Published for: Tuesday, 5/08/2008
Travel Guides -> Attractions -> South Australia -> Far North
Coober Pedy - The Breakaways is one of South Australia`s Outback gems. They`re a striking rocky landscape of flat-topped mesas.
The Breakaways were once covered by an inland sea. They are now home to an array of native fauna and flora. Take in this remarkable view, which you`ll find approximately 33 kilometres north of Coober Pedy.
The best time to see the awesome Breakaways is sunset, when you can appreciate the amazing sandstone colours.
South Australian tour operators can take you there to explore the s... read more
Coober Pedy - An Anglican church founded and supported by the Bush Church Aid Society. Named after the Catacombs in Rome, where early Christians buried their dead and met undisturbed in times of persecution. Just as here we escape the harsh climatic extremes and enjoy quiet coolness and peace.
The church was developed from an old dugout and opened as an underground church in 1977. Cut out of sandstone in the shape of a cross and adorned in a simple and natural way befitting the outback opal fields. The cros... read more
Innamincka - In the heart of South Australia’s desert wilderness, the thriving wetlands of Coongie Lakes National Park is a highlight of many an Outback adventure.
100 kilometre north-west of the legendary pioneer town of Innamincka, and fed by the waters of Coopers Creek, these Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance are a haven for wildlife.
This pristine water-world of channels, waterholes and lakes is the perfect spot to get back to nature, so bring your binoculars and watch as Coongie Lakes puts o... read more
William Creek - Coward Springs Campground, on the Oodnadatta Track can be a destination in itself. It is an oasis in the driest part of outback South Australia. Campground trees can be seen from afar in the flat open landscape. The campground offers safe, low-key, sheltered and peaceful camping.
Most campsites are in the shade and shelter of trees and date palms that were planted when this was a thriving railway siding on the old Ghan Line. Other sites are sheltered by more recent plantings of local native tre... read more
Coober Pedy - For over 33 years, Discount Opal House have been mining in the Coober Pedy Opal fields. We cut our own opal, and design and create our own jewellery on site. As a family owned and operated business, we have an experienced Opal Miner, expert Opal Cutter and on site Jewellery Designer and Goldsmith.
Because we mine, cut and polish our own opal, we can guarantee all our opal to be natural and cut to the finest standard. All our opals and opal jewellery come with a written Guarantee Certificate whi... read more
Faye`s Underground Home And Opal Mine
Coober Pedy - Located in a beautiful desert garden is Faye`s famous Underground Home.
This original one room home housed the first mail truck driver more than 60 years ago. It was converted by Faye Nayler and two other women, using only picks and shovels, into a kitchen and bedroom. Later five other rooms were added including a wine cellar and a swimming pool. Unlike a number of display homes in the town, Faye`s Underground Home is actually lived in.
The occupiers will be happy to show you the advantages of... read more
Innamincka - Fishing in the desert? Innamincka Regional Reserve is an oasis of striking contrasts in the desert of northern South Australia.
Located at the end of the famous Strzelecki Track’s shimmering sand dunes, this oasis in the Outback features numerous waterholes, amazing wetlands and a surprising diversity of wildlife including turtles, frogs, fish and birds.
The untouched wilderness of Coongie Lakes is a highlight of any Outback adventure. Fed from the Cooper Creek which starts more than 1000 kil... read more
Marla Bore - Iwantja Community is mainly Yankunytjatjara people living on the eastern side of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands, eight kilometres from the Stuart Highway in the far north of South Australia, on a dusty rocky ridge called Indulkana.
Indulkana Arts Association started in the seventies. Initially used for secondary student`s art lessons, the building used was so crowded at times that the teacher had to mark spots on the floor in the morning to make sure they all had room! Skills were learnt and ... read more
William Creek - If you’re looking for a real Outback adventure, Lake Eyre is the place. Huge and remote, the vast expanse of the shimmering white salt plain is matched in intensity only by the impossibly blue desert sky.
Magnificent sunrises and sunsets, grand vistas and rich birdlife are enjoyed in this isolated part of the world.
