Coober Pedy




Coober Pedy is the “opal capital of the world” because of the quantity of precious opals that are mined there.There are several mines and manmade caves beneath the town where the opals are procured. It is also famous for most of the residents living below ground, mostly in old mines refurbished, due to the scorching daytime heat. The name 'Coober Pedy' comes from the local Aboriginal term kupa-piti, which means 'whitemans hole' 'waterhole'.



Opalized mollusc shell from a Coober Pedy mine



Coober Pedy is a very small town in northern South Australia, 846 kilometers north of Adelaide on the Stuart Highway. At the 2006 census its population was 1,916 (1,084 males, 832 females).

Interesting attractions in Coober Pedy include the mines, the graveyard, and the underground churches. The first tree ever seen in the town was welded together from scrap iron. It still sits on a hilltop overlooking the town. The local golf course - mostly played at night with glowing balls, to avoid daytime temperatures - is completely free of grass, and golfers take a small piece of "turf" around to use for teeing off.

More about this interesting place.