Geocaching in Coober Pedy

Geocaching — the worldwide GPS treasure hunt where you use coordinates to track down hidden “caches” — is alive and well in Coober Pedy. It’s a great way to give the kids a mission and end up at viewpoints and quirky spots you might otherwise drive straight past.

The local favourite

The standout is the “Coober Pedy – Outback” EarthCache (GC53EW1) at The Big Winch Scenic Lookout. EarthCaches have no physical container — instead you visit the site, take in the view over the whole town and out toward the Breakaways, and answer a few questions about the geology and how Coober Pedy’s opal formed. It’s free, family-friendly and wheelchair-accessible at the lookout itself.

Further afield

There are more caches dotted along the Stuart Highway and out into the surrounding desert. Out here they’re often tough, weatherproof ammo-can hides set a long way apart, so treat any out-of-town caching as a proper outback drive: carry water, fuel up first, tell someone your plans, and read up on outback safety.

Getting started

• Geocaching.com — the main global app and site; create a free account, then filter for caches around Coober Pedy.
• Geocaching Australia — a free, Australian-run listing with its own caches and cache types.

Bring a phone or GPS, a pen (to sign the logbook on physical caches), and pop anything you take from a cache back with something of equal value.