South Australia » Coober Pedy

Coober Pedy is the ‘Opal capital’ of Australia, set in a rather dry, desolate and hostile environment. Coober Pedy comes from Kupa meaning 'white man' and Piti meaning 'hole'. It is translated from Aaboriginal to ‘white fellow’s hole in the ground’, which suitably reflects the way in which most people live. Many of the people live in dugouts due to the extreme climate conditions within the area.

Mining started in 1915 and is still going on now. If you’d like to give fossicking a try then head down to the Jeweller's Shop opal field. Even if you aren’t lucky you can always buy one as a souvenir from the shop and pretend that you found it. There is also an interesting display within the Umoona Opal Mine and Museum which is in the town centre, and an underground home in the Old Timers Mine.

Coober Pedy was made famous not only for its opals but also by the film Mad Max III. You can visit Crocodile Harry’s that also featured in the film, which is a very unique dugout house. Travelling further north slightly you can also visit ‘The Castle’ which is a white and yellow formation amongst the Breakaways Reserve. (You can buy permits from the tourist office in Coober Pedy). You should also head out to the Big Winch that has a great lookout over the town. There are also several trips around the opal fields and the town itself, as well as an interesting mail run into small rural communities and other interesting things to do in Coober Pedy.

There are several places to stay including campsites which may not be as lush as others you have stayed in, but interesting all the same. There are also several hostels, motels and hotels, some of which offer room above and below ground. There are a number of restaurants and cafes in town, and some of the pubs serve food. You can also try the miners club. If you are not driving then you can get to Coober Pedy from both Adelaide and Alice Springs by Greyhound bus services.

Peterborough
Peterborough is an agricultural and historic town, which took the business from nearby Terowie when the broad-gauge line from Adelaide was extended to Peterborough. There is an interesting railway museum called Steamtown as well as a Gold Battery which are both worth visiting.

Goolwa
There are also a couple of places to stay in town, and makes a change from the hustle and bustle staying in this quiet region.

Goolwa is where the first railway line in South Australia was built, to carry produce from large ships that were unable to travel along the river to Goolwa. You can find out more about the shipping town in the museum and the Signal Point River Murray Interpretive Centre. Heading east from Goolwa is the beautiful beach of the Sir Richard Peninsula. However the only access to Coorong Beach at the eastern tip of Sir Richard Peninsula is by boat.

There are also boat trips to Hindmarsh Island as well as along the Lower Murray River, which make a pleasant day out as well as a number of other attractions.

There is a full range of accommodation in Goolwa, and it really is a lovely place to stay. However, it also makes a great day trip from Adelaide, with Premier Stateliner offering bus services everyday. You can also get on the pretty Steam Ranger from Mt. Barker which travels to Victor Harbor passing through Strathalbyn and Goolwa on the way.

McLaren Vale
The McLaren Vale is most famous for its delicious wines, although there are also some pretty historic towns worth visiting, if visiting this area.

Although the major produce in the McLaren Vale used to be its superb red wines, since the 1970’s white wine has began to make an appearance. The main wineries can be found in Langhorne, Reynella (home to the first winery in 1838) and Willunga. Willunga is also famous for its almonds, holding the Almond Blossom Festival every July. There are about 45 wineries that you can visit in the area, either on your own by car or along the pretty cycle track or with a tour.

If you are in the area during one of its festivals you should definitely go if you enjoy good food and good wine. The Sea and Vines Festival is held in June, and in October is both the Continuous Picnic and McLaren Vale Wine Bushing Festival.

There are some fantastic walks in the area around the Mt. Magnificent Conservation Park, as well as around Morphett Vale, Old Noarlunga, Port Noarlunga and Reynella. Morphett Vale hosts some fabulous historic buildings, including the first Roman Catholic Church in South Australia.

There are several beautiful accommodation places around the area, including some delightful bed and breakfasts. McLaren Vale can be reached by the Premier Stateliner service to Victor Harbor. If you love wine and beautiful countryside then you will love the McLaren Vale.

Kadina
Kadina is the largest town on the whole of the peninsula. There is a great walk which you can follow around the towns numerous historic sites. There are several places of interest, although to find out more about the mining in this area you should visit both the Kadina Heritage Museum which has displays on various aspects of mining, as well as Wallaroo Mine itself where you can wander around and into the shafts. Another interesting museum is the Banking and Currency Museum, where you can both buy and sell coins.

There are several places to stay around town, and the majority of the hotels have their own restaurants where you can eat. There are also a few cafes and restaurants in town and a campsite.