Coober Pedy, South Australia.
- By nadia clancy
- Published 29th August, 2011
- Adventure
-
Rating:
Coober Pedy, South Australia.
The central part of Australia is an intense place. The harsh climatic conditions and blistering dry sun have shaped a desert landscape in which only the toughest can survive. Yet there is rather something about these deserts that is very beguiling, something that is calling out to the tourists in ever growing numbers. Find out what it is, book cheap flights to South Australia and experience the exhilaration yourself.
A great deal has to do with their stark exquisiteness- strange geological formation along with even weirder animals complement the sparse shrubbery and wide open spaces. The outcome is an ethereal place where one cannot help but feel disconnected from the hustle and bustle of contemporary day life. Rarer is becoming the opportunity for solitude in today’s world , and countless are willing to face the heat and the extreme conditions of deserts just to in order to stumble upon some peace. One modest outback town of South Australia comprising of 3500 inhabitants is Coober Pedy, a usual tourist fixture.
Situated at 846 kilometers on Adelaide’s north and 645 kilometers at Alice Spring’s south, a hefty part of your campervan hire trip in Coober Pedy is going to entail getting to the town. This tour should not be taken lightly; rather travelling through the outback requires preparation and care. Once you set foot in this unique town, all the effort will seem worthwhile. It is famously known as the World’s opal capital since 70 per cent of the opals are found here. The town appears to be some type of lunar landscape owing to the eighty years of on and off mining, with mullock heaps and mine spread around its surface.
It is not what lies on but beneath the surface that gives Coober Pedy its unique essence. Temperatures reaching over 50 degrees have coerced people to reside underground, and approximately 80 per cent of the inhabitants live in houses that are dug into the ground. Affectionately known as 'dugouts', they encompass all the modern amenities you would expect to find in any other normal house, costing a fraction of the price. The real rationale for their existence is that it is more comfortable and cooler due to the insulation. It is an idea you won’t come across anywhere else in the country of Australia. Particularly apt ‘Kura Piti’ is the Aboriginal name for Coober Pedy, since it means 'White Mans Burrow'.
Not only are the houses built underground, a lot of the main town attractions of the town are situated there too. A prestigious accommodation is Desert Cave in Coober Pedy, and is definitely worth spending a few nights in a hotel that is underground. This place also consists of the only gaming room and bar constructed underneath the surface of the earth. Furthermore, there is an exhibition of artifacts and photographs that pay acknowledgment to the early settlers and the encountered hardships in the region. This doesn’t end here, there also exists an art gallery underground, where some of the best artists of central Australia show case their work. It also has a astounding gem stone collection.
It is essential to take a tour of the mine to an actual feel for this town as well as its opal culture. The Umoona Museum and Opal Mine is surely one of the premier attractions. Relaxed and friendly attitude of the locals prevail this town. For such a tiny town there is a far-fetched ethnic assortment, with nationalities over 45 being represented here. Thus spreading its allure is the general vibe of acceptance and tolerance which instantly rubs off on tourists, who are welcomed with arms wide open.
A great deal has to do with their stark exquisiteness- strange geological formation along with even weirder animals complement the sparse shrubbery and wide open spaces. The outcome is an ethereal place where one cannot help but feel disconnected from the hustle and bustle of contemporary day life. Rarer is becoming the opportunity for solitude in today’s world , and countless are willing to face the heat and the extreme conditions of deserts just to in order to stumble upon some peace. One modest outback town of South Australia comprising of 3500 inhabitants is Coober Pedy, a usual tourist fixture.
Situated at 846 kilometers on Adelaide’s north and 645 kilometers at Alice Spring’s south, a hefty part of your campervan hire trip in Coober Pedy is going to entail getting to the town. This tour should not be taken lightly; rather travelling through the outback requires preparation and care. Once you set foot in this unique town, all the effort will seem worthwhile. It is famously known as the World’s opal capital since 70 per cent of the opals are found here. The town appears to be some type of lunar landscape owing to the eighty years of on and off mining, with mullock heaps and mine spread around its surface.
It is not what lies on but beneath the surface that gives Coober Pedy its unique essence. Temperatures reaching over 50 degrees have coerced people to reside underground, and approximately 80 per cent of the inhabitants live in houses that are dug into the ground. Affectionately known as 'dugouts', they encompass all the modern amenities you would expect to find in any other normal house, costing a fraction of the price. The real rationale for their existence is that it is more comfortable and cooler due to the insulation. It is an idea you won’t come across anywhere else in the country of Australia. Particularly apt ‘Kura Piti’ is the Aboriginal name for Coober Pedy, since it means 'White Mans Burrow'.
Not only are the houses built underground, a lot of the main town attractions of the town are situated there too. A prestigious accommodation is Desert Cave in Coober Pedy, and is definitely worth spending a few nights in a hotel that is underground. This place also consists of the only gaming room and bar constructed underneath the surface of the earth. Furthermore, there is an exhibition of artifacts and photographs that pay acknowledgment to the early settlers and the encountered hardships in the region. This doesn’t end here, there also exists an art gallery underground, where some of the best artists of central Australia show case their work. It also has a astounding gem stone collection.
It is essential to take a tour of the mine to an actual feel for this town as well as its opal culture. The Umoona Museum and Opal Mine is surely one of the premier attractions. Relaxed and friendly attitude of the locals prevail this town. For such a tiny town there is a far-fetched ethnic assortment, with nationalities over 45 being represented here. Thus spreading its allure is the general vibe of acceptance and tolerance which instantly rubs off on tourists, who are welcomed with arms wide open.
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1 Response to "Coober Pedy, South Australia." 
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said this on 02 Sep 2011 5:05:53 PM PDT
I have been to Coober Ped
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