Are you thinking of an Adelaide road trip? There are many road trip destinations that begin in Adelaide and one of the most intriguing is an Adelaide to Coober Pedy road trip.
This Australian road trip leaves from the cosmopolitan city of Adelaide and travels through a dusty landscape to the opal mining town of Coober Pedy.
Along the way we discover the true spirit of the outback as we visit Adelaide, Port Augusta, Woomera and Coober Pedy in South Australia.
On this journey you will get the chance to learn about Aboriginal mythology at the Wadlata Outback Centre in Port Augusta, relive the glory days of Woomera rocket range or view opals from Coober Pedy underground mines.
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Adelaide Coober Pedy Map
Where is Coober Pedy located? Coober Pedy sits in the heart of South Australia and is 848km north of Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia.
This isolated town is famous for its opals and underground dwellings. This unique lifestyle draws tourists from all over the globe wanting to experience the outback and underground living.
Getting from Adelaide to Coober Pedy
The driving distance from Adelaide to Coober Pedy is 848 km and takes around nine hours if you were to drive straight through.
Of course, the Adelaide to Coober Pedy drive can be unpredictable, outback road trains towing five trailers can slow down the journey and you should always be on the lookout for livestock, kangaroos, and emus.
Be aware that the distance Adelaide to Coober Pedy is dry and arid, it is advisable to carry water and food and make sure to fill up with fuel at each roadhouse as there are vast distances between communities.
As you drive you will enjoy an endless vista of rusty landscapes filled with salt bush and mesas, scenery full of colour, an introduction to the Australian outback.
Many people take an Adelaide to Coober Pedy road trip in conjunction with an Adelaide Darwin road trip which is an epic journey and one that should be considered if you have time.
Other ways to get to Coober Pedy from Adelaide
Of course, if you don’t want to take a Adelaide to Coober Pedy road trip and still want to visit Coober Pedy there are a couple of other options available. Adelaide to Coober Pedy flights depart daily with a flight time of around two hours.
There are also multi day tours to Coober Pedy from Adelaide that take in a fabulous range of outback destinations. Here are just a few destinations that you will visit on this jam packed Adelaide to Coober Pedy tours.
- Pt Augusta Wadlata Outback Centre
- Woomera Rocket Range
- Coober Pedy mine and town tour
- Sunset at The Breakaways
- Remote William Creek pub
- The Dingo Fence
- The Oodnadatta Track
- Maree Old Mail Run
- Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary
- Flinders Ranges National Park
- Wilpena Pound
- Brachina Gorge Ediacaran fossils
- Clare Valley
Adelaide
If you have never visited Adelaide, you are in for a real treat as it is one of the cultural capitals of Australia, a city that takes pride in its entertainment scene, museums and art galleries, festivals, food and wine.
Another plus for visiting Adelaide is that it is the steppingstone to the wineries of the Barossa Valley and epicurean delights of Hahndorf and the Adelaide Hills.
The city is full of attractions and here are just a few that should be seen before starting your Adelaide to Coober Pedy road trip.
Adelaide Central Markets
Officially opening on the 22nd of January 1870, Adelaide Central Market became the place for local producers to sell the regions game meat, fresh fish, fruit and vegetables.
Over 150 years later the market is still home to over seventy traders in what is one of the largest undercover fresh produce markets in the Southern Hemisphere. Not only will you find fresh produce but a delicious range of multicultural cuisines and artisan products.
The Adelaide Central Markets are a great place to stop off for coffee or sample a new cuisine for lunch.
Adelaide Art Galleries and Museums
If you love art galleries and museums make sure to give yourself plenty of time to explore this fabulous assortment of museums.
Located within a short walk of the University tram stop are The Art Gallery of South Australia, Museum of Classical Archaeology and South Australian Museum. All house extensive collections that feature ancient artefacts, Australian and international artworks, Australia’s natural and cultural heritage.
Adelaide Restaurant & Bar Scene
In the evening Adelaide comes alive within the vibrant bar scene of Peel and Leigh Street, the perfect place to enjoy a cocktail or sample the regions famous wine.
