Explore Coober Pedy

Coober Pedy is an ‘underground’ town where you could arrive with just the shirt on your back and leave a millionaire.

Tour the town and hear about its history. See the Serbian Orthodox Church, built underground with rock carvings in the walls, high roof ‘ballroom’ style design and stained glass windows making this one of Coober Pedy’s most awe inspiring structures.

Visit Umoona Opal Mine and Museum, an underground museum with detailed historical content of the town, an Aboriginal Interpretive Centre, an underground home known as a ‘dugout’ and an original opal mine. Should you wish, some professional advice is available on opal quality and pricing in the gift shop.

Visit the grassless golf course, the only golf club with reciprocal playing rights to St Andrews in Scotland. See a working opal field at the Quest Opal Mine where there is the chance to don a hard hat and grab a pick to try your luck at finding your own fortune. Here you will enjoy lunch.

With your fortune stored safely in your pocket, travel along a portion of The Dog Fence, the longest continual construction in the world. Stretching some 5,300 kilometres, it begins east of Surfers Paradise in Queensland and ends up north of Ceduna in the Great Australian Bight, South Australia.

Stop en route for a great photo opportunity before arriving at The Breakaways, a striking example of arid scenery. Looking out over the Breakaways it is hard to believe that a vast inland sea covered the area. Marvel at the scenery that stretches as far as the eye can see.

Recommended Fitness Level: Moderate to high – stairs, steep inclines, short walks and navigating underground tunnels required.