coober pedy mine tours

0461 540 154

Underground. Opal. Family & Pet Friendly. 

GUIDED 

Pensioner $30 (concession card sighted)

Children $15

Family $85 

(2 Adults & 2 Children -  $6 per additional child )

Adult 18 and up, Child 4-17 years old,

children 3 years and under free.  

Tour Times: Peak season (April - October) 10am and 1:30pm.

BOOKINGS RECOMENDED

Please arrive 10 minutes before start time

Up to 1 ½ hours with a local tour guide. You will be equipped with a mining helmet and black light for the duration.

Enjoy the tour showcasing history of Coober Pedy, mining, and opal. Listen to the techniques of opal mining, noodling and black lighting. Live demonstration of a working Blower and Bosun Chair.  

Questions are welcomed and encouraged.

Children have the opportunity for an opal hunt along the way. 

At the end of your guided tour complimentary scones, cream & jam. Adults - barista made coffee or tea. 

Children - chocolate or strawberry milk. 

Please let us know if you have any dietary requirements e.g. dairy or gluten free. 

At the end of your tour children have the opportunity to negotiate an opal sale in exchange for a coin and/or sweets!

Bookings can be made online via Online Bookings tab above

or over the phone. 

SELF-GUIDED TOUR

Adult $15 Child $8 Family $40

Tour Times: 9am to 4pm * Please note availability can be limited during Guided Tour times due to maximum capacity in the mine. We r ecommend arriving outside of Guided Tour times (10am & 1:30pm).

You will be provided with a map, mining helmet and black light, for you to explore the mine at your leisure. Points of interest include information displayed on slides/faults and levels, history of opal mining, display of round and square tunnelling, static display of tunneling machine and opal seams throughout the mine. Don’t forget your camera! Plenty of photo opportunities.

Please call us if you have any questions! 

NOODLING PIT 

After your tour, guided or self-guided, we encourage you to try your luck at hand noodling available above the mine. Noodling is the process of sifting through spent tailings to find any opal that may have been missed during mining. Original dirt is brought from the precious opal fields for this purpose.

TOURIST PARK & TOURS COOBER PEDY

The Town and Mine Tour will take you to:

• Two underground churches
• Underground homes
• Underground opal mine
• Museum with an award-winning documentary in the only underground cinema
• The famous opal fields
• The unique golf course
• Fossicking for your own opal

Adults : $50, Seniors : $45 Children : $25  (5-16 yrs) Third child free

Daily Departure : 8.30 AM Duration : 3 hours Book at reception or by phone:  (08) 8672 5169

Book the Town and Mine Tour

Adults : $50, Seniors : $45 Children : $25 (6-16 yrs) Third child free

Book the Town and Mine Tour + the Sunset Breakaways Tours

Adults : $100 Children : $50

Take a look inside Coober Pedy, the Australian mining town where residents live, shop, and worship underground

• Coober Pedy is a small town in the Outback of Southern Australia. 
• Many of Coober Pedy's residents live underground to escape the region's immense heat.
• Homes, bars, a church, and more can be found underground in what the locals call "dugouts."

Welcome to Coober Pedy, the town that lives underground .

Originally a mining town, many of the residents of Australia's Coober Pedy live in dugouts to escape the heat. During the town's summer months, temperatures can reach 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

Other town amenities, like a hotel and church, also reside underground, where it's much cooler.

Here's what it's like to live in Coober Pedy.

Coober Pedy is located in South Australia, over 1,000 miles from Canberra, the country's capital city.

The town is referred to as the "opal capital of the world." Coober Pedy is an Aboriginal word that roughly translates to "white man in a hole."

The town's summer months can reach 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

Even in the shade, it's common to feel temperatures of 100-plus. Much to the dismay of locals and visitors, there's little rainfall to provide relief from the harsh sun.

Due to the dry climate, water can be scarce sometimes.

According to ABC News , Coober Pedy sources its water from the Great Artesian Basin located about 15 miles away from the town.

While Aboriginal people have long inhabited the region, miners first moved to the town in 1916.

After World War I, soldiers returned home and began mining the terrain for opal, a precious gem.

Coober Pedy was once covered by an ocean, which helped create the town's opal mines.

When the water receded, the minerals from the ocean's seabed filled cracks in the earth and created colorful opals in the terrain.

As opal mining settled into a steady — but less booming — business, Coober Pedy residents began turning discarded opal mines into permanent dugouts.

