Opal

The Opal Rush: How Coober Pedy Began

A boy's 1915 find did not create one rush but three. Follow Coober Pedy from camel-carted water and Tottie Bryant to migrant miners and the blower.

Andamooka

Coober Pedy's smaller sister opal town - a ramshackle, characterful field about 5½ hours away by road, famous for matrix opal and pioneer dugouts.

Mintabie: The Opal Town That Closed

Once a rough, rich opal field north of Coober Pedy, Mintabie was wound up and handed back to the APY Lands in 2019 - and is now closed to the public.

The Eight Mile Opal Field

The rich historic opal field north of town where the world's most valuable opal was found - quirky sculptures, old diggings and a scattering of people still living out there.

Coober Pedy Gem Trade Show

An annual gem and opal trade show - a highlight for collectors, buyers and opal lovers.

Tom's Working Opal Mine

Guided tours of a genuine working opal mine, with a free noodling pit, scones and barista coffee.

• Good with kids
• Underground

Umoona Opal Mine & Museum

Walk through a real underground mine, a free museum and a preserved dugout home - Coober Pedy's biggest attraction and a perfect first stop.

• Good with kids
• Underground

Unearthing Opal Experience

Hands-on opal mining adventures with Dan Measey from TV's Outback Opal Hunters - day and night sessions.

Opal Shops on Hutchison Street

The main street is lined with opal showrooms and cutters selling stones straight from the fields.

• Accessible

Public Noodling Area

Free, beginner-friendly fossicking on Jeweller's Shop Road - sift the mullock heaps by hand and keep any opal you find. Open 24/7.

• Free
• Good with kids