Can you imagine living in a town where hiding beneath the earth is the only way to escape the scalding sun? This is life in Coober Pedy—a place like no other. Nestled in the heart of the South Australian desert, this peculiar town is home to 2, 500 residents, with an astounding 60% living underground.
Their subterranean dwellings keep them sane in the face of blistering 52°C temperatures. Coober Pedy’s name stems from the Aboriginal term ‘kupa-piti, ‘ meaning ‘whitefellas’ hole, ‘ which resonates with its labyrinth of underground homes, shops, and churches.
Over the summer, relative humidity rarely gets over 20%, and the skies are usually cloud-free. The average maximum temperature is 30–32 °C (86–90 °F). However, it can get quite cold in the winter.
This town isn’t just a sanctuary from the scorching sun; it’s the opal capital of the world. Supplying 70% of the global opal market, Coober Pedy’s landscape is dotted with countless mining pits. These aren’t merely holes in the ground—they represent a world record for the largest underground mining town, boasting around 1, 500 subterranean homes. Here, living underground is not simply a choice; it’s a lifeline.
The high cost of cooling above-ground homes makes these dugouts essential to survival. Yet, what could be seen as a hardship transforms into a unique allure. Imagine homes with built-in bookshelves carved from sandstone and even swimming pools nestled in their living rooms.So, if you’re on the lookout for an adventure that promises to challenge your perception of normal, consider a trip to Coober Pedy. Just make sure to bring a hat—because above ground, it’s a real scorcher.