Many turned the mines into makeshift homes to escape the oppressive​ heat.

With the homes' cave-like exteriors, the process of going underground may seem like a venture into the unknown.

The town has an eerie, other-worldly feel to it, despite being home to around 2,500 residents , according to the District Council of Coober Pedy.

But some 80% of the local population have made homes inside the sandstone.

They'll likely spend most of their lives there, escaping the harsh Australian sun and making their home beneath the Australian Outback.

Once visitors are down there, it's actually pretty homey.

Rooms like this, the bedroom of Faye Nayler, a woman who picked and shoveled her own home in 1960, are the norm.

Faye Nayler and two friends managed to build a bar, a swimming pool in the living room, and a full eat-in kitchen.

The underground homes have all the amenities of traditional ones — internet access, electricity, and water.

Today, it's billed as a tourist attraction called Faye's Underground Home.

The only difference between "normal" homes and those in Coober Pedy is that these homes have no access to sunlight.

It's still inhabited by the caretakers of the home, who give guided tours on a daily basis.

Visitors must pay an entrance fee to tour Faye's Underground Home, but it's considered one of the must-see spots in Coober Pedy.

Guests can also attend a church service.

The church is located 55 feet below the Earth's surface.

Inhabitants can also buy a good book at the town's bookstore to pass the time.

Underground Books was converted from a 1930s-era mining shaft into a small bookstore filled with Coober Pedy history books and more.

Tourists looking for the authentic Coober Pedy experience can check out the Desert Cave Hotel.

The hotel bills itself as "quiet, cool, dark and airy" on its website , adding: "Get the best night's sleep of your life."

The town of Coober Pedy is only accessible by a small airstrip, by coach tour or private car, and via the Ghan railway line running between Darwin and Adelaide.

The hotel features a bar, pool room, restaurant, and gift shop.

A room in the cozy inn runs for around $150 a night.

People do need to come up for food, however.

Both of the town's supermarkets are located on the same street above ground.

There are also tourist shops in the town.

The Opal Bug is an opal shop in Coober Pedy that sells everything from the gems to jewelry and watches. However, many visitors also like to visit the shop to see the famous opal-colored Volkswagen Beetle.

Other shops cater to both locals and tourists.

This store's outdoor sign advertises that it sells everything from DVDs and video games to fossils and opals.

Holes in the ground from the old mine shafts are found throughout the town.

Inhabitants and visitors need to watch their step, especially at night.

The town makes sure people know the dangers of the deep mine shafts.

Signs just like this one are scattered all over the town.

Mining equipment and abandoned vehicles can also be found scattered around Coober Pedy.

Australia produces roughly 95% of the world's precious opal supply , and mining is still a popular trade in Coober Pedy. However, most mining is fully mechanized today.

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• Accommodation

A tour to suit all budgets

Whether you are in Coober Pedy for a night or a few days, Riba's has an excellent tour option for your stay. Our tour is fun for all ages and will keep everyone captivated. Just check out our ratings on Google, Facebook or Tripadvisor and see what our customers have to say.

Join our nightly opal mine tour

The on-site opal mine tour is the highlight of your stay at Riba's. Conducted most evenings (minimum of 5 people required) for guests and visitors. We will show and explain how opal mining works and you will learn how it has changed from our pioneering days. Learn how the first miners made their fortunes and what kinds of dangers and challenges they overcame. See the modern ways of mining and get to know how to find your own precious stones. A great option for those short on time and Coober Pedy's only evening mine tour. Tour operates every evening from 7pm in winter and 7:30pm in summer. This tour is a must!

Pricing and offers

Riba's, priced to suit your budget! On site Opal Mine tour - $28 per adult, $16 per child (age 5-15) and kids under 5 free! OUR TOURS WILL GET YOU YOUR FIRST NIGHT UNDERGROUND AND UNPOWERED CAMPING AT RIBA'S FREE!! DISCOUNTS ALSO AVAILABLE ON POWERED SITES AND BUDGET ROOMS. CONTACT US FOR DETAILS.

© 2020 Riba's. All Rights Reserved.

