Coober Pedy- Worth the trip?
 

Working on OZ trip. Coober Pedy sounds interesting. If you have been there is it worth the trip? What is the best one to get there? Should we do it independently or with a orgaanized tour? Best time of year for that area ? Understand it get very hot there, how HOT??

We spent a few days in Coober Pedy last year. It is quite interesting, in that it is the source of by far the majority of the world's gem-quality opals. It is a rough-and-ready mining town; quite gritty and not that attractive aesthetically. The mining history is colorful; the homes, shops,hotels, and churches that have been constructed underground can be fascinating. The incredibly flat and stark countryside is awesome. And, it is HOT. Temperatures exceeding 100 deg F are common, and temps of 120 degrees are not uncommon. That is why you will see so many underground homes and businesses. If you go, I would recommend taking a day tour of some mining sites and 'The Breakaways'. All in all, certainly worth the trip IF you are nearby. We were driving from Darwin to Adelaide, so it was no big deal for us - but if I had to fly or drive many hours, I'm not sure I would do it. Where will you be coming from?

ALF, not sure where we will be coming from, either Adelaide or down from Darwin/Alice Springs . We figure we will take 1 month and since my husband is not a shopper" want to see the unusual, things and destinations that we probably wouldn't see here in USA. Will spend time in Sydney and want to see GBR. We are not really hikers but like to see "natures gifts" vs. commerical stuff. Have any ideas? Out itinerary is very much still in planning stage. Probably will go in Sept/Oct. 2002 since the original time we planned was Feb 2002 and from reading other forums have reconsider time of the year due to weather in GBR & interior.

It has been a long time but I remember Coober Pedy fondly. It is one of those places that is so different from every other place I've ever seen. We camped across the street from the drive-in theater. Before the movie started, a notice came on the screen that said "No explosives allowed in the theatre." Where else would you see that? (They tend to drive around with dynamite in the back of their pickup trucks.) This was 20 years ago. Not a don't-miss, but it surely was interested.

Yeah, we stayed in that same campground a couple of years ago. I watched 'Blues Brothers 2000' without the benefit of the sound track.

ALF, thanks for the update. Is it still just red dirt and "Please do not waste water" signs in the bathhouse?

G'day Marcia, <BR>I do agree with other replies, Coober Pedy is certainly worth a stop and make that an overnight stop, sleeping underground. If you are coming south from Alice make a detour out to the Breakaways about 30 km before C.P. <BR> <BR>Coober Pedy has changed quite a lot during the past few years, kerbing and even roundabouts and general improvements to streets etc... <BR> <BR>It has become a very commercialised place. <BR> <BR>Should you have the time and enough interest in Opal then I would suggest a visit to Andamooka. It's a little south of Coober Pedy and you take the turnoff to Woomera. <BR>Andamooka was big in the 60's and very rough and it has retained much more of it's character. <BR> <BR>People I take on tours almost always agree that Andamooka was one of the highlights of their trip. <BR> <BR>Sept. / Oct. is a good time for that area although late in Oct. it can already get very hot. <BR> <BR>Enjoy your time in OZ, <BR> <BR>Mike. <BR> <BR>

Mike <BR>I understand there is a tour that you can take where you ride along with the postman to deliver his mail to the cattle and sheep ranches, outback & etc. Are you familar with it? We like to see and do different things and it sounded interesting. Also, we plan to be coming from Cairns to Darwin, then to Alice on to Ayers Rock. Will probably be flying. What is our best way to get to Coober Pedy from there? From there planned to go to Melbourne, but other say I need to first go to Adelaide. Any help is appreciated. Marcia

Marcia, last year we stayed at Coober Pedy and also went on a 4 day camel trek just north of William Creek. <BR>If you would like to see photos of the areas here are the URLs <BR>Coober Pedy - http://albums.photopoint.com/j/Album...3732&a=6951400 <BR>Camel Trek - http://albums.photopoint.com/j/Album...3732&a=6939408 <BR>regards <BR>Maggie

We visited Coober Pedy in April of this year and it turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip. We took the Ghan from Alice Springs to Manguri which is 33kms from Coober Pedy. When the train stopped to let us off there there was nothing but a post marking where the train should stop and it was 8 p.m. so VERY dark. However we were met by a very affable host named John, who immediately announced that he was here to take us to Coober Pedy and had a champagne reception waiting in the back of his van!! Seeing the tens of million stars (Southern Cross, Milky Way etc) in this true Outback and enjoying a glass of champagne will be something we will never forget. We stayed at the Desert Cave Hotel which was underground and first class. A guided tour the next morning took us on a tour of the town, underground home,Opal mine and fields, The Breakaways, Moon Plain and Dog Fences. We flew to Adelaide with Kendell Airlines. We booked it through a travel agency here in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Don't miss it!!

Re Coober Pedy - make sure you do a tour of the town which will take you into underground houses, churches etc. <BR>Check out the golf course - has to be seen to be believed. <BR>

Especially when the 'greens' have just been re-oiled!