Fun And Unique Things to do in Coober Pedy

["https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FWJ36krSB8e43i7HnphBw%2FExample%201.png?alt=media&token=00c2d652-0c3f-43e2-95bb-02d66a6492f4","https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FWJ36krSB8e43i7HnphBw%2F2.png?alt=media&token=eb11126d-6246-4cad-b97b-1d27ed204b29","https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FWJ36krSB8e43i7HnphBw%2F3.png?alt=media&token=c1eea62e-f5a7-49e8-b768-105022d1240a","https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FWJ36krSB8e43i7HnphBw%2F4.png?alt=media&token=5f2d7602-f952-4944-abfb-7ed2b6135347"]

[{"address":"Crocodile Harry's Underground Nest & Dugout","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.10218818160659443,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-28.983058458796435,"longitude":134.70043669999998},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# Visit The Home of Crocodile Harry\nAs I said, Coober Pedy is a good place to head if you’re an eccentric type – and Crocodile Harry definitely fitted the bill.\nThe Latvian ex-crocodile hunter moved to Coober Pedy to search for opals and while he was here managed to create quite the unique place to live – and it’s now turned into one of the top Coober Pedy attractions.\nHis home, dug out into a large cliff face, just outside of town is a real passion project with treasures he collected (or, depending on your perspective, a heap of junk) balanced on every conceivable surface and stuck to the walls and ceiling. The tat has been joined by drawings, graffiti- and a lot of statues of ladies with huge boobs.\n\nIf you want to read more about Harry, or see more pictures of the house, then check out my larger post on it here.\n\nThe house is located at the end of Seventeen Mile Road and really does need to be seen, you can spend over an hour in there spotting tiny details. It is a dirt road some of the way there so drive carefully.\n\nIf you want more odd underground homes, also visit Faye’s Underground House. It was closed when we were there so we didn’t get to go in but not only is it underground – it has a swimming pool inside! Definitely on the unique things to do in Coober Pedy list!"},{"type":"img","content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FWJ36krSB8e43i7HnphBw%2F1.webp?alt=media&token=36f1cd05-e114-4844-a21f-806098e82813"},{"type":"link","content":"https://goo.gl/maps/nJKE83pQaG25RjiV6"}]},{"address":"Stuart Highway","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.10218818160659443,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-29.013703608807543,"longitude":134.7178206},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# Visit the Amazing Breakaways\nYou’ll find these stunning rock formations about a 30-minute drive out of town.\nThey are basically what’s left of an inland sea that used to cover much of the middle of Australia and the colours left in the sediment combined with the sheer scale of the place takes your breath away.\n\nIf you don’t have a car, you can easily book tours of the Breakaways in town or if you’d prefer to book in advance, Noble Tour’s Coober Pedy Experience takes you to some of the sights around town and then out to The Breakaways, complete with a glass of fizz when you get there.\n\nSee more about the tour and make a booking here.\n\nThe benefit of taking a tour is that you’ll also learn more about the different formations you see and their significance to the local people\n"},{"type":"img","content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FWJ36krSB8e43i7HnphBw%2F14.webp?alt=media&token=22f40498-19c9-48f7-87fa-313166c08c29"},{"type":"link","content":"https://outdoorsplanner.com.au/south-australia/breakaways/"}]},{"address":"Coober Pedy Drive In","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.10218818160659443,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-29.006055308804786,"longitude":134.75646559999998},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# Go See a Drive-in Movie\nIf you’re wondering what to do in Coober Pedy at night – and you’re in town on a Saturday – the answer might be head to the drive-in on Hutchinson Street.\nIt’s infamous for it’s ‘no explosives allowed’ sign which sounds amusing until you realise that one of the ways the opal miners open up holes to search for new seams of opals is to blast big holes in the earth – and they have to get those explosives from A-B somehow!\n\nYou can check out what movie is showing here and if you don’t have a car, don’t worry they let you walk in too.\n\nThey close during very hot summer months so if you’re travelling between mid-Dec and February you might be unlucky, but check the site for details.\n"},{"type":"img","content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FWJ36krSB8e43i7HnphBw%2F9.webp?alt=media&token=d4988d84-dc26-4eaa-a4b9-fd0e1240a34f"},{"type":"link","content":"http://www.cooberpedydrivein.org.au/"}]},{"address":"Josephine's Gallery and Kangaroo orphanage","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.10218818160659443,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-29.00708465880516,"longitude":134.75605805},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# Meet Bella, the Clever Kangaroo\nJosephine’s Gallery on Hutchinson’s Road is an art gallery selling work by indigenous artists including many who live nearby in and around Coober Pedy; but, it’s also home to a small sanctuary for rescued kangaroos – including a very special one called Bella.