Coober Pedy, population 3,500, is a small town in South Australia, 846 kilometres north of Adelaide. It is self-described as the "opal capital of the world" and is indeed the largest source of this precious stone.
An abandoned space ship in downtown Coober Pedy
Some of the interesting attractions in Coober Pedy include the mines, the graveyard and the churches. The first tree ever seen in the town was welded together from scrap iron. It still sits on a hilltop overlooking the town. The golf course is completely free of grass and golfers take a small piece of "turf" around to use for teeing off.
It is a popular tourist destination and the countryside around Coober Pedy has featured as a backdrop to some movies including Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome and Priscilla Queen of the Desert.