Coober Pedy

Left: Glendonites found in the area, from when it was icy cold.


Coober Pedy is an opal mining town where lots of people come to follow their dreams and strike it rich! There are 40 plus different nationalities. A Ukrainian guy tells us he goes to Ukraine 2 or 3 times a year to sell opal and pick up precious metal settings to sell here.

This area was once part of a vast inland sea. The sea was cold with ice forming on the shore. The ice would then break off taking logs (picture right) and boulders into the middle and dropping them on the sea floor. Nearby Kati Thanda/Lake Eyre is 15m below see level. That's 5 storeys under. Amoung the silt that compressed into rock can be found snails, and Glendonites (pictured above) - cystals formed in freezing conditions (also found in Siberia and Norway).

When Australia had a vast inland sea, Ichthiosaurs ruled the oceans and their bones have been found here.

Coober Pedy is from Aboriginal Kupa Piti meaning a a set of holes for the Europeans and others who came to dig - an original Piti is pictured to the right.

Coober Pedy has several large windmills, and is apparently in the process of building solar, going from all diesel powered electricity to only 30% diesel.

Stayed at the Oasis - the most expensive but nicest place we've stayed. Clean semi enclosed kitchen, new bathroom with access code, play room with a TV, air hockey table, car driving game etc, and a pool covered by a dome that was freeeeezing.  Set up for 4 nights, relax.

Met Shane, ex truckie, did his back in moving furniture, so can't work. He found someone who could get him started, setting up a mining lease, a dugout to live in. We had him over for tea on the first night, as we had some extra chicken, veggies etc, that we put into a stew.

On Sunday, we walked up the street.

Shopped for a bit of Opal in the modern inviting Opal Cave. Got some little sparkling colourful triplets. The boys and Marie helped choose. I had in mind making a dragonfly for Marie's 50th birthday. I'd planned to get something done, but ran out of time. I got the idea for an ant or a dragonfly in Pro Hart's gallery. The lady recommended Peter the jeweller.

The Star Wars space ship in the car park.

 We rolled up the hill to get some snaps of the Coober Pedy sign, which Ollie noticed on the drive in. "Hey everyone, they have a Hollywood sign!" he said.

There are two smashed up computers up at the Coober Pedy Hollywood sign, and a full view over the town.

Peter quotes $1800 for a dragonfly, so we asked for an ant instead.

Went to the kangaroo feeding. They get injured animals or ones whose mum has been hunted for food. Francesca, Bella, Min Mah (old lady in the local language), then Bonnie and Clyde the tiny joeys. One roo once was seeking wasabi peas, so the owner gave them some, and the roo went mental looking for more. Now they feed them on wasabi peas and banana chips.

Clyde the joey (there's also a Bonnie).


Shane lent us a black light. It shines purple to show opal. That night, we went fossicking / noodling in the cold in the dirt, people throwing dirt all over our shoes, laying in the dirt, finding loads of rocks and dirt, no opal.