\nBella had been living at the sanctuary for a while when she started acting weirdly, licking the same spot on Josephine’s arm over and over again.\n\nAfter a month of this odd behaviour, Josephine decided that maybe Bella might be trying to tell her something so she went to the doctor – and sure enough, the spots were cancerous and had to be removed.\n\nNot surprisingly, Bella is now even more special to Josephine and her husband Terry – and when you visit you get to feed her her favourite treats – wasabi peas. That’s what she’s poking her nose out for in the pic above!\nExactly how many roos will be there when you visit varies, but if you’re lucky you’ll get up and close with a joey as we did. Look at that face!\n\nYou can only visit the roos during feeding time at 12 and 5.30."},{"type":"img","content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FWJ36krSB8e43i7HnphBw%2F2.webp?alt=media&token=e9f41cbb-36e8-4a77-8f10-5d05fd4fad72"},{"type":"link","content":"https://www.facebook.com/people/JOSEPHINES-GALLERY-KANGAROO-ORPHANAGE/100057185211128/"}]},{"address":"Hutchison Street","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.10218818160659443,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-29.008910508805805,"longitude":134.75579630000001},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# Talking of Spaceships\nThere’s one ‘crashed’ in Hutchinson Street.\n\nBecause of its other-worldly appearance, Coober Pedy appears as a backdrop in a lot of movies including Max Max III (which also features Crocodile Harry’s house) and Pitch Black – and the team on this movie left their spaceship in the town high street after filming.\nIt’s just one of the odd things the various opal shops and attractions have dotted around their gardens in an attempt to attract the attention of shoppers – also keep an eye out for Opal Bug here.\n\nOther cool things around town include The Big Winch – it’s not much to look at but it let’s you tick off another item on the iconic Australian Big things list.\n\nAnd the Coober Pedy sign which looks a bit like the Hollywood sign.\n\nNote: You can’t get a picture with the sign, it’s on private property and there’s lots of signs suggesting you don’t go down there! There is a quite interesting garden up by the entrance though.\n"},{"type":"img","content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FWJ36krSB8e43i7HnphBw%2F5.webp?alt=media&token=ac91513c-f8c3-4884-ab72-d8b634ae8e8c"},{"type":"img","content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FWJ36krSB8e43i7HnphBw%2F5.1.webp?alt=media&token=504b6b8f-b47b-405c-b118-83227bec668b"},{"type":"link","content":"https://goo.gl/maps/3AiezAzBABDvbPn87"}]},{"address":"John's Pizza Bar & Restaurant","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.10218818160659443,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-29.010733458806474,"longitude":134.75523065000002},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# Eat a Coat of Arms Pizza at Johns\nIf you’re wondering what to do in Coober Pedy at nigh\nIt’s a simple pizza and pasta joint with indoor and outdoor seating but it’s most famous for it’s Coat of Arms pizza which contains kangaroo and emu – the two animals on the Australian coat of arms.\n\nAdmittedly after meeting Bella, I couldn’t quite indulge so mine was bacon, olives and peppers!\n\nJohn’s is open seven days a week form 10 to ‘late’ – although late can mean closed by 10 pm when the town is quiet so do check if you’re planning on a few drinks before you eat.\n\nIf you’re looking for other restaurants in Coober Pedy to check out, we also went to the Outback Bar and Grill which you might not think would be a good choice as it’s basically a restaurant in the gas station – but, it’s incredibly popular with the locals, has huge portions – and the lasagna was pretty good.\n\nWe’d have liked to try the RSL but it’s only open on a Sunday. It’s pretty unique though.\n\nFor breakfast, The Downunder Cafe and Gallery comes out top for reviews.l"},{"type":"img","content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FWJ36krSB8e43i7HnphBw%2F10.webp?alt=media&token=3f81db32-c66e-4bd4-8cdf-8de6dc27de05"},{"type":"link","content":"https://goo.gl/maps/VaLt9oGe9rQynPH28"}]},{"address":"Desert Cave Hotel","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.10218818160659443,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-29.01065180880646,"longitude":134.75450615000005},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# Drink in an Underground Bar\nAs we said if you want to sip your beer with a view, go to the Italian Miner’s Club but, if you want completely the opposite experience visit the underground bar at the Desert Cave Hotel.