While the lake has only filled three times to capacity in the past 150 years, it partially fills on average every eight years, turning the lake into a birdwatchers’ paradise. How t... read more
Mount Dare Homestead And Dalhousie Mound Springs
Oodnadatta - Formerly a cattle station, Mount Dare is today part of Witjira National Park, on the edge of the Simpson Desert with Marla to the west and Birdsville to the east. Nearby Dalhousie Mound Springs is a desert oasis, inviting you to plunge into its therapeutic heated spring waters.
Other attractions of the park include Dalhousie Ruins. For the birdwatcher, Mount Dare is a haven abounding with prolific birdlife.
Mount Dare is approximately 513 kilometres south-east of Alice Springs by road, and 10 ... read more
Oodnadatta - The Oodnadatta Track offers one of the best Outback drives in Australia. Steeped in history, natural wonders and a rich cultural heritage, the track is perhaps our most fascinating and historic outback trail.
It was the route for 19th century explorers like John McDouall Stuart. The track follows an old Aboriginal trading route through semi-desert country with artesian springs and waterholes along the way. It now carries tourist traffic all year round.
See the colourful, ever-changing landscap... read more
Coober Pedy - Buy opal where it is found - Coober Pedy is the opal capital of the world. This is an ideal place to buy a memento of Coober Pedy. Opal World has an extensive range of quality opal and opal jewellery.
The opal shop located at the Desert Cave Hotel complex. Quality rough and cut opal available, one hundred percent international written guarantee, tax-free to overseas visitors, award winning displays.
Anna Creek - The Painted Desert is an area of spectacular colorful hills. It`s an amazing sight - you`ll see rocky outcrops of large and small hills, which emerge suddenly out of a flat, desert landscape.
It`s perhaps best viewed in bright sunlight which brings out vivid colours such as ochre yellow, oxide red, and deep, rich brown, contrasting with crisp whites and jet blacks. Created more than 80 million years ago, the it forms part of the spectacular breakaway country, located 50 kilometres south west of... read more
Simpson Desert Conservation Park and Regional Reserve
Oodnadatta - Four wheel driving through the Simpson Desert, with its vivid red sand dunes, shimmering white salt lakes and vast Spinifex grasslands is an adventure you`ll never forget.
The Simpson Desert is the largest parallel dunal desert in the world. It covers more than 170 000 square kilometres and crosses the corners of three states - South Australia, Queensland and Northern Territory. In South Australia, the Simpson Desert Regional Reserve and Conservation Park, conserves almost a quarter of this hug... read more
Coober Pedy - In 1974 we purchased the block where Star Opal and our dugout home are now situated. On the block there was a small stone building, which was used as a cutting room by the previous owner and a very small one roomed dugout.
At Star Opal we strive to give you the personalized service that is most essential when you are purchasing opal. Our aim is to show you a large range of opal so that you can make that personal choice, and have the expert advice of our staff regarding your purchase. Our reside... read more
Innamincka - Strezelecki Regional Reserve includes the vast pale sand dune country of the Strzelecki and Cobbler Deserts, and the mostly dry bed of the Strzelecki Creek. The previously identified Strzelecki Boundary has been realigned to more accurately reflect the Tinga Tingana Pastoral Lease which is not part of Strzelecki Regional Reserve. This now means there is no public vehicle access to Strzelecki Regional Reserve. Visitors can still travel on the main public road Strzelecki Track that is maintained b... read more
Coober Pedy - Tallaringa Conservation Park (1,246,000 hectares), located 100 kilometres due west of Coober Pedy South Australia, lies on the fringe of the Great Victoria Desert and is a vast wilderness of vegetated dunes and gibber rises.
The park supports a variety of important species that have adapted to live in the dry arid area. Of particular interest is the Mulga woodland, found to be different from others already conserved because of the absence of Porcupine Grass (Triodia) from the understorey. Thi... read more
Coober Pedy - Coober Pedy is one of Australia’s hidden jewels it not only produces the majority of the worlds opal but has to be one of the most unusual places in Australia. The Old Timers Mine is the tourist attraction that shows in one establishment the joys, heartache and history of Coober Pedy.
