Australia: Coober Pedy – Adelaide (1995)

April 5, 1995

Coober Pedy is a town in northern South Australia, 846 km north of Adelaide on the Stuart Highway. The town is sometimes referred to as the "opal capital of the world" because of the quantity of precious opals that are mined there. It is renowned for its below-ground dwellings, called "dugouts", which are built in this fashion due to the scorching daytime heat. Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre is in the deserts of central Australia, in northern South Australia. The Lake Eyre Basin is a large endorheic system surrounding the lakebed, the lowest part of which is filled with the characteristic salt pan caused by the seasonal expansion and subsequent evaporation of the trapped waters.

🙂 Opals. Fascinating way of life.

🙁 Remote. Desolate. Hot. Salty.

We were up early and left the Roadhouse heading south. Arrived at Coober Pedy at lunchtime. Had some food and then headed to an opal mine. I bought a stunning rolling flash opal which we took great care of … but which mysteriously disappeared…

We stopped at a garage to buy new tyres. The man was the most miserable man in the world. Made Paul change the tyres!! Then snatched his screwdriver back and told us he wasn’t having us stealing it! I was most indignant and told him our morals were clearly way above his if that was his expectation. Drove for two days to get to Adelaide via the sal pans… interesting landscape. Wen we arrived in Adelaide we went to the drive in and watched ‘Dumber & Dumber – quite funny.

The next morning we headed into Adelaide to an indoor ski centre where we ice sated and had ski lessons and did a few runs. Trent did very well. We then tobogganed for two hours which was the best fun!