\nWe were there about 8 pm on a Saturday night and it was fairly quiet, but apparently it does get really busy – and the ‘drinking underground’ thing doesn’t get old"},{"type":"img","content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FWJ36krSB8e43i7HnphBw%2F11.webp?alt=media&token=f674540e-a444-4952-b78c-d2c432fbe1f2"},{"type":"link","content":"https://g.page/desertcave?share"}]},{"address":"Desert Cave Hotel","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.10218818160659443,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-29.01065180880646,"longitude":134.75450615000005},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# Sleep in an Underground Hotel\nBeing able to sleep underground was one of my other must-dos in Coober Pedy – and we choose the Desert Cave Hotel as our sleep spot.\nThe Boyfriend was in his element- the walls are thick so you don’t hear other people, it’s pitch black in there at night (I had to use my phone light to find the loo) and it doesn’t need airconditioning.\n\nWe picked the Desert Cave as it had a bar on-site, was walking distance to John’s Pizza and The Miner’s Club and had a small pool to cool off in, but there’s a heap of other underground hotels in Coober Pedy to choose from – check out our full review of the Desert Cave and a list of other underground hotel suggestions here.\n\nOr, if you like the sound of the Desert Cave already, check out prices and availability here.\n\nYou can also find underground houses on Airbnb if you really want the authentic underground living experience"},{"type":"img","content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FWJ36krSB8e43i7HnphBw%2F12.webp?alt=media&token=0966efd3-3872-4134-a0ad-9f0aca14db74"},{"type":"link","content":"https://g.page/desertcave?share"}]},{"address":"Italian Club Road","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.10218818160659443,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-29.0116406088068,"longitude":134.75825840000005},"media":[{"type":"img","content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FWJ36krSB8e43i7HnphBw%2F4.webp?alt=media&token=11210a3b-7be0-4ab3-b66e-5b84374440df"},{"type":"text","content":"# Find the Spaceship House\nOn a piece of land next to the Miners Club, you’ll find the remnants of a really cool looking house. It reminded us of the UFO-style Futuro Houses we visited in Taiwan, but this wasn’t made of plastic – nor was it on legs.\nIt turns out it was built by some guys living in the town who hoped it would be a really cool bachelor pad, but they ran out of money before they could finish it. Apparently, it also goes underground.\n\nIt was for sale when we were there. If you’re interested, have a word with the barman at the Miner’s Club!"},{"type":"link","content":"https://goo.gl/maps/qoQYbPfUVMNobQ8E9"}]},{"address":"Italian Club Road","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.10218818160659443,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-29.0116406088068,"longitude":134.75825840000005},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# Look Out for the Priscilla Bus\nWe met the owners of this bright pink bus at the Italian Miners club and they invited us to go check it out the next day at their home near the Serbian Church.\n\nSome scenes in Priscilla Queen of the Desert were filmed in Coober Pedy – although admittedly, the town doesn’t come off well as it’s where flamboyant young drag queen Felicia gets beaten up!\n\nThis bus was used for some interior scenes and the owners are restoring it to look exactly like the bus in the film. Including saving up a for a bigger, more show-stopping shoe on the top.\nIts official role is as a mobile opal shop and so you might find it parked at the top end of town during the day- especially on a Friday when The Ghan train brings more tourists to town (see below).\n\nIf not, keep your eye out as you head to the church and you might glimpse it parked up at home (if you do, don’t forget it’s on private property, so don’t go exploring, just admire for a distance)."},{"type":"img","content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FWJ36krSB8e43i7HnphBw%2F8.webp?alt=media&token=37659aa9-87f8-4b03-9c0f-9e3d76360cf0"},{"type":"link","content":"https://goo.gl/maps/oe6dui4nm71AqLvN7"}]},{"address":"Boot Hill Road","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.10218818160659443,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-29.020924308810134,"longitude":134.76497249999997},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# Go the Cemetery\nI like cemeteries and graveyards – partly because I like to be scared by ghost stories, but also because I find the designs of gravestones oddly fascinating – and there are some doozies in Boothill Cemetery in Coober Pedy.\nTo read the stories of some of the most interesting (like the beer keg above), check out this post on the Quirky Gravestones of Boothill – or just go and see what you can spot."},{"type":"img","content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FWJ36krSB8e43i7HnphBw%2F6.webp?alt=media&token=1e1392b9-1316-47d6-ae5c-3e9e81ff0782"},{"type":"link","content":"https://goo.gl/maps/DNaSFzakLjXXgMVA6"}]},{"address":"Serbian Orthodox Church","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.10218818160659443,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-29.012867758807236,"longitude":134.77377505},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# Find Religion\nThere are a lot of different nationalities in Coober Pedy and a lot of different churches catering to their various religions – many of which are dug underground.