The Worlds largest Opal Mining town. The first opal being discovered by William Hutchison in 1915. The name Coober Pedy is thought to be derived from the Aboriginal words Kupa Piti which loosely translated means 'White Man in Waterhole or Burrow'.
The township is about halfway between Adelaide and Alice Springs. Coober Pedy's lunar-like landscape has attracted many visitors who can noodle for opal or observe how opal is mined, cut and polished.
Coober Pedy also attracts many film crews due to the unique landscape. Ten movies have been filmed in and around Coober Pedy including Mad Max Beyond the Thunderdome, Ground Zero, Pitch Black, and The Red Planet just to name a few.
Drawn to the Stuart Ranges by the lure of wealth, many opal miners escape the fierce heat of summer living underground in elaborate dugouts. Pocked with diggings, this fabulous opal field yields around 85 percent of Australia's fiery gem.
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