Coober Pedy is an opal town in the middle of the Outback where many people live underground because of the heat — churches, hotels and even a campground are dug into the rock. A stop on the way from Adelaide to Uluru. Here you'll find all the checked spots from our map with tips.
Coober Pedy lies on the Stuart Highway between Adelaide and Alice Springs, about nine hours from Adelaide. Coaches stop in town, and there's a small airport too. The route is part of the Explorer's Way road trip.
Only travel in the cooler half of the year, from April to October. In summer temperatures often climb above 40 °C and Coober Pedy is barely bearable — which is why people live underground.
You pitch your tent in an old mine tunnel — cool even when it's 45 degrees outside. One of the most unusual places to sleep in Australia.
A former opal mine from the 1960s, now a motel with underground dorms, a shared kitchen and a bar. Cheap and typical Coober Pedy.
Because of the heat, many people in Coober Pedy live underground in so-called dugouts — churches, hotels and shops are dug into the rock too. Below ground it stays pleasantly cool all year. Spend at least one night in a dugout hotel.
Colourful mesas in the desert, about 30 kilometres north of town. At sunset the colours glow the most. You need a permit beforehand, available in town.
A mine with a museum on the history of opal mining and life underground. Entry fee; ideal for understanding the town.
An underground church dug into the sandstone, with reliefs carved into the walls. Small entry fee; quietest in the morning.
Thousands of mullock heaps around town bear witness to opal mining. Don't wander through the fields on your own — note the warning below.
Safety: The opal fields are full of open, unmarked shafts, often many metres deep. Stay on the paths and never walk backwards.
A pizzeria on the main street, one of the few places in town for dinner.
Because of the heat: in summer temperatures often climb above 40 °C, while underground it stays cool all year.
Yes, in dugout hotels, hostels like Radeka Downunder or at the underground campground.
Yes, there are open, unmarked shafts. Stay on the paths and never walk backwards.
All spots on the Coober Pedy map. Nearby: Adelaide to the south and Uluru to the north. The whole route on the Explorer's Way road trip.
Updated September 2026. Checked against official sources and operator websites. Prices, opening hours and seasons change — check before you go.