboprop aircraft. Fares start at $300 for the 2 hour flight.

By bus [ edit ]

Greyhound Australia operates 365 days a year service to and from Coober Pedy. Adelaide to Coober Pedy - departs 7:45PM arrives 6:15AM. Alice Springs to Coober Pedy - departs 10:30AM arrives 6:30PM.

By car [ edit ]

The Stuart Highway ( A87 )

• From Adelaide 846 km driving the Stuart Highway , fuel is available at Pimba and Glendambo villages between Port Augusta and Coober Pedy
• Alice Springs 685 km Fuel available at Cadney Park, Marla, & Kulgera in NT.
• Darwin 2,170 km
• Port Augusta 535 km
• Tennant Creek 1,173 km
• Yulara 725 km

The Painted Desert Road (Kempe Rd) is a formed sand road linking Coober Pedy to Oodnadatta . Although only a days drive (194km), take the precautions for remote area driving, and takes about 3 hours. This road has very light traffic. Always carry adequate water. Check road conditions carefully, and do not continue if the road is closed.

By train [ edit ]

Coober Pedy can be accessed by rail via the Ghan route from Adelaide to Alice Springs. Transportation from Manguri Siding, 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 Siding on Mondays & Thursdays. If you are alighting at Manguri, especially in the winter months, make sure you have warm clothing as the train arrives very early in the morning.

Get around [ edit ]

Coober Pedy is small, with most shops on Hutchison St and everything else fairly close by. You can generally walk around town from hotels, as long as you can handle the heat.

Fuel costs around 30c/litre more than on the coast.

See [ edit ]

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 .
• 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 jewelry and single stones.

The town of Coober Pedy is the setting for the film 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.

• -29.011308 134.763984 1 Faye's Underground Home , Old Water Tank Road ( follow signs off Hutchison St at the north end of town ). 9AM-5PM closed Sunday . The current owners will give you a tour of their interesting underground home, which was carved out by several intrepid women decades ago. $5 . ( updated Apr 2015 )
• -29.00901 134.75974 2 Old Timer's Mine , 1 Crowders Gully Road , ☏ +61 8 8672 5555 . 9AM-5PM . Interesting self-guided tour of mine and homes. $15 . ( updated Apr 2015 )
• Tom's Working Opal Mine , Lot 1993 Stuart Highway . The pick of the working mines. ( updated Apr 2015 )
• -29.008827 134.758128 3 Big Winch . Good lookout in the middle of town. Belgian waffles & coffee available. ( updated Apr 2015 )

Do [ edit ]

The Opal mine tour is a great experience for all.

Buy [ edit ]

You can buy opals just about everywhere in Coober Pedy, however don't necessarily expect bargain prices. Sellers are not likely to rip you off but check a few places to be sure of appropriate prices.

The IGA is located on the Northern of Hutchison Street. There is a Cellarbrations located on the Southern side of Hutchison Street. When purchasing alcohol, have photo ID (passport, drivers licence, proof of age card) ready. There are limits involved on the amount of alcohol per day as Coober Pedy is a dry town. The limit, however, seems to be a bottle of spirits and two bottles of wine per day.

Eat [ edit ]

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

• -29.010728 134.755298 1 John's Pizza Bar and Restaurant , 1/24 Hutchison St , ☏ +61 8 8672 5561 . 9AM-10PM . A classic "everything" eat-in and takeaway restaurant, with pizza, pasta, burgers, and many other foods done fairly well at reasonable prices for the outback. This is one of the most popular places in town. As a result, the wait times can get long at times. As an example, one weeknight the wait time was estimated to be an hour long. $30 for a 12-inch pizza with a glass of red wine . ( updated Aug 2022 )
• -29.015381 134.754915 2 Outback Bar and Grill , 454 Hutchison St ( Southern end of town, next to the Shell service station. ), toll-free: +61 8 8672 3250 . This service station licensed restaurant seems remarkably popular for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The staff at this location are quite good as well. ( updated Aug 2022 )

Drink [ edit ]

There is the Opal Inn, the Desert Cave Hotel, the licensed restaurants and bottle shops next to the both of the supermarkets, including Cellarbrations bottle shop at the IGA Fresh Supermarket.

Coober Pedy has a major problem with alcohol and various restrictions apply to sales. As of 2023, liquor can only be sold after midday, you can only make one purchase per day, you are only allowed to buy one bottle of wine per person per day to take-away, and you will have to provide ID for scanning. Of course, you can buy unlimited beer (or maybe only a case, still a lot more than wine). You can also drink in the pub with no problem.

