kangaroos on grass field

Sure, let’s spin the globe and land on a delightfully random place for this literary masterpiece. Ah, here we go: Coober Pedy, Australia. The underground town where the kangaroos have better tans than the locals. Buckle up; we’re going deep.


Nestled in the arid heart of South Australia, Coober Pedy is a place so unique it makes unicorns look like they’re phoning it in. Known as the “Opal Capital of the World,” this town is where ambition meets absurdity, and everyone decided, “Why live above ground when we can burrow into the earth like very industrious moles?”

A Land of Dreams and Diggers

Coober Pedy owes its existence to opals—those sparkly, iridescent stones that look like they were made by Lisa Frank during an acid trip. The town sprang to life in 1915 when a teenage boy, clearly not content with just being miserable in puberty, stumbled upon opal while searching for water. (Spoiler: He didn’t find water, but he struck shiny.)

Since then, the town has become a magnet for prospectors, adventurers, and the occasional person running from their ex with a keen nose for tracking. Here, the earth isn’t just dirt—it’s the gateway to untold riches, assuming you don’t melt in the blistering sun while looking for it.

Life Underground: The Mole People of Coober Pedy

If Coober Pedy has a tagline, it’s probably something like, “Too Hot to Handle, Too Cool to Ignore.” Temperatures regularly soar above 45°C (113°F), which is less “pleasant summer day” and more “surface of Venus but with extra flies.”

To cope, the town’s residents said a collective, “Nah, we’re good,” to living above ground and instead moved underground. That’s right—about half the town lives in dugouts, which are homes carved into the sandstone. These subterranean abodes are not only naturally cool but also remarkably quiet, perfect for anyone who enjoys peace, quiet, and pretending they’re starring in their own post-apocalyptic Netflix series.

Walking through these homes is a surreal experience. You’ll find fully furnished kitchens, living rooms, and even underground art galleries. The vibe is “Flintstones meet mid-century modern,” and honestly, it works.

Things to Do (Besides Sweating)

You might think a town in the middle of nowhere with a population of about 2,000 has little to offer. Wrong. Coober Pedy is bursting with weird charm and activities that could easily double as scenes in a Wes Anderson movie.

  1. Fossick for Opals
    Want to test your luck and patience? Grab a pick and start digging. Visitors can try their hand at noodling (the less glamorous version of prospecting), searching through piles of discarded dirt for opal scraps. It’s like treasure hunting but with more dirt in your shoes.
  2. Visit the Big Winch
    No Australian town is complete without a giant, random object. Coober Pedy’s contribution is the Big Winch—a massive piece of mining equipment turned tourist attraction. Because nothing says “selfie-worthy” like oversized industrial machinery.
  3. Explore the Underground Churches
    Yes, Coober Pedy has not one but several underground churches. Whether you’re seeking salvation or just some sweet air-conditioning, these chapels are worth a visit. The Serbian Orthodox Church, with its intricate carvings, is particularly stunning—proof that even mole people appreciate a bit of flair.
  4. Play Golf… at Night
    Coober Pedy Golf Course is a marvel of adaptation. With no grass in sight, it’s entirely dirt and sand. Players carry around small patches of turf to tee off from and, to avoid the searing sun, most rounds are played at night using glow-in-the-dark balls. It’s like regular golf, but with an extra layer of absurdity.

The Quirk Factor: Coober Pedy’s Unique Residents

Coober Pedy’s charm isn’t just in its landscape—it’s in the people. A mix of 50+ nationalities call this dusty paradise home, creating a melting pot of cultures and eccentricities. Here, you’ll meet prospectors who’ve been chasing opals for decades, artists inspired by the desolate beauty, and bartenders with more stories than your average paperback novel.

And then there’s the wildlife. Think kangaroos, dingoes, and emus, all looking at you like you’re the weird one for sweating through your shirt. At night, the stars come out in full force, unpolluted by city lights, turning the sky into a cosmic kaleidoscope that’ll make you forget you haven’t showered in two days.

Mad Max and Martian Vibes

If Coober Pedy feels a bit otherworldly, that’s because it is. Hollywood has taken notice, using the town as a backdrop for movies like Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome and Pitch Black. With its barren landscapes and lunar vibes, it’s the closest you’ll get to Mars without hitching a ride with Elon Musk.

Adding to the sci-fi ambiance is the town’s spaceship. (Yes, you read that right.) Parked in front of the Old Timers Mine is a prop spaceship used in the movie Pitch Black. It’s just sitting there, casually reminding you that Coober Pedy does not do “normal.”

A Love Letter to the Absurd

Coober Pedy isn’t for everyone. If you need lush greenery, reliable Wi-Fi, or literally any form of civilization within a 500-kilometer radius, this might not be your jam. But if you crave adventure, love oddball destinations, or just want to say you’ve slept in a hole in the ground and loved it, this town will steal your heart.

It’s a place where survival isn’t just about beating the heat—it’s about embracing the weird, finding beauty in the barren, and unearthing stories as rich as the opals that put it on the map. So pack your sunscreen, your sense of humor, and a deep appreciation for the bizarre. Coober Pedy is waiting to blow your mind—and probably your hat off with a gust of hot wind.


That’s the beauty of a place like Coober Pedy. It doesn’t care if it makes sense to the rest of the world. It just exists, unapologetically unique, in the middle of nowhere. And honestly? The world could use a little more of that energy.