What is underground accommodation in Coober Pedy?

Underground accommodation in Coober Pedy features motel rooms and apartments excavated into sandstone hillsides. These dugout hotels maintain natural temperatures of 23-25°C year-round, providing comfortable refuge from extreme outback conditions whilst showcasing authentic Coober Pedy lifestyle.

Why do people live underground in Coober Pedy?

Coober Pedy residents live underground to escape harsh desert temperatures. Underground homes and hotels maintain comfortable 23-25°C temperatures naturally without excessive air conditioning, making underground living practical and economical in the outback environment.

What amenities are available in underground motel rooms?

Underground motel rooms at The Lookout Cave include contemporary amenities such as free WiFi, smart TVs, ceiling fans, bar fridges, en-suite bathrooms, air conditioning, and modern furnishings. Rooms reach up to 50m deep into sandstone hillside whilst maintaining all standard hotel features.

Is underground accommodation safe and comfortable?

Underground accommodation is extremely safe with modern construction standards, proper ventilation systems, 24-hour CCTV security, and contemporary amenities. The natural temperature regulation provides superior comfort compared to surface accommodation in extreme outback conditions.

What attractions are near The Lookout Cave?

Coober Pedy offers numerous attractions including underground churches, the Opal Museum, drive-in cinema, the Breakaways, Painted Desert, and opal mining tours. The Lookout Cave is located just 3 minutes from central Coober Pedy with staff providing expert local guidance.

Adventure at sunrise – Hiker enjoying breathtaking outback views near Coober Pedy.

EXPLORE THE OUTBACK

Coober Pedy & nearby attractions

COOBER PEDY & NEARBY ATTRACTIONS

Gateway to the Outback

Staying or living underground is just one part of what makes Coober Pedy such a unique and unforgettable destination. Internationally renowned as the “Opal Capital of the World,” Coober Pedy rose to fame during the opal mining boom and continues to thrive today as both a historic mining town and one of Australia’s most iconic outback tourism destinations.

Whether you are travelling along the Explorer’s Way from Adelaide to Darwin or venturing across the legendary Strzelecki or Oodnadatta Tracks, Coober Pedy is a must-see stop in the heart of the Australian Outback. From the Flinders Ranges through to Uluru, the journey reveals some of the Outback’s most spectacular landscapes and experiences.

Coober Pedy also serves as the perfect gateway to the outback and an ideal base for adventure. From here, guests can explore William Creek, take scenic flights over Lake Eyre and the Painted Hills, or tackle the famous Oodnadatta Track. Along the way, be sure to visit the iconic Pink Roadhouse before continuing to Arkaringa Station to witness the breathtaking Painted Desert — one of South Australia’s best-kept secrets.

For the more adventurous traveller, journeys north toward Mount Dare and Dalhousie Springs offer unforgettable outback scenery, including Fogarty’s Claypan and remnants of the historic Old Ghan Railway. If timed right, visitors can also experience the excitement of the world-famous Finke Desert Race, held annually each June.

The Coober Pedy Visitor Guide, along with the Tours & Attractions booklet, is available to download via our Guest Information page to help you make the most of your outback adventure.

The Breakaways Reserve Approx. 35km's North of Coober Pedy lies The Breakaways Conservation Park. These low lying hills have been the backdrop to many Australian & oversees films for its lunar like landscape and arid terrain. Parks pass available at the visitor information centre or the Underground Book Store.	Umoona Opal Mine & Museum This multi award winning complex has Coober Pedy's largest range of opal gemstones and jewellery. Visit the Opal Mining Museum, see the Aboriginal Heritage interpretive centre, a genuine heritage opal mine, dugout homes, display of fossils from SA Museum - just some of the treats Umoona has to offer! Tours 10am, 2pm & 4pm daily.	BigWinch360 Coober Pedy’s Big Winch 360 – the Outback’s newest world class attraction and  home to Australia’s first permanent  360º Circlevision cinematic experience. Vision and sound surrounds the audience in a show as big as the outback, and as unique as the people that call it home.	Underground Churches Coober Pedy has 5 underground churches. All unique in their own way. Avaiable to walk through and take photos are: Serbian Orthodox church (as pictured) Catholic Church *Catacomb Church
The Dingo Fence The Dingo Fence is the longest running fence in the world. The fence was built in the late 1800's to keep the dingo's out of pastoral South Queensland and ends in South Australia's far west. The length is approx 5,614 kilometres.	Coober Pedy Drive-In One of only a handful left in Australia. Movies are screened each fortnight. Summer Time (Nov - March) Gates open at 8pm. Movie screens at 8.30pm Winter Time (April - October) Gates open at 7pm. Movie screens 7.30pm	Mail Run Tour Join the Mail Run Tour delivering mail to the historic outback towns of Oodnadatta and William Creek as well as 5 remote cattle stations, including the world’s largest, “Anna Creek Station”. You won't be disappointed!	Outback Film & TV Coober Pedy and its hinterland has been the back drop to many movies & television series. To name a few: Mad Max 3 - Red Planet -The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert - Opal Dream - Wim Wenders' - Until the End of the World - Dirty Jobs: Down Under - House Hunter & countless documentaries...
Golf Course Coober Pedy Opal Fields Golf Course the only club in the world with reciprocal rights to Saint Andrews in Scotland! The course is a par 72, 18 holes. Clubs and round hire is available from the Old Timers Mine.	Opal Fields & Mines Of course the "Opal Capital of the World"is the place to see first hand how this unique town housed the boom of the opal industry. Unless you have a mining permit you will have to join a local tour to visit the Coober Pedy Opal Fields. Check out the tours section of the Tours & Attractions booklet for available tours.	Lake Eyre National Park Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre is located approx 250km's East of Coober Pedy. A surface area of 9500km's Lake Eyre is the largest in Australia and offers unbelievable photo opportunities. Tour Operators based in Coober Pedy offer 4WD tours or scenic flights to Lake Eyre North or Lake Eyre South.	Arkaringa Station Arkaringa Station 150km North of Coober Pedy, you can stay at the Arkaringa Homestead and catch the sunrise or sunset of The Painted Desert just 8kms away.
Toms Working Opal Mine This is as close as you can get to the real thing! A modern day opal mine 500m North of town off the Stuart Highway. Experience a self guided walk through or join a guided tour to see it all in action.	Anna Creek Painted Hills Only accessible by air you can enjoy scenic flights from Coober Pedy with Opal Air or flights from William Creek with Wrights Air.	Crocodile Harry's This just may be one of the most unique places in Australia. Part of the film location for Mad Max 3 and home to "Crocodile Harry" the famous crocodile wrestler! Harry has since passed but you can still visit and view his underground home and see remnance from a scene of Mad Max 3 and sight the eclectic artwork & imagination of this local personality.	Opal Shops You will find a plethora of Opal Shops down the main drag of Coober Pedy. Window shop the best Opals from "The Opal Capital of the World".
Josephine's Gallery Aboriginal Art, Indigenous Artifacts, Didgeridoos & Kangaroo Orphange. Kangaroo feeding times daily at 12pm and 5:30pm.	Old Timers Mine Historic Home & Museum. Guided and self guided tours daily.	Wilpena Pound - Flinders Ranges The Extraordinary landscape of the Flinders Ranges and its ancient geological formations is breathtaking. You can visit Wilpena Pound by taking the highway from Port Augusta to Marree. You can then get to Coober Pedy via the Oodnadatta track or cut in from William Creek.

