Central Australia Trip 2012: The town that lives underground, Coober Pedy.

What is the best way to avoid heat?

I'd think about going for a dip in the pool or getting a cold drink but it would have never occurred to me that going underground would be a method. In Coober Pedy, over 80% of the residents here live underground to avoid the scorching desert sun.

The underground homes have all the basic amenities, just like your normal homes. Except, there's no sunlight.

Day 9: Monday July 2

Bidding farewell to Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park (and sleeping in tents), we travelled to the fascinating town of Coober Pedy through an area of desert oaks, red sand and spinifex grass.

One of the many things you most definitely cannot missed when visiting Coober Pedy is to visit an underground home. Surprisingly, it's so cooling down here, it felt like someone switched on the air-conditioner. 

Without interference from the sun, I guess it makes sleeping in much more convenient? 

And it's not just "home" that's hidden underneath the surface. This church here so happens to be just another one of those establishments. 

In addition to that, Coober Pedy is famous for Opal mining. Australia has 95% of the world's supply of commercial opal and the largest percentage comes from here!

So I guess it goes without saying, visiting one of the old opal mine will definitely make it to the list of to do's. The one we visited was at Umoona Mine.

Of course this would include shopping for some opal! You bet the girls were excited. 

What you MUST NOT missed is experience a night in a real underground dugout. Accommodation tonight was at the Umoona Opal Mine.  

Day 10: Tuesday July 3

Coober Pedy was our final attraction. After breakfast, we started making our way back to Melbourne! 

FYI the troop only made it back home the next day (Day 11: Wednesday July 4). I, on the other hand, requested to be dropped off at Adelaide. lol did a short detour and visited Adelaide before flying back Melbourne. 

after thoughts... 

Coming to the end of my major throwback, most parts of the trip had been forgotten and I can only vaguely remember bits and pieces of the places/route we visited. I'm sure if this was written "fresh", I'd be able to share so much more details.

This only reminds me the whole reason I've started this blog, to document my travel journey. So that when time passes, as I grow old and mouldy, I will have have a place that allows me to time travel back to the interesting places I've visited.