Tom's Opal Mine

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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Tom's Opal Mine - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• Sun - Sat 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
• (0.14 km) JAM B&B
• (1.78 km) Mud Hut Motel
• (3.16 km) Underground Bed & Breakfast
• (2.36 km) Comfort Inn Coober Pedy Experience
• (2.83 km) The Lookout Cave Underground Motel
• (1.59 km) Outback Bar & Grill
• (1.96 km) John's Pizza Bar & Restaurant
• (2.26 km) Big Winch 360 Cafe & Wine Bar
• (1.85 km) Downunder Gallery and Cafe
• (2.04 km) Waffles & Gems

3 Day Andamooka Tour

Flinders Ranges and Outback

Spend three days four-wheel drive vehicle touring the outback opal mining town of Andamooka. Visit Woomera, once a launch site for experimental rockets and learn about Aboriginal art and culture. Tour highlights include Wadlata Outback Centre's Tunnel of Time in Port Augusta. Woomera first established in 1947 as a site for the launching of experimental rockets, see examples of rockets, aircraft and weapons associated with the testing range. The opal mining town of Andamooka and the shimmering white salt of Lake Torrens (time permitting). Roxby Downs with optional Olympic Dam Mine tour (at own expense). Travel to Marree via the Borefield Road, see the Dingo Fence and Oodnadatta Track en route. Visit the Farina Ruins, first surveyed in 1878 and continue to Lyndhurst via the ochre cliffs of spectacular reds and browns. Travel through the magnificent Flinders Ranges to Port Augusta en route to Adelaide, arriving at approximately 6pm. Operates: On demand, 7am day one to 6pm day three approximately. Tag along tour available.

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Coober Pedy Tours

Are you looking for a tour to take in Coober Pedy?

Whether you are looking to explore the town of Coober Pedy or if you want to take a tour to The Breakaways or join a Mail Run Tour to see the small Outback towns and cattle stations near Coober Pedy, there is a tour for you.

From self-guided tours of underground opal mines to guided tours that include helicopter rides and multi-day tours in South Australia, there are plenty of ways to see the best of Coober Pedy.

Keep reading to find the best Coober Pedy Tours.

Faye’s Underground Home and Mine Tour

Tours of Faye’s Underground Home and Mine are available Monday to Saturday by appointment, seasonally.

Faye dug out this home with two girlfriends in the 1960s.

On this tour, you can see Coober Pedy’s 1st in-ground swimming pool and an opal mine.

Tom’s Opal Mine

Spend up to 1.5 hours on a guided tour at Tom’s Opal Mine where kids under 6 are free.

Everyone gets a mining helmet and a black light for the tour. A live demonstration of a working blower and a bosun chair are included.

After the tour, there is a free noodling pit that you are welcome to use.

Umoona Opal Mine and Museum

Umoona Opal Mine offers both public and private underground guided tours.

Visitors can watch a video in an underground theatre, learn about opals and living underground, and receive tea or coffee after the tour.

Public guided tours are offered seasonally 3x daily, except they are closed on Tuesdays.

Riba’s Evening Opal Mine Tour

Head to Riba’s Underground Campground for the only evening mine tour in Coober Pedy.

Almost every evening, a tour of Riba’s Opal Mine takes place and lasts 1.5 hours.

A free unpowered campsite is included with a tour booking and discounts are available for those that are staying at powered campsites.

Kids 5 and under can participate for free.

Coober Pedy Caravan Parks

Coober Pedy Town and Mine Tour

Join Oasis Parks and Tours on a tour of the town on their Town and Mine Tour for a 3-hour tour that takes you to the best of Coober Pedy.

Stops include:

• underground churches
• underground homes
• underground opal mine
• underground cinema
• opal fields
• golf course

Sunset Breakaways Tour

Another tour from Oasis Park and Tours that can be taken on its own or combined with the Town and Mine Tour is the Sunset Breakaways Tour .

This 3-hour-long tour leaves town 2.5 hours before sunset. See Dingo Fence, Moon Plains, and the Breakaways where you will enjoy a muffin and tea or coffee as the sun sets.

The Best of Coober Pedy and The Breakaways Tour

Noble Tours offers The Best of Coober Pedy and The Breakaways Tour .

This 5-hour tour includes a ride on a 4WD air-conditioned bus and it takes place seasonally. Pickup and drop off from local hotels or the visitor centre are included.

The tour includes visits to

• an underground mine
• an underground home
• an underground church
• Dingo Fence
• Moon Plains
• The Breakaways
• a private claim in the opal fields with large underground tunnels

Kids must be at least 5 years old to participate in this tour.

Best Things to Do in Coober Pedy

Coober Pedy Self-Guided Tours

Crocodile harry’s underground dugout.