EXPLORE THE OUTBACK

Coober Pedy & nearby attractions

COOBER PEDY & NEARBY ATTRACTIONS

Gateway to the Outback

The Breakaways Reserve

Approx. 35km's North of Coober Pedy lies The Breakaways Conservation Park. These low lying hills have been the backdrop to many Australian & oversees films for its lunar like landscape and arid terrain. Parks pass available at the visitor information centre or the Underground Book Store.

Umoona Opal Mine & Museum

BigWinch360

Coober Pedy’s Big Winch 360 – the Outback’s newest world class attraction and home to Australia’s first permanent 360º Circlevision cinematic experience. Vision and sound surrounds the audience in a show as big as the outback, and as unique as the people that call it home.

Underground Churches

Coober Pedy has 5 underground churches. All unique in their own way. Avaiable to walk through and take photos are: *Serbian Orthodox church (as pictured) *Catholic Church *Catacomb Church

The Dingo Fence

The Dingo Fence is the longest running fence in the world. The fence was built in the late 1800's to keep the dingo's out of pastoral South Queensland and ends in South Australia's far west. The length is approx 5,614 kilometres.

Coober Pedy Drive-In

One of only a handful left in Australia. Movies are screened each fortnight. Summer Time (Nov - March) Gates open at 8pm. Movie screens at 8.30pm Winter Time (April - October) Gates open at 7pm. Movie screens 7.30pm

Mail Run Tour

Join the Mail Run Tour delivering mail to the historic outback towns of Oodnadatta and William Creek as well as 5 remote cattle stations, including the world’s largest, “Anna Creek Station”. You won't be disappointed!

Outback Film & TV

Golf Course

Coober Pedy Opal Fields Golf Course the only club in the world with reciprocal rights to Saint Andrews in Scotland! The course is a par 72, 18 holes. Clubs and round hire is available from the Old Timers Mine.

Opal Fields & Mines

Lake Eyre National Park

Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre is located approx 250km's East of Coober Pedy. A surface area of 9500km's Lake Eyre is the largest in Australia and offers unbelievable photo opportunities. Tour Operators based in Coober Pedy offer 4WD tours or scenic flights to Lake Eyre North or Lake Eyre South.

Arkaringa Station

Arkaringa Station 150km North of Coober Pedy, you can stay at the Arkaringa Homestead and catch the sunrise or sunset of The Painted Desert just 8kms away.

Toms Working Opal Mine

This is as close as you can get to the real thing! A modern day opal mine 500m North of town off the Stuart Highway. Experience a self guided walk through or join a guided tour to see it all in action.

Anna Creek Painted Hills

Only accessible by air you can enjoy scenic flights from Coober Pedy with Opal Air or flights from William Creek with Wrights Air.

Crocodile Harry's

Opal Shops

You will find a plethora of Opal Shops down the main drag of Coober Pedy. Window shop the best Opals from "The Opal Capital of the World".

Josephine's Gallery

Aboriginal Art, Indigenous Artifacts, Didgeridoos & Kangaroo Orphange. Kangaroo feeding times daily at 12pm and 5:30pm.

Old Timers Mine

Historic Home & Museum. Guided and self guided tours daily.

Wilpena Pound - Flinders Ranges

The Extraordinary landscape of the Flinders Ranges and its ancient geological formations is breathtaking. You can visit Wilpena Pound by taking the highway from Port Augusta to Marree. You can then get to Coober Pedy via the Oodnadatta track or cut in from William Creek.

Coober Pedy’s Big Winch 360 – the Outback’s newest world class attraction and  home to Australia’s first permanent  360º Circlevision cinematic experience. Vision and sound surrounds the audience in a show as big as the outback, and as unique as the people that call it home.

Coober Pedy has 5 underground churches. All unique in their own way. Avaiable to walk through and take photos are: Serbian Orthodox church (as pictured) Catholic Church *Catacomb Church