The Adelaide food scene is one of the best in the world, with a huge variety of cuisines that take full advantage of the prized gourmet produce of the Barossa Valley and Adelaide Hills.
Adelaide Accommodation
If you need a place to stay in Adelaide before you start your Adelaide to Coober Pedy road trip you will find a fantastic assortment of luxury and budget accommodation to suit every traveller’s needs.
Click here for Adelaide accommodation choices
Adelaide to Port Augusta
The first stop on our Adelaide to Coober Pedy road trip is Port Augusta. The distance between Adelaide and Port Augusta is 308 km and takes roughly 3 ½ hours to drive.
Port Augusta sits at the top of Spencer Gulf and is the gateway to the Flinders Ranges. If you have time you may choose to take a side trip to the Flinders Ranges before continuing the road trip to Coober Pedy.
The city is a popular tourist destination as it is where the Eyre Highway and Stuart Highway converge, with each highway being the beginning of two epic Australian road trips.
The Eyre Highway heads 1,667 km west from Port Augusta and crosses the Nullarbor Plain to Norseman in Western Australia, while the Stuart Highway heads 2,721 km north to Darwin in the Northern Territory.
Things to do in Port Augusta
During our road trip from Adelaide to Coober Pedy we chose to stay the night in Port Augusta. There are a few tourist attractions in the city, here are just two that should be on your list of places to visit in Port Augusta.
Wadlata Outback Centre
The first thing you will see as you enter the Wadlata Outback Centre are the massive jaws of Max, the giant ripper lizard.
This unique tourist information centre will have you enjoying a journey through the ages as you walk through the “Tunnel of Time” to discover the story of the outback from prehistoric times to the present day.
Inside you will see prehistoric fossils and learn about local Aboriginal culture, the intrepid explorers and pioneers of the region.
After visiting the attractions relax with coffee and cake at the Outback Tuckerbox Café or look for outback souvenirs in the gift shop.
Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden
The Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden is 6 km outside of Port Augusta and contains a range of self-guided and guided walks on four specially marked walking tracks.
As you explore the walking tracks you will be surprised to learn that this dry landscape holds a unique ecosystem that supports a diverse range of animal, bird and plant life.
One of the highlights of the walking tracks are the breathtaking views of the Spencer Gulf and the Flinders Ranges from the Red Cliff Walk.
After your walk visit The Café which serves an interesting array of dishes which incorporate native ingredients including their famous lemon myrtle pancakes with quandong ice-cream.
Port Augusta Accommodation
During our visit to Port Augusta, we stayed in a motel room at the Discovery Parks – Port Augusta. Our motel room was comfortable and clean, with a welcoming décor.
Discovery Parks – Port Augusta has a range of accommodation styles including motel rooms, cabins, caravan and camping sites, with a choice of family rooms and pet friendly rooms.
Click here for Discovery Parks – Port Augusta
Top Tip
Port Augusta is the last city you will pass through on your journey and while the towns of Woomera and Coober Pedy have small supermarkets, they may not have all the items you need. To avoid disappointment stock up on all those last minute essentials in Port Augusta.
Port Augusta to Woomera
The distance from Port Augusta to Woomera is 186 km and takes about 2 hours to drive on the Stuart Highway.
As you drive from Port Augusta to Woomera you will pass grassy plains, deep orange mesas, white saltpans, bushland, and an endless terrain of saltbush.
I travelled along the Stuart Highway from Adelaide to Woomera on numerous occasions during the 1970’s and I’m sure I didn’t appreciate this arid beauty at the time.
Spud’s Roadhouse at Pimba
Pimba is 7 km from Woomera on the Stuart Highway. Here you will find Spud’s Roadhouse which is a great place to take a break from the road, grab a bite to eat and refuel the car.
You will also find a display of military memorabilia which highlights the international comradery of the people who worked in Woomera during its heyday.
From Pimba you can either continue the journey along the Stuart Highway to Coober Pedy or follow the signs off the highway to Woomera and learn about its glory days as a world famous rocket range.
Woomera
When you visit Woomera, you will get a glimpse into the days when Australia was one of the world leaders in aerospace technology.