Located slightly out of town, Crocodile Harry’s Underground Dugout was empty of people when we arrived.

A true self-guided tour, visitors can explore on their own time and stay as long as they wish.

Crocodile Harry’s has unique artwork and lots of names on the wall going back to the 80s. The home is set up as though someone lives there, though no one does.

Old Timers Mine

Opt to wear a helmet and explore underground on your own at Old Timers Mine and Museum.

Visitors receive a booklet with information that corresponds with various areas of the mine.

An underground museum shows how locals live in their dugout homes.

Take a map, helmet, and a black light and explore Tom’s Underground Opal Mine on your own.

A free noodling pit is available to try after your self-guided tour.

Tom’s Opal Mine is pet-friendly and kids 6 and under tour for free.

Unique Coober Pedy Outback Tours

The mail run and beyond.

Due to this tour including an actual mail run, it only runs on Mondays and Thursdays unless one of those days is a public holiday.

Ride in an air-conditioned 4WD van as the mail is delivered to cattle stations and Outback towns. Lunch is included at a pub.

The Mail Run Tour is a great way to learn about Outback South Australia and see famous sites.

Coober Pedy 3-Day Outback Adventure

Just 2 passengers are needed to participate in a 3-Day Outback Adventure from Coober Pedy.

This unique tour includes 2 nights at the William Creek Hotel as well as flights, some meals, and excursions. You will even get to tour the town with the mayor.

Coober Pedy Scenic Flights

View Coober Pedy’s unique landscape from above on one of the scenic flights offered by Wrightsair .

All of their flights include time on the ground and some of them include a morning tea.

Tour options are:

• Coober Pedy Outback Spectacular
• Coober Pedy Deluxe Flight
• Coober Pedy, Dalhousie Springs, and Lake Eyre

These tours run between 4.5 and 7 hours. There is a 2-person minimum on each tour.

Coober Pedy from Adelaide Tours

7 day 4wd eco safari.

Join a small group tour that leaves from Adelaide and spends 7 days exploring Lake Eyre, Flinders Ranges National Park, and Coober Pedy as well as small outback towns and famous locations.

Some meals are included as are some admission costs on the 4WD Eco Safari .

8-Day Tour to Uluru

Spend a night in Coober Pedy on this 8-day tour from Adelaide to Uluru .

Most of the nights will be spent in a swag while camping though when in Coober Pedy you will stay in an underground multi-share bunkhouse.

Many of the meals are included as are national park tickets and entrance fees.

This tour is for those 9+ and requires a minimum of 8 guests to proceed.

7-Day Lake Eyre and Flinders Range Tour

Travel round trip from Adelaide on a 7-day tour that includes Lake Eyre, Flinders Ranges, and Coober Pedy.

Optional add-ons include a scenic flight, the night sky observatory, and a 4WD tour.

Coober Pedy Tours Wrap-Up

Though Coober Pedy is a small outback town, there are plenty of tours that can be taken in town. Plus, there are tours to Coober Pedy from Adelaide and tours of the surrounding area from Coober Pedy.

Whether you want to take a guided tour or a self-guided tour, there are options in Coober Pedy, especially in the underground mines and dugouts.

There are day tours that will take you around the best spots in Coober Pedy and for those who want to explore more, there are tours that will take you to nearby national parks and outback town. You can even join in on a mail run.

Don’t have a car? Take a tour that leaves from Adelaide and provides transportation and accommodations.

Whichever tour you choose, there is plenty to learn about the unique town of Coober Pedy.

Pin Coober Pedy Tours for Later

Lanie is the owner and author of Make More Adventures, a family travel blog that helps families make the most of their holidays. Lanie is an American living in Australia with her husband and 2 kids who love to travel almost as much as she does. When she is not traveling, working on her blog, or planning her next vacation, Lanie is watching Bravo, reading, or working with kids.

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GROUP TOURS

The Umoona Opal Mine & Museum offers extended and Custom Tours to suit small & big Groups.

How our Group Tours work

The complete tour takes approximately 1.5 hours

One of our hostesses will meet your group upon arrival at Umoona and take them on a tour of Coober Pedy – including the underground churches and other sites of interest in the town.

We come back to Umoona Opal Mine & Museum where we show your group our award winning documentary ‘The Story of Opal’, and present a hands-on cutting and polishing demonstration – explaining the different types of Opal.

