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Fossicking for opal gemstones—locally called noodling—requires no permit at the Jewellers Shop mining area at the edge of town. Take care in unmarked areas, and always watch your step, as the area is littered with abandoned opal mines down which you might fall. (Working mines are off-limits to visitors.)
Although most of Coober Pedy's devotions are decidedly material in nature, the town does have its share of spiritual houses of worship. In keeping with the town's layout, they, too, are underground. St. Peter and St. Paul's Catholic Church is a National Heritage–listed building, and the Anglican Catacomb Church is notable for its altar fashioned from a windlass (a winch) and lectern made from a log of mulga wood. The Serbian Orthodox Church is striking, with its scalloped ceiling, rock-carved icons, and brilliant stained-glass windows.
This 12-hour, 600-km (372-mile) tour through the Outback (A$340) is one of the most unusual experiences anywhere, with stops at outback cattle stations, bush pubs, and the world's longest man-made structure, the Dingo Fence. Tours (maximum of four people per tour; price is per person) depart Monday and Thursday at 8:45 am.
This is an enormous underground complex with an original mine, a noteworthy video on the history of opal mining, exhibits examining the Indigenous and European history of the region, and examples of underground bunk camping and cooking facilities. Learn about the story of opal, different types and qualities of opal, examples of hand-dug and modern dugouts, and the experience of living underground. Guided tours of the mine (A$13) are available at 10, 2, and 4 daily. There is also an opal shop and museum with noteworthy opals and fossils that are free to view.
This striking series of buttes and jagged hills centered on the Moon Plain is of great cultural and spiritual significance to the traditional owners but to the untrained eye is reminiscent of most spectacular parts of the American West. There are fossils and patches of petrified forest in this strange landscape, which has appealed to makers of apocalyptic films; Mad Max 3—Beyond Thunderdome was filmed here, as was Ground Zero. The scenery is especially evocative early in the morning or at sunset when the colors come alive, and can get very windy so be sure to bring appropriate clothing. Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park is 30 km (19 miles) northeast of Coober Pedy.
Permits to explore the area cost A$10 per vehicle and can be purchased at the Coober Pedy Tourist Information Centre in the District Council Office on Hutchinson Street or from Underground Books.
This is a genuine opal mine turned into a museum. Two fully furnished underground houses give some idea of what an opal miner’s life must have been like, while mining memorabilia is exhibited in an extensive network of hand-dug tunnels and shafts. Self-guided tours include the chance to noodle in nearby pits and see a selection of valuable opals under natural and UV light.
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