This once world famous rocket range came into being because of the devastation caused by German V2 rockets during WWII. After the war Woomera Rocket Range was built to construct and test new rockets for defence.
These days WWII and the Cold War that followed may seem like light years away but at the time the threat of intercontinental missile attacks from the former Soviet Union were very real.
In 1967 Australia gained worldwide recognition when it became a member of the “Space Club” when the WRESAT satellite was launched from Woomera.
At its peak Woomera was home to a multicultural population which included Australian, American, French, and English. In its heyday Woomera housed around 7,000 people, in the 1970’s the population dwindled to 4,000 and Woomera currently has a population of around 150 people.
Things to do in Woomera
The Woomera of today is much quieter than when I visited in the 1970’s. Gone is the guard gate and need for a pass to enter, the hustle and bustle of people and the long American cars which thumped disco music into the air.
Today anyone can drive into Woomera and get a taste of what it was like to live in this isolated area, which was once a thriving community filled with schools, churches, library, sports and social clubs, movie theatre, hospital and shops.
While there make sure to stop off at the Missile Park and Woomera Heritage & Visitor Centre.
Missile Park
The Woomera Missile Park has an impressive display of rockets, planes and rocket launchers scattered across the park. There are message boards explaining what the rockets are and when they were launched.
Woomera Heritage & Visitor Centre
Woomera Heritage & Visitor Centre is a must see when you visit Woomera. This interesting museum tells the history of Woomera, the stories of the families who lived there and it is the place to learn about the rocket launchings and satellite technology of the day.
Woomera Accommodation
If you are tired and need a break from the road you will find a choice of accommodation in Woomera.
The Eldo Hotel will have you stepping back in time with a range of rooms and apartments which were former military servicemen’s quarters.
Woomera Traveller’s Village & Caravan Park has a range of motel rooms, cabins and powered and unpowered caravan sites.
Woomera to Coober Pedy
The distance from Woomera to Coober Pedy is 380 km and takes approximately 4 hours to drive. Before you leave make sure to refuel as the next fuel stop is at Glendambo Roadhouse which is 121 km away.
Scenic Lookouts
As you drive along the Stuart Highway make sure to stop at the Island Lagoon Lookout and the Lake Hart Rest Area.
The Island Lagoon Lookout has views of a striking bright white salt lake which stands out against the burnt orange soil and the green saltbush of this arid landscape.
The Lake Hart Rest Area has views overlooking the peaceful waters of Lake Hart. Here you will find information boards telling the story of the local Indigenous people and early explorers of the region.
Glendambo Roadhouse
The Glendambo Roadhouse to Coober Pedy distance is 253 km and takes around 3 hours to drive. The roadhouse is the perfect place to take a comfort stop and stretch the legs. If you need a break from the road there is an onsite motel and caravan park.
Glendambo to Coober Pedy
As you drive toward Coober Pedy the scenery turns into an alien landscape as large mounds of earth dot the countryside, marking the beginning of the underground opal mines.
Best Time to Visit Coober Pedy
Coober Pedy is a fascinating place and although you can visit all year round it is important to know that the town has a high and low season.
High season coincides with the cooler weather between May and October when temperatures are comfortable. If you are visiting Coober Pedy during high season the town becomes busy and prebooking hotels and attractions in advance is essential.
If you visit Coober Pedy during low season, be aware that some attractions close between the scorching hot summer months from December to February.
Coober Pedy
When you enter town, you will wonder how anyone could live in such a parched environment. This almost treeless terrain is scorched by the sun and battered by the elements.
Though stark, there is a peaceful beauty to the landscape, and it has been the traditional home of the Antakirinja Yunkunytjatjara people who have lived in the region for thousands of years.
Coober Pedy takes its name from the Aboriginal words meaning “whitefellas’ hole” and is famous for opal rich land which over the years has created many fortunes.
It takes a tough breed of people to endure and love living in this unforgiving setting. The problem was solved when locals found that it was much cooler underground in the opal mines and started living below ground in their “dugouts” rather than above ground in the harsh heat of the area.