\nMost ornate is the Serbian Orthodox Church on Potch Gulley Road (above). This was the church I saw in that picture way back when and it’s just stunning.\n\nBut also check out the Catacomb Church and the Catholic Church. They aren’t quite as jaw-dropping but they’re still beautiful.\n"},{"type":"img","content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FWJ36krSB8e43i7HnphBw%2F7.webp?alt=media&token=4e16d461-8fbc-4bd6-8f71-679f3c1d6163"},{"type":"link","content":"https://goo.gl/maps/6if62JmoScp2QsYE7"},{"type":"img","content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FWJ36krSB8e43i7HnphBw%2F7.1.webp?alt=media&token=9f6a03a9-5513-45e1-9e1b-4e847886c360"}]},{"address":"Coober Pedy","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.10218818160659443,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-29.008336604926857,"longitude":134.8212117543028},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# Spot The Orange Flash\nThe Italian Club located high on the hill above town is a great place to grab an evening drink in Coober Pedy – and it’s also one of the best places from which to see the sunset.\n\nHowever, don’t make your way into the bar for a top-up too soon after it dips behind the hill – the barman told us that some nights after it looks like sunset is over, the whole sky lights up with an amazing orange glow.\nWe weren’t lucky enough to see it on our trip, but we did see didn’t exactly suck!"},{"type":"img","content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FWJ36krSB8e43i7HnphBw%2F3.webp?alt=media&token=496e656f-ead6-4054-8cf8-9b8049d1e223"},{"type":"link","content":"https://southaustralia.com/travel-blog/best-experiences-in-coober-pedy"}]},{"address":"Coober Pedy","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.10218818160659443,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-29.008336604926857,"longitude":134.8212117543028},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# Check out the Golf Course\nIt’s definitely one of the world’s most unique!\n\nPretty much covered in sand, you’re given your own patch of turf to carry around and tee off from!\nKeep your eyes peeled when you lay it down though as some players have found opal while hitting a round or two.\n\nIf you do want to play check their website for where to book (green fees are $10 and you can hire clubs) and also details of their Friday and Sunday events."},{"type":"img","content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FWJ36krSB8e43i7HnphBw%2F13.jpg?alt=media&token=dec5cefc-b681-4f16-8622-2919bfd728b8"},{"type":"link","content":"https://goo.gl/maps/kGA5tinsx9WfZNQ96"}]},{"address":"Coober Pedy","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.10218818160659443,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-29.008336604926857,"longitude":134.8212117543028},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# See The Dog Fence\nOkay, so it’s probably not going to win you hundreds of Instagram followers for its appearance, but this fence that stretches along the states of Queensland and South Australia is the longest fence in the world spanning over 5000km, so it gets top points for quirk factor.\nIt was built in the 1800s to try and keep dingos from entering South-east Australia and as well as the fence you can see above ground, it’s also buried 30cm underground so the dogs can’t dig their way under.\n\nIt’s not perfect, the odd dingo does still get through but generally, it’s pretty effective at its job and definitely one of the more unusual things to see in Coober Pedy.\n"},{"type":"img","content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FWJ36krSB8e43i7HnphBw%2F15.webp?alt=media&token=26841799-7c74-4a45-b54f-9c0112bb95a2"},{"type":"link","content":"https://goo.gl/maps/gqKEsQAU5X5NCUrq7"},{"type":"img","content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FWJ36krSB8e43i7HnphBw%2F15.1.webp?alt=media&token=55e07afa-14a5-4d40-875a-d8f487856989"}]},{"address":"Coober Pedy","location":{"longitudeDelta":0.10218818160659443,"latitudeDelta":0.09219986310369421,"latitude":-29.008336604926857,"longitude":134.8212117543028},"media":[{"type":"text","content":"# Visit an Underground House\nAround 70 percent of the population of Coober Pedy live underground in houses that can stretch hundreds of metres into the cliffs.\n\nThere used to be a few different underground homes you could visit in Coober Pedy, but when we were there most seemed to be closed – however, we did get taken into a dugout as part of the Uumona Opal Mine Tour on Hutchinson Street.\nThis starts with a short talk about opals (and how to spot a good one should you want to go shopping while you’re on town) and then shows you the cool residence of an old miner on the property.\n"},{"type":"img","content":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/freeguides-prod.appspot.com/o/assets%2Ftours%2FWJ36krSB8e43i7HnphBw%2F16.webp?alt=media&token=70ac839d-c6cf-4d12-aaa5-368addbeabe4"},{"type":"link","content":"https://g.page/desertcave?share"}]}]