Underground Camping - Coober Pedy, Central Australia
I must admit, I've been camping in different location and terrain in my life, in the woods, on the beach, near a lake and river, high altitude but I never thought that I would be camping underground.
During our last family trip, that was exactly what we did, although it wasn't something I was looking forward too, but I heard it's one of a kind in the world, so I thought why not.
Coober Pedy is literally in the middle of nowhere, the only reason why this place is on the map is because it's on the way to Alice Springs from Adelaide and because of the Opal that is being dug up, in fact Australia is the main supplier with 95–97% of the world's supply.
This town has desert climate with only 130mm /5.1in per year and average temperature of 27.5 C / 81.5 F.
There are two entries into this underground campsite so there is a nice breeze and doesn't get too stuffy.
Great thing about this is that the temperature is very static in here, it's nice and cool inside while outside the scorching sun will try to turn you into a crisp, and like wise it's warm during the night, and it's a great way to get away from those pesky flies.
Those holes serve two purposes, originally those holes where dug up from the ground with a machine to see if there are any traces of Opal, if nothing showed up they moved alone and made another hole but if something was found, they would dig up the entire place. And now those holes serve as a skylight purpose.
Our tent looks really odd in this environment!
Most of those photos are HDR and in reality it was very dark.
You could also get a "cabin" which is basically closed off hole with steel beds..
Most of the ground around Coober Pedy is made up of sandstone with minimal amount of rainfall all year round, which makes this place perfect for this kind of underground tunnels.
All those patterns on the walls are made from the digger, it gives out a great looking texture.
I won't lie, this place looks like a sh*thole, but had to try it at least once!
Wow, very cool place :)
hehe yea it's pretty unique, but not a campsite I would visit once a year.
Great post. I would like to go there. It looks beautiful on pictures.
My word i never in my life thought that a place like this exist what is the rate for this place.
$16AUD for adults and $12AUD per night for kids under 12yrs :)
Haha, looks like a cool experience!... never realised you stopped off there!
Man that is a crazy campsite but i guess it beats cooking in your tent.
The amount of flies on our faces was too day high, so getting in that hole was the only option to survive :)
Coober Pedy is a very unique town. Would love to go back again to see possibly more than we did last time, and maybe stay underground which we haven't done before
Yea there was heaps of places we didn't see as well.
Make sure you don't stay underground on the main street, they will rip you off big time :)
Camping underground would have been an interesting experience! And probably necessary out that way as it probably gets to about a million degrees up top XD
Yep, that's what it feels like when you have to get out, and your eyes try to flip backwards because it's so bright outside from all the white sandstone!
I've been to Coober Pedy quite a few times but never realised that there was an actual underground camping area.
Heaps of other places to stay underground as well.
One of my Mates breeds Camels down there.
Pretty bizarre isn't it :)
Defiantly a good experience!
Amazing stones. The experience must have been very special