Desert Cave Cooper Pedy, SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Airing Date: Feb 28th, 2005
Coober Pedy is 850km north of Adelaide and 680km south of Alice Springs. It makes an ideal stopover for travellers on the Stuart Highway between Adelaide and Alice Springs or Uluru.
Coober Pedy is situated on the edge of the Stuart Ranges, on beds of sandstone and siltstone at the edge of the ancient 'inland sea' which once filled much of Central Australia. These sandstone beds are some 30 metres deep and it is within these that the precious opal gemstones can be found.
A great way to see the scale of the landscape is with a flight above Coober Pedy. From the sky you'll see the intense ochre, white, raw and burnt sienna colours of the Painted Desert as well as the sacred Breakaways, once a coastline for a vast inland sea. Movies such as Mad Max, Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Ground Zero were all set in and around the Breakaways.
The flight continues on north to the Shell Patch, famous for opal shells and extensive workings. The return journey passes over the township of Coober Pedy and the Opal Fields bordering the town.
Since 1915 Coober Pedy has lured those who seek the elusive opal, which is found in this vast outback semi-desert area. Many of the locals live in dugouts (underground homes) where the earth gives natural temperature control.
Visitors have always been fascinated by this underground way of living.
For those who want to experience the thrill of digging for a fortune, you can take part in an opal tour. The four hour Down 'n' Dirty tour includes a visit to the Quest Mine to understand the various styles of opal mining. You will be supplied with a hard hat, torch and handpick to help you find your fortune.
In 1989, the Desert Cave Hotel won both the South Australian and National Tourism Awards for Tourism Development. The Desert Cave Hotel again won the South Australian Tourism Award for national standard accommodation in 1990 and 1991.
Visitors can stay underground, or if they prefer, above ground rooms are also available. Sleeping underground is a unique experience. Quiet, cool, dark and airy, the rooms are spacious with high ceilings.
The Desert Cave Hotel also has underground shops, a caf, an opal interpretive centre, and an underground bar and gaming room. The hotel offers visitors the best opportunity to experience Coober Pedy 'dugout' living.
The facts
The Down' n Dirty tour costs from $75 a person. You can book this tour through the hotel.
Rooms at the Desert Cave Hotel start from $186 a double and $206 a triple.
Desert Cave Hotel
Tel: 1800 088 521
The 90 minute scenic flight starts from $125 a person. Price based on minimum four people.
Opal Air
Tel: 0427 304 599
Suggested reading material: Lonely Planet
Prices correct at 28/02/05
