Page 6 - 2018 Coober Pedy Visitor Guide

Planning your trip

There is much to discover in and around
Coober Pedy and a two day/three night
minimum stay is recommended to make the
most of your visit. Below is a brief suggested
itinerary.
DAY ONE
Morning - Allow at least half a day to visit a
museum to learn about the region’s history,
mining, geology, landscape, underground
lifestyle and Aboriginal culture. You will by Tim Morris
explore dugouts and see valuable opals History
and fossils, plus the award-winning short
documentary ‘The Story of Opal’ at Umoona
provides an excellent overview of the area’s Ancient History Approximately 150
ancient and recent history. million years ago, the ocean covered the
Afternoon / Evening - Visit a working mine Coober Pedy region. As the sea water
to see how opals are traced and extracted, receded, climatic changes caused the
both by modern and older methods, and try lowering of the underground water tables.
‘noodling’ for opal yourself. There are guided Silica solutions were carried down to
and self-guided tours available. deposit in cavities, faults and fractures in
There is a variety of multicultural restaurants the ground and now, millions of years later,
to choose from for breakfast, lunch & dinner. these silica solutions have formed into
DAY TWO opal.
Morning - Explore the town of Coober Pedy to Aboriginal History For thousands
discover the unique lifestyle. Key attractions of years, Aboriginal people walked across
include the underground churches, the this area. Living in a desert environment,
grass-less golf course, the Kangaroo the people were nomadic hunters and
Orphanage and the numerous opal shops & gatherers who travelled constantly in
displays. Take a guided tour or navigate your search of food and water supplies, as well
own way. as to attend traditional ceremonies. In
Afternoon / Evening - Venture out of town to June 1975, the Coober Pedy Aboriginal
see the stunning Breakaways rock formation, Community adopted the name “Umoona”,
Moon Plain and the Dingo Fence – this is the meaning “long life” – the name also
perfect setting for a sunset experience. You used for the “Umoona” or mulga tree; a
may also recognise some sites used as film common tree in this area.
locations along the way.
DAY THREE / FOUR - There are day trips Recent History Coober Pedy was
available out of Coober Pedy that take you to, originally known as the Stuart Range Opal
through or over some stunning landscapes Field, named after John McDouall Stuart
and remote Outback towns. Options include: who, in 1858, was the first European
The Mail Run – spend a day with Outback explorer to visit the area. In 1920 a
character Rowie as he delivers the mail to new name was needed so a post office
historic Outback towns and stations. could be established, Stuart Range being
Arid Area Tours & Noble Australia Tours - unsuitable owing to the similarity to
Painted Desert Tour – a full day 4WD tour Stewart Range in Western Australia.
through the Moon Plains and past cattle At a Progress Committee meeting the opal
stations and waterholes to the Painted miners chose Coober Pedy, an Aboriginal
Desert. term meaning white man in a hole.
Wrights Air Flights over the Painted Desert,
William Creek, Cattle Stations & Lake Eyre.
Coober Pedy
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