Following the presentation – we’ll take your group into our underground homes and then deep into the original opal mine.

At the end of this tour, your group can look through our displays, shop for a range of opals, jewellery or souvenirs in a relaxed atmosphere whilst enjoying a complimentary cup of tea or coffee.

Our opal showroom is the  largest underground retail complex in Australia.   Our prices are most competitive and we give a  100% international guarantee with all purchases

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Category Archives: Tours

Big Winch 360 Circlevision Cinematic Experience

An Outback Cinematic Journey unfolds in an experience that immerses and surrounds visitors deep into the heart of…. somewhere. Coober Pedy’s Big Winch 360 – the Outback’s newest world class attraction and  home to Australia’s first permanent  360º Circlevision cinematic experience. Vision and sound surrounds the audience in a show as big as the outback,…

Follow Me Downunder

Follow our award winning guide as he leads you on magical journey through our fascinating town. Tours depart daily. Experience a modern underground home, go opal mining, see how opals are cut and polished then try your hand at noodling (fossicking) for opal. Contact Details PHONE: (08) 8672 5614 EMAIL:  [email protected] WEBSITE:  http://followme.downunder.global/ Facebook

SCENIC FLIGHTS “Wrightsair offer a variety of scenic flights departing both Coober Pedy and  William Creek, Flight options include: Lake Eyre Awe-inspiring and majestic, at  roughly the same size as Belgium the only way to really get any idea of the vastness of this outback wonder is from the air, where regardless of whether there…

Umoona Opal Mine & Museum

Learn about mining and living underground in Coober Pedy with our informative tour and experienced guides. Visit our museum, enjoy a stone cutting demonstration and journey dep into the earth. See how Coober Pedy residents live with a walk through our underground house and learn all about mining in one of the oldest mines in…

Tom’s Opal Mine

Tom’s Opal Mine is an authentic Opal Mine worked in the 80’s and 90’s. It is now a display mine showcasing underground workings with opal seams visible throughout. We invite you to visit and join us for a Guided or Self-Guided tour. Guided Tour Times are 10am and 1:30pm Daily. Open 9am to 4pm (March…

Riba’s Underground Tours

An on-site Opal mine tour is the highlight of your stay at Riba’s. It is offered every evening for guests and visitors. Contact Details ADDRESS: 1811 William Creek Road Coober Pedy, S.A. 5723 PHONE: (08) 8672 5614 EMAIL: [email protected] WEBSITE: http://www.camp-underground.com.au/

Old Timers Mine

Relive history and step back in time to 1916 with this original opal mine, historical museum and underground home, designed to give you the ultimate underground experience. Continuous self guided tour all day. Try your luck and look for opal in our noodling pits. Kids will love it. Opal showroom and souvenirs. Contact Details ADDRESS:…

Oasis Tours

Oasis Town & Mine Tours  and Sunset Breakaways Tours run daily and are approx. 3 hours, Town & Mine Tours visit Underground homes, churches, Museum and mine, opal fields,fossick for your own Opal and watch an award winning documentary in and underground theatre with complimentary tea and coffee. Sunset Breakaways Tours include the Moon Plains,…

Noble Tours Australia

Travel Coober Pedy and the Painted Desert with the professionals. Modern and well equipped vehicle with informative comentary. Contact Details ADDRESS: Southern Cross Drive, Coober Pedy, SA 5723 PHONE: 0499 500 932 EMAIL: [email protected] WEBSITE: http://nobletoursaustralia.com.au

Mail Run Tours

An Outback Experience with a Difference Travel with the mail man delivering the mail to the historic towns of Oodnadatta and William Creek as well as 5 remote cattle stations including the world’s largest, Anna Creek Station. Stop to view the old Ghan Railway line whilst traveling the famous Oodnadatta track. Follow in the footsteps…

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5 reasons to visit Australia’s outback town Coober Pedy

Coober Pedy’s underground attractions offer a unique travel experience. Here's what it's like to visit.

When 14-year-old Will Hutchison discovered opals at Coober Pedy in February 1915 there’s a good chance he’d have happily swapped them for a bit of shade and some cool air.

February temperatures in the outback South Australia location can reach almost 47 degrees, which is why those who followed in Will’s footsteps have gone underground to beat the heat.

From opal mines to underground houses, churches and even hotel rooms, Coober Pedy’s subterranean attractions offer a unique travel experience. 

