Overview
Coober Pedy is the opal capital of the world, a remote outback town 846 km north of Adelaide on the Stuart Highway. Most residents live underground in cave homes bored into hillsides to escape extreme summer temperatures that make surface living require constant air conditioning.
Architecture · Budget Travel · Day Trips · History · Nature
Before you go
Connectivity
Telstra and Optus have reception; Vodafone does not. WiFi available at some accommodations.
Culture
Coober Pedy is a dry town with strict alcohol sales restrictions: no sales before midday, one purchase per day, one bottle of wine per person daily.
Money
ATMs are available in town; bring sufficient cash as break-ins are common and businesses may have limited cash on hand.
Safety
Never wander among old mine workings; abandoned shafts are hazardous. Town has high break-in rate targeting cash and alcohol.
Transport
Stuart Highway runs through town; fuel costs 30c/litre more than coastal prices. Town is walkable but extreme heat makes midday walking difficult.
Weather
Extreme summer heat makes underground living attractive. Surface activities require air conditioning; avoid midday sun exposure.