Coober Pedy, Australia

Driving north through South Australia, you eventually come upon the "city" of Coober Pedy. This city exists solely because there are opals to be mined, and money from opals to be made. Otherwise, I can honestly say, there is no reason to come here, other than pure curiosity, and maybe to do a little shopping... for opals.

A replica of the the opal mining trucks announces the your location.

It's apparently quite unsafe to wander very far from the road. The landscape for many miles around is pocked with mine shafts and open holes.


When in Coober Pedy... At the Opal Bug, you can do as the locals do and sift through the remnants of previous digs, looking for your own riches. This is better known as noodling.


Temperatures in the summer can be brutally hot, so many houses are underground, carved out of the earth. But, at least they have the luxury of satellite, right?