Here’s our must-do down under list:

1. Serbian Orthodox Church

The  Church of Saint Elijah the Prophet is built into a hillside, its ‘rooftop’ made of rock and decorated by air vents and a lone crucifix. On the front wall, a church bell on a bracket is bolted to the stone and entry ($5) is via a conventional front door. Inside, a ramp takes visitors further underground to the nave where a series of large circular excavations deliver a very church-like high ceiling. At one end, a stained glass window adds a traditional touch to an  unconventional church design and the walls feature large religious artworks. Worshippers can buy a candle to burn inside.

Picture: Neale Maynard

2. Desert Cave Hotel

You can eat, drink, gamble and sleep underground at this unusual hotel in an unusual town. We ate dinner underground at The Desert Cave, our dining area’s nicely-finished rock walls and ceilings providing excellent insulation from the outside world. There’s an underground bar (where you can have whiskey on the rocks, under the rocks) and 19 underground hotel rooms. Tour guests who enjoyed a subterranean sleep reported the rooms were very quiet and comfortable.

3. Umoona Opal Mine and Museum

Next door to the Desert Cave, Umoona offers a remarkable underground experience that includes a movie explaining how opal was discovered by young Will Hutchison in Coober Pedy and a walking tour that takes in old and new-style underground houses and an opal mine. The Umoona tour is excellent – the movie’s followed by an demonstration of how opals are cut and polished and the old and new underground house visits reveal how creature comforts have come to Coober Pedy’s caves.

A modern sofa and flat screen TV provide quite a contrast to the basic living conditions of earlier homes. One surprise in the modern underground lounge room is a 24 volt power point that emerges from the rock. After leaving the underground homes Umoona visitors enter the mine section, which includes a point where tour guests can see a seam of opal in the wall. The tour winds down into some smaller sections of the mine exhibit which show the hard work required to make a living as an opal miner – but which probably aren’t suited for claustrophobic visitors.

4. Wait, there's more

If you’re not undergrounded-out by now, Coober Pedy has even more below ground action on offer.  Cooberpedy.com  lists four other underground churches, more mine tours and enough opal shops to seriously lighten your wallet. Visitors chasing a more natural outback experience away from the underground should head out of town to the Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park which offers stunning views of outback mesas and which are popular at sunset. The drive out to the park follows the dingo fence which runs 5600km from the Great Australian Bight tio Queensland. 

5. Don’t visit by accident

Cooberpedy.com  echoes a warning provided by our tour operators which is that the town is not a good place to walk around after dark – because there are an estimated 1.5 million open  mine shafts. They also warn that if you’re taking photos during the day, it’s a very good idea to look behind you before you back up to take a picture. As we drove on a town tour past the local golf course we saw one of those shafts just beside the road, unfenced and seemingly very deep.

This writer visited Coober Pedy as a guest of Captain’s Choice, which includes the iconic outback venue on their ‘ A Weekend in the Outback by Private Plane tour . 

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Feel extra cosy in these underground hotels around the world

Posted: 8 January 2024 | Last updated: 8 January 2024

Subterranean sleeps

There's plenty of unique accommodation in the world, whether it's up among the trees, set precariously on a cliffside or built to imitate a film set. But some of the most surprising places where you can stay the night aren't above ground at all.

Whether they're deep in disused mines, carved out of rocky cliffsides or squeezed into claustrophobic caverns, click through this gallery to discover Earth's most astonishing underground stays...

Desert Cave Hotel, Coober Pedy, South Australia, Australia

In the curious Australian outback town of Coober Pedy, much of life takes place underground in order to escape the relentless heat above. Built by opal miners, who settled here after discovering that the area was rich in the valuable stones, the town has a hotel that gives you a taste of the underground life. The subterranean rooms have high ceilings and are decorated to resemble the rocky landscape above. There's also a cafe, an outdoor swimming pool and a bar.

Zedwell Underground, London, England, UK

Dubbed London's "first and only underground hotel experience", Zedwell Underground is designed with deep sleep in mind. Although the hotel is located amid the hustle and bustle of central London's Tottenham Court Road, the rooms, called 'cocoons', are nestled several floors below ground level. There's ambient lighting, rainfall showers, extensive soundproofing and minimalist decor, designed by wellbeing experts to create a supremely tranquil environment.