The Old Timers Mine is an accredited tourism business and is one of Coober Pedy’s premier tourist attractions, the only place in the world where you can see three large good quality rough opal seams and opalised s... read more
Coober Pedy - Browse through the Opal Museum and fascinating display of rough and cut opal and opalised fossils millions and millions of years old. Walk through our beautiful and unusual underground garden to our award winning show room. Here you are able to select from an extensive range of opal jewellery, rough and cut opal, a large range of souvenirs and local art and craft.
Coober Pedy - The Opal Cutter is Coober Pedy`s finest underground opal shop, run by Barbara Lamont who has been in the opal industry for over 20 years. We pride ourselves on our quality, unique handcrafted jewellery and friendly service. Our products are fully guaranteed and exported all over the world.
Our underground shop stocks a huge range of Australian opals both in the rough and finished state. We cut and polish Coober Pedy light opal, Queensland boulder opal - the opal that naturally occurs in ironsto... read more
Coober Pedy - Visit Umoona Opal Mine and Museum, Coober Pedy`s largest underground and only award winning tourism attraction. Located on the main street of Coober Pedy, Umoona Opal Mine was formally an original opal mine that was first worked in the 1920`s.
Take a walk through our museum where you will find information on Aboriginal and European settlement in the area. Step back into Australia`s ancient past and view fossils from the South Australian Museum.
You can take our guided tour and experience ... read more
Coober Pedy - The Underground Art Gallery is conveniently located in the main street of Coober Pedy. The gallery is completely underground and is carved out of solid sandstone, it is quite large and includes a hands on mining area where you can put on a hard hat and get a bit on mining experience right in the middle of town.
There is an impressive collection of Aboriginal art and artefacts including such items as nulla nullas, didgeridoos, music sticks, dot paintings, coolamons, boomerangs and hand carved fi... read more
Underground Catholic Church Of St Peter And Pauls
Coober Pedy - The first purpose built underground Catholic Church of its type in the world opened June 25 1967 and extensions completed September 1984.
It still remains Australia`s only purpose built underground Catholic Church and is classified a historical site in Coober Pedy, South Australia.
Special features of the church include the bell tower, St Anthony`s Window, the Jasper stone altar and sanctuary, and the Holy Picture of Marija Pomagaj.
Post cards and fridge magnets are available for purchase and... read more
Coober Pedy - See how pottery is made at the Underground Potteries and view the finished work in the gallery.
All of the pottery is hand thrown or hand built and twice fired at the studio. The clays used are guaranteed genuine stoneware or terracotta, suitable for use in ovens, microwaves, freezers and dishwashers, but cannot be used on a flame or hot plate. The pottery is designed not only to be pleasing to the eye but also functional. The glazes capture the colours of Coober Pedy and the Outback and are al... read more
Wabma Kadarbu Mound Springs National Park
Marree - Fresh, flowing water in the middle of the desert?
Located along the famous Oodnadatta Track and set against the backdrop of one of the world’s most arid landscapes, Wabma Kadarbu Conservation Park protects naturally formed, free-flowing, thermal springs.
Amazingly, Australia’s dry and dusty outback is sitting over one of the world’s largest underground reservoirs, The Great Artesian Basin, containing an estimated 64,900 cubic kilometres of water - making the Basin some 13,000 times larger than... read more
Oodnadatta - Imagine bathing off the Outback dust in a warm thermal spring surrounded by palm trees in the middle of the Simpson Desert.
At Witjira National Park you can.
Dalhousie Mound Springs is a series of 70 waterways – an Oasis in the desert – including welcoming campsites where the whole family can unwind after a long, dusty journey.
Watching the mist rise from these waters on a cold, crisp desert morning or seeing the birdlife attracted to these life-giving pools at dusk are memories that will las... read more
Woomera Heritage and Visitor Centre
Woomera - Come and experience the Woomera Heritage Museum and discover the pivotal role Woomera plays in the past, present and future history of Australia. The Heritage Museum contains historical displays relating to the Woomera Range and to the closed Joint Defence Facility at Nurrungar. The displays contain an extensive range of rocket parts along with photographs and descriptions of Range activities, including the most recent NEXST-1 and HyShot trials. A video is also shown in the museum recounting sig... read more
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