Around 150 million years ago, Coober Pedy was covered by the ocean.
When the water receded, it left behind sandy silica minerals that seeped into rocky cracks in the seabed, eventually forming into opals. Today, this South Australian town is known as the opal capital of the world, and visitors are welcome to try their hand at noodling for these small precious gems.
At the free noodling pit, visitors can search through mullock piles: heaps of discarded rocks and dirt from mining activities. Many people have been known to find opals, with amateur fossickers spending hours sifting through the sand.
The Old Timers Mine is the perfect place to learn more about the mining history of this town, running self-guided tours of an original 1916 opal mine, museum and historic underground home. Use UV lights to admire the bigger opals, and see some of the first opals found by Willie Hutchison in 1915.
History buffs will also be fascinated by a trip to Boot Hill, a land mass dotted with tombstones dating back to the 1970s. One of the most photographed headstones belongs to miner Karl Bratz. Made from an 18-gallon beer keg, the epitaph reads “Have a drink on me!”
For views over the desert, head to the Big Winch Lookout – an 8 metre high structure built in the 1970s. Atop a sandy hill, the Big Winch looks out over the red desert and is an incredible place to catch the sunset. For another unique experience, trek to the Dog Fence, a 2 metre high wire barrier that stretches a whopping 9,600 kilometres from Surfers Paradise in Queensland all the way to Western Australia.
A short distance from Coober Pedy, you will find the Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park. Covering almost 15,000 hectares, this arid park is home to almost 60 native flora species, and wildlife including red kangaroos, echidnas, birds and fat-tailed dunnarts. Several tour companies operate in the area, including Noble Tours Australia. The entire park is an Aboriginal Heritage site, and contains a rich history. It is known for its spectacular colour hills and gibber-covered plain, known locally as the “moon plain.”
If you don’t manage to find your own opal while noodling, never fear, as there are stores in town where you can choose your own gem.
Can’t get enough of all the wonderful things to do in Coober Pedy? To read about the best places to eat and drink in Coober Pedy, click here.
