Coober Pedy underground hotel

They say to get the most from a destination you should live as the locals do – and, in one small town in South Australia, that means sleeping in a Coober Pedy underground hotel.

Located in the middle of the outback, this opal mining town is hot. Very hot. The average Coober Pedy temperature in summer is around 36C but once peaked at 47.8C. As such, around 80 per cent of the local population sleep in underground homes  –  with a selection of underground hotels and hostels in Coober Pedy you can do the same.

It’s a truly unique experience as the rooms are carved directly into the rock creating swirls and stripes on the walls that change with the colours of the stone. You’ll be amazed at how cool and quiet your hotel room in the heat of the day – and at how dark it is at night. It’s ‘can’t even see the floor’ dark – so definitely take note on how to find your way to the bathroom!

But it’s not just sleeping in an underground bed that happens in Coober Pedy. You can drink cocktails in the underground bar at the Desert Cave Hotel (one of the best underground hotels in Coober Pedy), and you can’t miss a trip to the three underground churches, particularly the beautiful Serbian Orthodox Church which is set a little way out of town and comes complete with stained glass windows.

But don’t worry, you don’t need to spend your whole trip underground – there’s some breathing taking scenery and quirky attractions to check out too. It really does make for a fantastic unique break.