Coober Pedy , aboriginal for 'white mans hole in the ground' is 530 miles north of Adelaide and is Australia's largest and oldest opal mining community. This town is unique as it was built underground to escape the extremes of heat and cold of the outback desert. This subterraneous isolated settlement is unequal to any other as the area is barren and jarring with heavy machinery It is also fascinating, as there is a diverse way of life underground, shopping malls, churches, hotels and (dugouts) homes bind this township in a luxury compared to the harshness of the surreal desert landscapes. There are tours of a working opal mine, however, access is regulated due to the possible dangers. The opals excavated are some of the best in the world and the stones can be purchased in all forms. A visit to Coober Pedy would not be complete without Star Watching, millions of brilliant stars light up against the crisp deep darkness of the velvet skies, in the mist and quite of the Australian outback.