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Major city · Australia

Coober Pedy

Give Coober Pedy one full day and one night: underground mine tour, underground church and a sunset lookout. Two nights only if you fossick or take a night-sky tour.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
AUD
Best months
Apr–Sep
avoid Dec–Feb (extreme heat, 40°C+ days)
Airport
CPD
Nights
1–2
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7
  • Oceania ↗Oceania's island states guard their farms and reefs at the border: tick 'yes' on the arrival card for any food, plant, animal product, soil or used outdoor gear, and let the officer decide.
  • Oceania ↗Across the tropical South Pacific, cyclones are possible from November to April: choose insurance that covers weather delays and keep one spare night before a long-haul departure.
  • Australia and New Zealand ↗Both countries drive on the left, with long distances between fuel stops in the outback and on New Zealand's back roads; fatigue causes more visitor crashes than speed.
  • Australia ↗Almost every visitor needs a visa or an electronic authorisation (ETA or eVisitor, depending on passport) before boarding: apply only through the official Department of Home Affairs site or the official AustralianETA app, and check the rules for your passport.
  • Australia ↗Declare all food, plant material, seeds, wood and animal products on your arrival declaration; undeclared items can bring on-the-spot fines or visa cancellation. When unsure, declare it.
  • Australia ↗Drive on the left. An overseas licence in English (or with an official translation or International Driving Permit) is accepted for visitors; check the state rules and your rental contract.
  • Australia ↗Swim between the red and yellow flags on patrolled beaches; rip currents cause most beach drownings.

Coober Pedy is a small opal town on the Stuart Highway, 846 km north of Adelaide and 685 km south of Alice Springs, where most residents live in dugouts bored into the rock because summer surface temperatures are brutal. It is a stop on the long drive, not a destination in itself: one night covers the mines, the underground churches and the lookout, and the town is small enough to walk once the heat drops.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Coober Pedy, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeA$4–6 (≈ US$3–4)
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekA$20–40 (≈ US$14–30)
  • Museum or sight ticketMine tour entryA$15–30 (≈ US$10–20)
  • Budget bedUnderground hostel bed, a night, per personA$35 (≈ US$25)
  • Mid-range bedMotel double room, a night, per roomA$160 (≈ US$110)
  • High-end bedMotel double room, a night, per roomA$260 (≈ US$180)

A day, not counting the bed: Budget A$90 (≈ US$60) · Mid A$150 (≈ US$100) · High A$260 (≈ US$180)

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Opal mining and mine toursUnderground dugout homes and churchesStuart Highway stop between Adelaide and Alice SpringsOutback night sky
Airports
CPD Coober Pedy Airport (Regional Express (Rex) flights from Adelaide, a few per week, about 2 h; fares from about A$300 one way (check current schedule))

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Coober Pedy: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

36°C

21°C

2 rd

Feb

35°C

21°C

2 rd

Mar

32°C

18°C

2 rd

Apr

27°C

14°C

2 rd

May

22°C

10°C

3 rd

Jun

18°C

7°C

3 rd

Jul

18°C

6°C

3 rd

Aug

20°C

7°C

3 rd

Sep

25°C

10°C

3 rd

Oct

29°C

14°C

3 rd

Nov

32°C

17°C

3 rd

Dec

35°C

20°C

3 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The town is compact and most visitors walk Hutchison Street and the nearby sights; a car is only needed for the Painted Desert road, the golf course and out-of-town lookouts. Fuel costs roughly 30c/litre more than on the coast, so fill up before the long Stuart Highway legs. There is no public transport in town.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Painted Desert (Kempe Road to Oodnadatta)

caution

Door to door: Full day

Formed sand road west from town, 194 km, about 3 h each way

Very light traffic and remote; carry water, check road conditions and do not continue if the road is closed.

Woomera

skip

Door to door: About 4 h

Stuart Highway south, about 360 km

Too far for a day return; treat it as a stop on the drive south.

Marla

caution

Door to door: About 2 h

Stuart Highway north, about 200 km

Roadhouse stop with fuel, not a sight; useful on the way to Alice Springs.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Hutchison Street (main street)

Shops, IGA, bottle shop, cafés and most motels; walkable end to end in about 15 minutes.

Underground dugout motels

Rooms cut into the rock, steady temperature, no windows; book ahead in the Apr–Sep season.

North end near the Big Winch

Lookout, underground homes and a short walk back to the main street.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
A$90–140 (≈ US$60–95) excl. bed
Mid
A$140–220 (≈ US$95–150) excl. bed
High
A$220 (≈ US$150)+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Motel double room1 × 1 night × A$160A$160
Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × A$150A$300
Mine tour entry2 × A$25A$50
Faye's Underground Home entry2 × A$5A$10
eSIM, about a week of data2 × A$25A$50
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeA$57
Trip total≈ A$314 per person per day, bed includedA$627≈ US$450

2026 estimate in Australian dollars; long-distance fuel and flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

CoffeeA$4–6 (≈ US$3–4)
12-inch pizza with a glass of wineabout A$30 (≈ US$20)
Pub mealA$20–35 (≈ US$14–25)
Mine tour entryA$15–30 (≈ US$10–20)
Fuelabout 30c/litre above coastal prices
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekA$20–40 (≈ US$14–30)

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Street crime is rare but the town has a high break-in rate aimed at cash and alcohol, mostly businesses. The bigger risks are open mine shafts, summer heat and remote roads: stay on marked paths and carry water.
  • Never walk backwards near the diggings and stay out of unfenced mine areas: open shafts are a real hazard.
  • Summer heat is dangerous; plan sightseeing for early morning and late afternoon and carry water.
  • Alcohol is restricted: sales start after midday, one purchase per person per day, ID scanned, take-away wine limited (check current rules).
  • Break-ins target cash and alcohol, mostly businesses; keep valuables with you and lock the car.
  • Mobile coverage is Telstra and Optus in town; Vodafone does not work here.

Emergency numbers

Police, fire, ambulance
000
From mobiles
112

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

Coober PedyCoober Pedy

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Can you take me to this address, please?To this address, please

Emergency

  • Police, fire, ambulance000
  • From mobiles112

Embassy

No embassies in town; the nearest consulates are in Adelaide. US, UK, Canada and New Zealand travellers should register with their embassy in Canberra or consulate in Adelaide before remote travel (check).

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Rex Adelaide → Coober Pedy: from about A$300 (≈ US$200) one way, about 2 h; three flights a week (check schedule)
  • Greyhound Adelaide → Coober Pedy: departs 7:45PM, arrives 6:15AM; daily, 365 days a year
  • The Ghan to Manguri Siding: 47 km from town; transfer must be arranged before departure (check)

Say or show

  • Thanks — Thank you
  • How much is that? — How much is it?
  • Card OK? — Can I pay by card?
  • Where's the loo? — Where is the toilet?
  • I need water, please — I need water
  • Is the road open today? — Is the road open?

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Coober Pedy. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–Sep · avoid Dec–Feb (extreme heat, 40°C+ days) · month by month →
  2. 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 3 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for CPD: Rex days of operation, taxi or courtesy pickup, overnight rung.
  2. Walking clusters with rescue anchors: Hutchison Street, Big Winch lookout, underground church and dugout home cluster.
  3. Place pages with verified hours and entry for the mine tours, Faye's Underground Home and the Serbian Orthodox Church.
  4. Heat and remote-road fixtures so summer and Painted Desert days can go green.

Meanwhile

Back to Australia

Sources