Coober Pedy

[Q.]

Thinking of driving up there on the Easter weekend. Any recommendations on where to stay, what to do etc?

[Sky Pilot]

IMHO the best place to hang out and have a few beers and a lot of laughs is the Italian club. If you want to stick your toe in the water and buy some opal be very careful. I can probably steer you in the right direction but I'm no expert. I just have two very reputable contacts up there.

[The Ash Man]

I used to stay here when I went there for work

http://www.desertcave.com.au/

[Q.]

IMHO the best place to hang out and have a few beers and a lot of laughs is the Italian club. If you want to stick your toe in the water and buy some opal be very careful. I can probably steer you in the right direction but I'm no expert. I just have two very reputable contacts up there.

Brother-in-law is a jeweller and he's just moved up there to open up a business, so all good on the opal front. Cheers.

[Q.]

I used to stay here when I went there for work

http://www.desertcave.com.au/

Nice, but a bit pricey!

[Ian]

Try the Lookout Cave Motel, it's a little bit out of the main shopping street, it's up on the side of a hill overlooking the town and probably just as good a underground experience as the desert cave, just a bit plainer


http://www.accommodationsearch.com.au/listing-detail.php?lid=880

[The Ash Man]

I used to stay here when I went there for work

http://www.desertcave.com.au/

Nice, but a bit pricey!

I guess I stayed there cos I wasn't paying!!

[Ian]

I used to stay here when I went there for work

http://www.desertcave.com.au/

Nice, but a bit pricey!

I guess I stayed there cos I wasn't paying!!

Ditto. and yes IIRC it was very pricey

[Footy Chick]

Thinking of driving up there on the Easter weekend. Any recommendations on where to stay, what to do etc?

1) BOOK EARLY, it's the first main stopping point for tourists before/after (depends on which way your travelling) the border.

2) If you're going to stay in Coober Pedy, you may as well do it properly - underground. Yeah it's a little pricey but it's all part of the experience.

3) From memory, I think you can do Cobb and Co runs as tours (where they go out to all the remote stations and drop off goods and mail and stuff, although not sure on pricing, I'll check at work tomorrow to see if they're still running them

4) I think you'll find that most of your gems (excuse the pun) in terms of tours and things though you'll find by asking at the front desk at the hotel.

5) Scenic flights are good as they'll take you over a flowing Lake Eyre, but theyre around $180 for a 30 min flight off the top of my head. We've had a heap of people booking these since the rains started coming last year. Google wrights air (no relation ) for more details.

[Ian]

Do the drive out to the Breakaways, awesome place, come back in along the track that runs along the dog fence, 2wd is fine

[southee]

One of the strangest places I have ever been too.....

[Ian]

Quichey, did you end up going?

[Jimmy_041]

Thinking of driving up there on the Easter weekend. Any recommendations on where to stay, what to do etc?

One recommendation - read this: http://www.safooty.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=33589

[overloaded]

Look out for old Mr Williams at the pub (he owns it). Great character

[Q.]

Quichey, did you end up going?

Yep. I concur with southee's thoughts

Will go again soonish, if only to see family.

And thanks for the recommendation on the Lookout Cave, nice place and really hospitable owners too.

[CoverKing]

The biggest crap hole i have ever been too. Will never go there again unless im forced to!

[Q.]

The biggest crap hole i have ever been too. Will never go there again unless im forced to!

Aww, not that bad surely. I just sat outside the front of my brother-in-law's jewellery store and watched life go by - an anthropological gem is Coober Pedy

[southee]

The biggest crap hole i have ever been too. Will never go there again unless im forced to!

Can't really argue with that observation........just frickin weird.

I had car trouble travelling to Ayers Rock as I worked there (in Ayers Rock) in 2002. I was coming back to The Rock when I stopped into a servo to look for a mechanic. I walked in the door to find about 8 people on tables smoking....talking turned to silence as all their heads turned to look at me and listen to what I wanted. It was really like something out a western movie, very strange and bizarre feeling....... No one trusts anyone there.

Isn't Cooper Pedy where most people hide from the tax man ?? or is this just a rumour

[Ian]

The biggest crap hole i have ever been too. Will never go there again unless im forced to!

I actually like the place, I would never want to live there but I don't mind visiting