Day 1. We stayed at Port Augusta- a strange, depressing port town that has a great Tourist Information Centre. A lot of people were living in the caravan park while working in town. After a six hour drive we arrived at a dry Coober Pedy (even though they received 65mm last week the most since 1972!).
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Coober Pedy is famous for opal mining (the largest in THE WORLD), which has destroyed the landscape covering it in large mounds of dry soil dug up from tunnels. The hokey mining tours, museums, opal shops look like a side show alley or a b-grade hollywood set. I'm expecting Yosemite Sam (gun toting Luney Tunes character) to come walking out of the IGA which apparently sells dynamite.
There are four underground churches in Coober Pedy of which the Visitor Info Rep recommended the Serbian church. The stained glass window had images of the Sturt Desert Pea.
Jack wanted to go to the underground bookshop- I can only recommend their tea towels.
Day 2.
We visited the Umoona Mine and Museum. The 82 year old Rudi was our guide who has worked the mines since 1962. His wacky humour, accent and limp made the tour of the underground house and mine even more quirky. Great thing about living in a dugout is that it is always 24 degrees c, so no need for heating or cooling.
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In the afternoon we went fossicking for opals which is called "noodling"- odd. The kids were trying to strike it rich but only found quartz.
Last stop was a wildlife rescue centre/ art gallery/ opal shop where we fed and kissed the baby kangaroos and viewed the art- love the mixed business. It is a real mixed up, funny town.
How fabulous, we are jealous. Cooper Pedy has always been on the list but sounds like it definitely needs to be done as part of a bigger trip. Soph and I have been dreaming of it since reading Worry Wart.
ReplyDeleteYour trip looks amazing, clearly Canberran's take longer than you to settle in.
Sounds like the second day made more impact than the first. When we stayed at CP it was a $1 for five minutes of hot water in the showers and the rec room was inside an old water tank! It must be the opal mining because Lightning Ridge has the same weird feel to it as CP. Off to the real outback now. Livin' the dream!
ReplyDeleteJust worked out to access your blog on my iPhone so I'll be able to keep uptodate with your exploits. Sounds like Coober Pedy was an interesting experience. I found it a bit creepy too. Underground dwellings fascinated me.
ReplyDeleteKids look to be thriving from their immersion into the new.