Oct 3, 2009 - Coober Pedy

Through the bottom of the Flinders Ranges and up route 87 and into the heart of the outback. Coober Pedy is an opal mining town, and the scenery on the way here is very flat with dense scrubland at first which gradually thins out. ... Coober Pedy itself is a dry dusty and very spread out town famous for the number of residences that have been dug into the hills to avoid the heat of the day. ... It is one of those unique towns that are a must see on a trip through Oz.Through the bottom of the Flinders Ranges and up route 87 and into the heart of the outback. Coober Pedy is an opal mining town, and the scenery on the way here is very flat with dense scrubland at first which gradually thins out. ... Coober Pedy itself is a dry dusty and very spread out town famous for the number of residences that have been dug into the hills to avoid the heat of the day. ... It is one of those unique towns that are a must see on a trip through Oz....

Aug 18, 2009 - Coober Pedy (still) Days 36-37.....99,100,102

It has become apparent that we may actually never leave Coober Pedy. ... We are still having no luck with the Brakes on Ugly Betty.It has become apparent that we may actually never leave Coober Pedy. ... We are still having no luck with the Brakes on Ugly Betty....

Aug 15, 2009 - Coober Pedy Days 34-35

We stayed in Radeka's underground Back-Packers Hostel. We U-turned and headed for Coober Pedy. ... We decided to camp out at bush.We stayed in Radeka's underground Back-Packers Hostel. We U-turned and headed for Coober Pedy. ... We decided to camp out at bush....

Aug 14, 2009 - Coober Pedy Days 31-33

We organised repairs for the van with a local mechanic.We organised repairs for the van with a local mechanic....

Jul 23, 2009 - Our stay at Coober Pedy

From Port Augusta we began the long drive north to Coober Pedy, the opal mining town. ... Driving through monotonous semi desert country and 540 km later we finally came into Coober Pedy. ... However many of the inhabitants of Coober Pedy leave town in the summer months to escape the heat. ...

Jun 19, 2009 - Erldunda to Coober Pedy

blue sky, cool 19o There was ice on the windscreen this morning when we left. About 30 kms out of Coober Pedy the small mounds started to appear that the miners have made from their digging. ... As far as the eye can see are mounds, some much larger than others.blue sky, cool 19o There was ice on the windscreen this morning when we left. About 30 kms out of Coober Pedy the small mounds started to appear that the miners have made from their digging. ... As far as the eye can see are mounds, some much larger than others....

May 18, 2009 - Mail Run on the Oodnadatta Track

Mon 8. We are off – over 600 kms of unsealed road, taking the Royal Mail to outback stations around Coober Pedy, Williams Creek and Oodnadatta. ... Well this guy never stopped talking – he was a mine of information, mostly about Australia and Australian explorers – all very interesting.Mon 8. We are off – over 600 kms of unsealed road, taking the Royal Mail to outback stations around Coober Pedy, Williams Creek and Oodnadatta. ... Well this guy never stopped talking – he was a mine of information, mostly about Australia and Australian explorers – all very interesting....

May 17, 2009 - Cooper Pedy and the Breakaways

We were up early this morning – really excited at having a good look around town. By this stage we had totally fallen in love with Coober Pedy – is it so fascinating and the ingenuity of the people who had built this town really amazes us. ... We then decided it was time to head out of town so popped into the Tourist Information Bureau to get maps and info on the Breakaways – a set of mountains that many people had recommended we go to.We were up early this morning – really excited at having a good look around town. By this stage we had totally fallen in love with Coober Pedy – is it so fascinating and the ingenuity of the people who had built this town really amazes us. ... We then decided it was time to head out of town so popped into the Tourist Information Bureau to get maps and info on the Breakaways – a set of mountains that many people had recommended we go to....

May 16, 2009 - Coober Pedy

After a long, pleasant drive up from Port Augusta we arrived in Coober Pedy at about 3. ... What an amazing place – it is definitely like something we have never seen before! Coober Pedy is just a small town and as we drove down the dusty streets for the first time it felt a little bit of a let down. ... We got talking to the owner and learnt a bit about opal mining, the town of Coober Pedy and some of the characters who lived there. ...

May 14, 2009 - Coober Pedy

A tourist day looking at the sites and attractions of Coober Pedy. ... Something we learnt today was that the name of Coober Pedy, is so because it was the name voted on and won the most votes in 1920. ... The name Coober Pedy comes from the aboriginal name of 'kupa piti' which means 'white man in a hole'. ...

May 13, 2009 - Coober Pedy

Travelling the Oodnadatta track from Coward Springs to William Creek was an experience that lead to the photos displayed in this entry. Some of our photos are on the road between Roxby Downs and Coward Springs, and then William creek, and then Coober Pedy - this area is renown for very little rain - talking about 120 mls for the whole year is what they get sometimes if they are lucky! A little about Coober Pedy: it is known to be the opal capital of the world, and it's town has been described as being surrounded by a moon type landscape dotted with shafts and mullock heaps from opal mining activities. ... We are keeping track of how many kilometres since leaving home, and we are up to 2,292 kms, and it is day 7.Travelling the Oodnadatta track from Coward Springs to William Creek was an experience that lead to the photos displayed in this entry. Some of our photos are on the road between Roxby Downs and Coward Springs, and then William creek, and then Coober Pedy - this area is renown for very little rain - talking about 120 mls for the whole year is what they get sometimes if they are lucky! A little about Coober Pedy: it is known to be the opal capital of the world, and it's town has been described as being surrounded by a moon type landscape dotted with shafts and mullock heaps from opal mining activities. ... We are keeping track of how many kilometres since leaving home, and we are up to 2,292 kms, and it is day 7....

Mar 9, 2009 - Coober Pedy

Another ridiculously early start we eventually stopped to take some pictures of Mt Conor or 'fooluru' this rock formation looks similar to Uluru from a distance but is in fact larger and made from a different type of rock. Coober Pedy means whitemans burrows it is basically a mining town where local inhabitants live (mostly) underground. ... The precious stones that one would be looking for (or 'noodling' for) are opals.Another ridiculously early start we eventually stopped to take some pictures of Mt Conor or 'fooluru' this rock formation looks similar to Uluru from a distance but is in fact larger and made from a different type of rock. Coober Pedy means whitemans burrows it is basically a mining town where local inhabitants live (mostly) underground. ... The precious stones that one would be looking for (or 'noodling' for) are opals....