Coober Pedy is a unique town located in the middle of South Australia, known for its opal mines and underground houses. It was colonised by opal hunters, who drilled mines to extract the opals they found, and who discovered that the temperature underground was much more pleasant than the temperatures aboveground, which are searing during the day and freezing at night. In contrast, underground the temperature is a stable 26°C. Building houses underground also saved the cost and hassle of transporting building materials, and now most of the town’s inhabitants live in underground caves.

While in Coober Pedy, a visit to one of the opal mines is a must, and there are plenty to choose from. The Old Timers Mine gives an insight into what it must have been like to work in the original mines, with low ceilings and dark passageways. You’re given a map and left to explore for yourself, looking stylish in your hard hat, and afterwards you can try your hand at noodling (looking for opal in a pile of rocks) in the pit outside.

For more on Australia, check out our Australia country page.

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This article was written by Linda Martin

Linda Martin is a self-confessed word geek, Spanish addict and world traveller. She and Craig have been travelling full-time for six years, taking in parts of Europe, Asia, Australia and South America. She's currently in A Coruña, Spain.