Coober Pedy in Australia: This is where life takes place underground

There are many unusual accommodations , houses, and ways of life. But in one village in the middle of the Australian Outback, the residents take it to the extreme. More than 60 percent of Coober Pedy's population lives underground.

The decision to live underground in Coober Pedy is by no means an exotic curiosity, but rather a pragmatic response to the extreme living conditions. Temperatures of up to 45 degrees Celsius in summer and regular sandstorms make life on the surface a challenge.

In the underground dwellings, however, the temperature is constantly a pleasant 20 to 23 degrees – without any air conditioning, reports “ Das Erste ”.

Most people who live in this desert village are there for the same reason: to search for opals. The Australian town has been considered the "opal capital of the world" for many decades; around 70 percent of all white opals come from this region in the Australian Outback.

To access the precious gems, treasure hunters dig deep into the rock, creating complex tunnel systems. The idea of ​​living directly in the caves and thus escaping the extreme temperatures was a natural one.

In addition to opal mines, Coober Pedy also boasts underground churches, shops, hotels, and even a pub. The town currently has a population of around 1,700, many of whom are "individualists." Many of them enjoy the quiet subterranean life and particularly appreciate the fact that they can always expand their own walls. There are no building permits and hardly any regulations for the cave dwellings. There is only one safety rule: a room should not be wider than five meters, otherwise the cave could collapse.

The residents say they don't miss the windows either. Outside, they say, all they see is pits and dirt, and at the same time, they save themselves the hassle of cleaning them. However, the opal hunters are by no means completely cut off from the outside world.

Coober Pedy is no longer just a place to live; it's also a popular tourist destination. Every year, around 150,000 travelers make the arduous journey into the Outback to marvel at the underground houses and enjoy a holiday with a difference.

But things never get boring in Coober Pedy, as the residents have made sure of that with a wide range of activities.

At the Coober Pedy Museum, travelers can discover old mines and the history of the town.

Source: IMAGO/Depositphotos

A former opal mine now serves as a museum, offering insights into the world of precious stones. Guests can even search for gemstones themselves in the surrounding heaps, and with a bit of luck, they might even make a valuable find.

Another highlight is "Josephine's Gallery & Kangaroo Orphanage," a hybrid art gallery and kangaroo sanctuary. Here, travelers can not only purchase Aboriginal art but also meet orphaned and rescued baby kangaroos.

The name "Coober Pedy," by the way, comes from the language of Australia's indigenous peoples and translates as "White Man in the Hole" – a fitting description for a town where living underground has become not just a temporary solution, but a philosophy of life. Those looking to escape the heat of the Australian outback will find not only cooling off here, but also fascinating stories, lifestyles, and perhaps even an opal.

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