Things to do in Coober Pedy
There are many things to see in Coober Pedy and here are just some of the highlights of the Coober Pedy attractions.
The Big Winch 360
The Big Winch 360 can be seen from all over Coober Pedy and has some of the best views in town. You can enjoy early morning views but one of the best things to do in Coober Pedy is to visit the Big Winch 360 Café and celebrate the sunset with a cool beer or wine.
The Big Winch 360 Cinema Experience will surround you in circle vision and take you on an epic outback cinematic journey. Here you will be immersed in the outback pioneering spirit of the Explorers Way and get to hear stories of the modern day opal miners of Coober Pedy.
In a town that once had no trees it was impossible for children to get tree climbing experience, this inspired Bob Amorosi to create the Steel Tree for his children. The Steel Tree sits next to the Big Winch and is a testament to outback ingenuity.
Before you leave take a well-earned break from sightseeing at the Big Winch 360 Café and enjoy a variety of dishes from the menu.
The Coober Pedy Old Timers Mine
The Old Timers Mine is one of our favourite opal mine tours Coober Pedy. The Old Timers Mine takes you underground where you will learn about the fearless pioneering “opal gougers” of Coober Pedy.
You will discover the history of opal mining and the lifestyle of the people who called Coober Pedy home in the past and present.
Best of all you can marvel at the fully furnished dugout home of Ron Gough and his family, a cooler and more energy efficient alternative to living above ground.
The Opal Cave
When you visit the Opal Cave the first thing you notice is the spaceship parked out front. Surprisingly, this unusual sight suits Coober Pedy’s moonlike landscape perfectly. The spaceship is an original prop from the movie Pitch Black which starred Vin Diesel.
Escape the heat and head inside to a treasure trove of opal jewellery, trinkets, paintings and glassware.
Catholic Church of St Peter & St Paul
The Catholic Church of St Peter & St Paul is a small church built in Coober Pedy’s unique underground style. There is a beautiful stained glass window at the entry and inside you will find a peaceful setting with alter and carved nooks holding statues, candles and flowers.
Other Coober Pedy Attractions
These are just some of the places to visit in Coober Pedy, other must see attractions include Tom’s Working Opal Mine which is a fabulous opal mine tour Coober Pedy. Also take the time to visit Faye’s Underground Home, The Big Miner and see the vibrant Coober Pedy sign.
Accommodation Coober Pedy South Australia
If you are looking for underground accommodation Coober Pedy SA, you will find a good selection to choose from. Of course, if you don’t like the idea of sleeping underground there is also a choice of Coober Pedy aboveground accommodation.
The Underground Motel
During our visit to Coober Pedy, we had the pleasure of staying at the Underground Motel and can highly recommend it.
When you walk into the motel a charming Mediterranean style decor and welcoming hosts will greet you. All rooms have been dug into a sandstone hill and have access to natural daylight and are well ventilated by air shafts.
The doorway to our room overlooked an underground hallway which led to an outdoor sitting area. Our underground room featured a double and single bed with sitting area and TV. The bathroom was clean and well lit.
The motel has a shared kitchen with fridge, stove top, microwave, tea and coffee making facilities and cooking utensils.
Sitting on a hill the motel has sweeping views of Coober Pedy and the Stuart Ranges beyond. Of an evening the shared outdoor veranda is the perfect place to watch the sun go down with a cool beverage.
Click here to book a stay at the Underground Motel
More Coober Pedy Accommodation
During high season Coober Pedy accommodation sells out quickly so make sure to book well in advance to avoid disappointment.
Click here for more Coober Pedy accommodation options
Last words on Adelaide to Coober Pedy Road Trip Australia
We hope you found our article on an Adelaide to Coober Pedy Road Trip Australia helpful. We fell in love with the character and colours of the outback and admire the people who call this part of the world home.
Though these areas are isolated I can understand why people live in these regions, the sense of community is strong, and these wide open spaces have a beauty which works its way into your heart.
This was just a section of our Adelaide to Darwin road trip, and we will continue the journey from Coober Pedy to Alice Springs.
