Coober Pedy
Discover Coober Pedy
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. 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.
What to Experience in Coober Pedy
Taste of Coober Pedy...
Many restaurants are located underground. The Opal Inn serves many tourists with unique food. There is the Opal Inn, the Desert Cave Hotel, the licensed restaurants and bottle shops next to 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. Telstra and Optus have mobile phone reception in town, but not Vodafone. 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. Beware of the high temperatures, especially in summer. If you're not used to hot temperatures, pace yourself and reduce your time in sunlight. You can head north along the Stuart Highway to the Red Centre.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsRegional Express flies between Adelaide and Coober Pedy three times per week using turboprop aircraft. Fares start at $300 for the 2-hour flight. 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. 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. 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....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
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. Some of the interesting attractions in Coober Pedy include: 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. 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.
Where to Stay
Telstra and Optus have mobile phone reception in town, but not Vodafone. 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. Beware of the high temperatures, especially in summer. If you're not used to hot temperatures, pace yourself and reduce your time in sunlight. You can head north along the Stuart Highway to the Red Centre.
Money & Budget
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. Many restaurants are located underground. The Opal Inn serves many tourists with unique food.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
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. Beware of the high temperatures, especially in summer. If you're not used to hot temperatures, pace yourself and reduce your time in sunlight. You can head north along the Stuart Highway to the Red Centre.
Glimpses of Coober Pedy
a large desert landscape
a desert landscape with a hill in the distance
a train traveling through a desert
Mounds of loose stones left over from opal mining operations in South Australia's Coober Pedy region.
Girls Holding hands at Sunrise
the sun is setting in the distance over the desert
a view of a desert with a moon in the sky
a view of a desert with a moon in the sky
An old car rusts in the Coober Pedy desert in South Australia.
a desert landscape with a moon in the sky
a large desert landscape
a desert landscape with a hill in the distance
a train traveling through a desert