Coober Pedy, South Australia, Australia.

Coober Pedy Overview

Coober Pedy, aboriginal for 'White Fellows 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 the original opal miners literally built a town underground to escape the extremes of heat and cold of the outback desert.

Opals

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.

For example- Shopping malls, churches, hotels and homes (dugouts) 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' where millions of brilliant stars light up against the crisp deep darkness of the velvet skies amidst the quiet of the Australian outback.

Coober Pedy accommodation

See Coober Pedy accommodation for hotels and resorts.

Location

Coober Pedy is located in central outback South Australia and have a Latitude of 29.0°S and a Longitude of 134.7° E.

Driving To Coober Pedy

Some approximate driving times to Coober Pedy:

10Hr From Adelaide (900Km)

18Hrs From Melbourne (1600Km) )

24Hrs From Sydney (2100Km) )

See Route and Distance Calculator for more accurate driving times and routes from additional locations.

Driving in the Australian Outback is not recommended for the inexperienced or un-prepared.

Flying To Adelaide:

Adelaide Airport has both international and domestic terminals and is around 6km (4 miles) west of the city. By car, the journey into the city should take approximately 30 minutes depending on traffic conditions.

Taxis, hire cars airport buses are available.

As a guide, the approximate flying time from Adelaide

to Perth is 3.25 hours,

to Sydney 2 hours

to Melbourne 1.25 hours

to Brisbane 4.5 hour

to Cairns 6 hours.

Times do not include travel time to and from airports and adequate time prior to check in etc.

South Australia School & Public Holidays

2008 Public Holidays

New Years Day Tue 1st Jan.

Australia Day Mon 28th Jan.

Adelaide Cup Day Mon 10th March

Good Friday 21st March.

Easter Monday 24th March.

Anzac Day Fri 25th April.

Queens Birthday Holiday Mon 9th June.

Labour Day Mon 6th Oct.

Christmas Day Thu 25th Dec.

Boxing Day Holiday Fri 26th Dec.

2008 School Holidays

(End and start school on preceding and next week day (Mon - Fri) respectively)

Easter Holiday 10th April To 26th April.

Winter Holiday 4th July To 19th July.

Spring Holiday 26th Sept To 11th Oct.

Summer Holiday 12nd Dec To Jan 26th

Daylight Saving

Starts Sunday 5th October

Ends 5th April 2009

Note: Dates for guidance only. Always check with your individual School as variations may occur for individual education authorities or establishments and dates may be subject to change. Always check with relevant State or Territory education department to confirm holiday periods at the commencement of each school year. Not all Public Holidays for individual regions within each state and territory are shown and public holidays falling on weekends are not listed. Not all Public Holidays may be applicable to all employers, organisations etc so always check with your employer, education authority etc which public holidays are applicable.

Coober Pedy Climate

These figures are for guidance only: