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Coober Pedy

PostPosted: Sun Feb 20, 2011 8:35 pm
by Q.
Thinking of driving up there on the Easter weekend. Any recommendations on where to stay, what to do etc?

Re: Coober Pedy

PostPosted: Sun Feb 20, 2011 8:58 pm
by Sky Pilot
IMHO the best place to hang out and have a few beers and a lot of laughs is the Italian club. If you want to stick your toe in the water and buy some opal be very careful. I can probably steer you in the right direction but I'm no expert. I just have two very reputable contacts up there.

Re: Coober Pedy

PostPosted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 11:37 am
by The Ash Man
I used to stay here when I went there for work

http://www.desertcave.com.au/

Re: Coober Pedy

PostPosted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 10:31 pm
by Q.
Sky Pilot wrote:IMHO the best place to hang out and have a few beers and a lot of laughs is the Italian club. If you want to stick your toe in the water and buy some opal be very careful. I can probably steer you in the right direction but I'm no expert. I just have two very reputable contacts up there.


Brother-in-law is a jeweller and he's just moved up there to open up a business, so all good on the opal front. Cheers.

Re: Coober Pedy

PostPosted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 10:33 pm
by Q.
The Ash Man wrote:I used to stay here when I went there for work

http://www.desertcave.com.au/


Nice, but a bit pricey!

Re: Coober Pedy

PostPosted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 9:43 am
by Ian
Try the Lookout Cave Motel, it's a little bit out of the main shopping street, it's up on the side of a hill overlooking the town and probably just as good a underground experience as the desert cave, just a bit plainer


http://www.accommodationsearch.com.au/listing-detail.php?lid=880

Re: Coober Pedy

PostPosted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 11:32 am
by The Ash Man
Quichey wrote:
The Ash Man wrote:I used to stay here when I went there for work

http://www.desertcave.com.au/


Nice, but a bit pricey!


I guess I stayed there cos I wasn't paying!!

Re: Coober Pedy

PostPosted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 3:22 pm
by Ian
The Ash Man wrote:
Quichey wrote:
The Ash Man wrote:I used to stay here when I went there for work

http://www.desertcave.com.au/


Nice, but a bit pricey!


I guess I stayed there cos I wasn't paying!!


Ditto. and yes IIRC it was very pricey

Re: Coober Pedy

PostPosted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 9:22 pm
by Footy Chick
Quichey wrote:Thinking of driving up there on the Easter weekend. Any recommendations on where to stay, what to do etc?


1) BOOK EARLY, it's the first main stopping point for tourists before/after (depends on which way your travelling) the border.

2) If you're going to stay in Coober Pedy, you may as well do it properly - underground. Yeah it's a little pricey but it's all part of the experience.

3) From memory, I think you can do Cobb and Co runs as tours (where they go out to all the remote stations and drop off goods and mail and stuff, although not sure on pricing, I'll check at work tomorrow to see if they're still running them

4) I think you'll find that most of your gems (excuse the pun) in terms of tours and things though you'll find by asking at the front desk at the hotel.

5) Scenic flights are good as they'll take you over a flowing Lake Eyre, but theyre around $180 for a 30 min flight off the top of my head. We've had a heap of people booking these since the rains started coming last year. Google wrights air (no relation :lol: ) for more details.

Re: Coober Pedy

PostPosted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 9:52 pm
by Ian
Do the drive out to the Breakaways, awesome place, come back in along the track that runs along the dog fence, 2wd is fine

Re: Coober Pedy

PostPosted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 10:45 pm
by southee
One of the strangest places I have ever been too..... :?

Re: Coober Pedy

PostPosted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 10:43 am
by Ian
Quichey, did you end up going?

Re: Coober Pedy

PostPosted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 11:02 am
by Jimmy_041
Quichey wrote:Thinking of driving up there on the Easter weekend. Any recommendations on where to stay, what to do etc?


One recommendation - read this: http://www.safooty.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=33589

Re: Coober Pedy

PostPosted: Tue Jul 26, 2011 10:58 pm
by overloaded
Look out for old Mr Williams at the pub (he owns it). Great character

Re: Coober Pedy

PostPosted: Tue Jul 26, 2011 11:19 pm
by Q.
Ian wrote:Quichey, did you end up going?


Yep. I concur with southee's thoughts :lol:

Will go again soonish, if only to see family.

And thanks for the recommendation on the Lookout Cave, nice place and really hospitable owners too.

Re: Coober Pedy

PostPosted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 7:13 pm
by CoverKing
The biggest crap hole i have ever been too. Will never go there again unless im forced to!

Re: Coober Pedy

PostPosted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 10:40 pm
by Q.
CoverKing wrote:The biggest crap hole i have ever been too. Will never go there again unless im forced to!


Aww, not that bad surely. I just sat outside the front of my brother-in-law's jewellery store and watched life go by - an anthropological gem is Coober Pedy :lol:

Re: Coober Pedy

PostPosted: Fri Jul 29, 2011 9:42 pm
by southee
CoverKing wrote:The biggest crap hole i have ever been too. Will never go there again unless im forced to!


Can't really argue with that observation........just frickin weird.

I had car trouble travelling to Ayers Rock as I worked there (in Ayers Rock) in 2002. I was coming back to The Rock when I stopped into a servo to look for a mechanic. I walked in the door to find about 8 people on tables smoking....talking turned to silence as all their heads turned to look at me and listen to what I wanted. It was really like something out a western movie, very strange and bizarre feeling....... :lol: No one trusts anyone there.

Isn't Cooper Pedy where most people hide from the tax man ?? or is this just a rumour :shock:

Re: Coober Pedy

PostPosted: Sat Jul 30, 2011 1:06 pm
by Ian
CoverKing wrote:The biggest crap hole i have ever been too. Will never go there again unless im forced to!

I actually like the place, I would never want to live there but I don't mind visiting