Sleep [ edit ]

• -29.01421 134.75541 1 Mud Hut Motel , St Nicholas St ( On your right as you drive into town from the south. ), ☏ +61 8 8672 3003 . Made of rammed earth. The motel is small (28 rooms in total). Fast, reliable broadband internet available in most rooms. Dining area and bar. From $100 .  
• -29.012051 134.755401 2 Radeka Downunder Underground Backpackers & Motel ( Radeka Downunder, Coober Pedy ), 1 Oliver St ( on the main street corner between the BP & Mobil Service Stations. When in town look for the Red Digital Time / Temperature Display on top of the Accommodation. ), ☏ +61 8 8672 5223 . Underground hostel. Internet available. Courtesy pickup from bus or airport. Tour of underground mines can be purchased here and if you stay two nights in private a free stargazing is included if the weather permits it. $32-125 .  
• -29.003241 134.759179 3 Lookout Cave Motel , McKenzie Close ( follow signs off Hutchison St at north end of town ). Check-in: 2PM , check-out: 10AM . Reasonably-priced underground motel, with the bonus of a lookout on the hill above. $125 . ( updated Apr 2015 )

Connect [ edit ]

Telstra and Optus have mobile phone reception in town, but not Vodafone.

Stay safe [ edit ]

There are many signs in the area warning visitors to avoid falling into an abandoned mineshaft . Never walk backwards.

Coober Pedy suffers from a high crime rate, with frequent break-ins targeting cash and alcohol. These target businesses more than tourists though, and street crime is rare.

Go next [ edit ]

You can head north along the Stuart Highway to the Red Centre .

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Your Flinders Ranges & Australian Outback Specialists

Providing personalised scenic Australian outback tour packages since 2000 !

“Outback Discovery Tour”

Coober Pedy, Lake Eyre & Wilpena Pound - 4 Day Tour - (AHT008M)

$3,985 per person (twin share) (for 2024 departures)

• 60 minute scenic flight over lake Eyre from William Creek
• Plus complimentary 2 0 min scenic flight over Wilpena Pound (subject to weather)
• 3 nights accommodation (twin/share), 
• All meals from morning tea on the first day to lunch on last day, 
• Pick up and return to your Adelaide accommodation, 
• all guided 4wd travel 

*Alcohol not included

• Departs Adelaide at 6.30am 
• Port Augusta
• Woomera (Heritage Park)
• Coober Pedy for overnight stay in underground motel
• The Breakaways and Dingo Fence (either at sunset or sunrise depending on the time of year)
• Morning walk around Coober Pedy 
• (including family run opal shop, the Umoona Opal Museum, Big Winch Lookout & Underground Catholic Church) 
• Picnic lunch at Lake Caddibarrawirracanna 
• William Creek via Anna Creek Station, the largest cattle property in the world. 
• 4WD trek to Halligan Bay on the western edge of Lake Eyre North. 
• O/night ensuite cabins at William Creek Hotel.

Day three:  

• 60 min scenic flight over Lake Eyre North 
• Oodnadatta Track
• Beresford Siding - Old Ghan History
• Bubbler and Mound Springs
• Lake Eyre South viewing point
• Farina ghost town
• Lyndhurst Ochre pits
• Parachilna Gorge
• o/night in the Wilpena Pound Resort

Day four:  

• Complimentary 2 0-minute flight around Wilpena Pound
• Ikara Flinders Ranges National Park
• Bunyeroo Gorge Scenic Drive
• Brachina Gorge Geological Trail
• Clare Valley
• Return to Adelaide

“Amazing Outback Experience”

 Coober Pedy, Lake Eyre, Arkaroola & Wilpena - 5 Day Tour - (AHT008ME)

$4,650 per person (twin share) (for 2024 departures)

• 5 hour Ridgetop Tour at Arkaroola
• 4 nights accommodation (twin/share), 
• All guided 4wd travel 
• Gammon Ranges
• Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary o/night 
• Arkaroola Ridgetop Tour - Sillers Lookout (5 hours)
• Stokes Hill Lookout

Day five:  

• Complimentary 20- minute flight around Wilpena Pound

NOTE: Tour content may change without notice due to weather conditions and the availability of accommodation. Unsealed roads in this area are impassible when wet and may be closed after heavy rain. If in the unlikely event we are unable to proceed beyond Coober Pedy, we will return via the main highway. Tour price will be adjusted accordingly. Costs extra to the Itinerary are the responsibility of clients.

Aussie Heritage Tours

Paul and Astrid Keen

Quorn, Flinders Ranges SA

Australian: Telephone: 08 8648 6655

Mobile: 0428 48 66 55

International: 

Phone: +61 8 8648 6655

Mobile: +61 428 48 66 55

Click Here to Phone us 

“Aussie Heritage Tours” 

is a product range of  

“Wallaby Tracks Adventure Tours” 

Flinders Ranges Tours

Outback Tours

Lake Eyre Tours

0461 540 154

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.

Top Tours in Coober Pedy, Australia

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• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Noble Tours Australia

2. Arid Areas Tours

3. Coober Pedy Tours

4. Oasis Tourist Park and Oasis Tours

5. Mail Run Tour

6. Follow Me DownUnder

7. Stuart Range Outback Tours

8. Big Winch 360 Circlevison Cinematic Experience

9. Outback Mail Run South Australia

What travellers are saying.

• Arid Areas Tours
• Outback Mail Run South Australia
• Noble Tours Australia
• Oasis Tourist Park and Oasis Tours
• Follow Me DownUnder
• Mail Run Tour

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• Other Local Accommodation
• Local Attractions
• Coober Pedy Opals
• Kanku Breakaways
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• 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.