Coober Pedy

For the first time on the whole trip, we decide to check out the front seat and are treated to a panaroma landscape of central flat Australia – the big sky you only get to witness in the Fens in the UK, but without the people. Another long day of travelling (200 kms + just to get back to the Stuart Highway). We arrive in Coober Pedy late in the afternoon and are treated to a tour of an old underground mining cave and given information on the Opal mining that the area is still famous for. The area has also been used as the location for a number of films because of its appearance including Mad Max and Pitch Black). Our hostel is underground which means a steady temperature all day long to overcome the outside day temperatures that can often been in the region of 50 centrigrade and way, way down overnight. The majority of accomodation in the town is underground because of this reason with folks using mining equipment to create extensions to their properties (although town centre extensions are banned now in case of knocking through to the next house!). After dinner we spend our penultimate night with some of the group having a nightcap under the stars.