2 Best Hotels in Coober Pedy, South Australia

This underground hotel presents a contemporary, blocky face to the desert town. In the 19 spacious, subsurface rooms, white and dark-blue duvets complement and contrast the red-striated rock walls that protect sleepers from sound and heat. Aboveground rooms are also available. The hotel offers daily tours of the town and surrounding sights including the spectacular and hard to reach Painted Desert. Perched atop the hotel, Umberto's restaurant  is named after the hotel's founding developer and is Coober Pedy's most urbane dining establishment. The Modern Australian menu takes you from the Outback (e.g., oven-baked kangaroo loin with grilled figs) to the sea (e.g., lemon sole). There is also an underground café and bar.

The Breakaways sometimes seem close enough to touch at this hilltop motel, where you can lounge on a veranda watching the sun set on the rock formations 30 km (19 miles) across the desert. Each room is uniquely shaped, comfortably furnished, and decorated with Aboriginal designs. Two secluded suites have kitchenette facilities, and main rooms share a communal kitchen.