Coober Pedy

Further south to Coober Pedy today and the landscape changes constantly. From low ranges to flat barren country. You can really see why the land was determined to be lifeless when the British decided to test their nuclear weapons. There doesn't seem to be much out here.
The approach to Coober Pedy starts about 30kms our where the first of the diggings appear. We have been to Lightning Ridge and White Cliffs but this is on a whole different level. There is massive excavation and absolutely no attempt at restitution. The mullock heaps are just left to build up and dominate the landscape. Even 20kms out from the town it seemed like every piece of dirt had been dug up and turned over at some stage. The places where opal had been found were fairly easy to identify because the heavy machinery had been brought in. It is eye opening and hard to capture in a photo.
The town itself is typical of the outback mining towns, that is, it is full of rubbish. No-one ever discards anything in any sort of responsible way. It is just left to decay wherever it stopped.
We checked in to the Big 4 on the outskirts of town after filling up at the town water point. Water is obviously precious out here.
We visited the underground Catholic Church and the underground Serbian Church. Have to say the Serbs do it really well. Very impressive. Headed out to the Breakaways about 30kms north of town for a spectacular sunset. It is easy to see why it is called the painted desert. Geoff & Robyn – the trip to see the sunset was as per usual :)Read more