Beckham Creek Cave Lodge, Arkansas, USA

It might not look like much from the outside, but this unusual hideaway is actually a luxurious four-bedroom underground villa, carved into a natural cavern in the Ozark Mountains in northwestern Arkansas. The upper levels offer incredible views out over the valley, while the interiors serve up stylish but comfy furniture, cosy bedrooms and a fully fitted kitchen, backdropped by dramatic stalactites and rippling natural rock formations.

InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland, Shanghai, China

An eye-openingly impressive feat of engineering, InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland is one of the most ambitious hotels ever created. Built into an abandoned quarry in Songjiang, only two of the five-star hotel's 18 floors are above ground. The rest are cut into the quarry's side and two lie completely submerged in an aquarium filled with exotic marine life, including all kinds of colourful fish, small sharks and stingrays.

La Dimora di Metello, Matera, Italy

A small cave hotel in Italy's famous rock-hewn town of Matera, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, La Dimora di Metello features just four large suites and a spa that have been excavated from the stone. Cave dwellings have been part of Matera's history since the Palaeolithic period, so spending the night in cavernous rock-cut hideouts is a must for visitors. The spa is particularly spectacular – it's located deeper within the rock with fully exposed natural walls, and feels completely shut off from the rest of the world.

Grand Canyon Caverns & Inn, Peach Springs, Arizona, USA

Although most of this wonderfully retro inn is situated above ground, there is one special room hiding deep underground. The Cavern Suite sits 200 feet (61m) beneath the earth, and is billed as "the world's darkest, quietest and deepest hotel room". There's two queen beds, a functional bathroom, a wide array of books, a TV and even a kitchenette. While you're there, take the opportunity to visit the sprawling caverns themselves (although tours are temporarily unavailable).

Les Hautes Roches, Rochecorbon, France

Once part of the 17th-century Marmoutier Abbey, Les Hautes Roches on the banks of the Loire River is now an exclusive 12-room hotel. Built into a tufa cliff, the unique cave rooms have been transformed from monastic cells into a maze of luxurious dwellings. The Relais & Chateaux hotel has an adjacent 18th-century manor house with two more rooms and a Michelin Guide restaurant.

Sala Silver Mine, Sala, Sweden

For at least 500 years silver has been extracted from the Sala Silver Mine, which once held one of the five most significant silver deposits in the world. Fast forward to today and the mine offers accommodation 500 feet (152m) below ground level. The suite is so deep that conditions are extremely dry, there are no rats or bats and it's eerily quiet. The mine and the suite closed in 2020 for renovations and, while the mine has reopened for tours, this unique underground accommodation hasn't just yet.

Cumberland Caverns, McMinnville, Tennessee, USA

Discovered in 1810, Cumberland Caverns is one of the longest cave systems in the US and extends nearly 28 miles (45km) underground. Visitors today can journey 333 feet (102m) below ground to see the magnificent limestone formations – and can sign up to a very special sleepover. Guests will be squeezing through tight passageways and tackling twisting climbs to reach their overnight accommodation. Remember to bring sleeping bags and dress appropriately, as it does get wet and muddy.

Hotel Sidi Idriss, Matmatat-Al-Qadimal, Tunisia

Fans of the Star Wars franchise will appreciate this outpost in central Tunisia. Featured in A New Hope (the first Star Wars film ever released) and again in Attack of the Clones , the hotel doubles as the childhood home of Luke Skywalker on the planet of Tatooine. The hotel itself is an excellent example of traditional Berber architecture and features plenty of nods to the famous franchise, including original frescoes and decorations harking back to its time as a film set.

White Cliffs Underground Motel, New South Wales, Australia

Opened more than 20 years ago, White Cliffs Underground Motel is a popular landmark in the Australian outback in the northwest of New South Wales. Set in a man-made cave in the side of a mesa hill, the motel is roughly the size of a football field and hosts 44 fully furnished subterranean rooms. Located in White Cliffs, a remote desert hamlet home to Australia's oldest commercial opal field, it's certainly a quirky place to visit. During the day guests can go on opal mine tours, explore Aboriginal art shops or visit the rolling sand dunes nearby.

Kelebek Special Cave Hotel, Goreme, Turkey

The Turkish region of Cappadocia is famous for its unusual rock formations and sprawling cave dwellings, with entire underground cities carved into the landscape. Kelebek Hotel was built in 1993, making use of subterranean rooms carved in the 8th century by Christians fleeing Roman persecution, and adding a few more of their own. The rooms range from traditional fairy-chimney rooms to luxury suites, and guests can make use of the outdoor swimming pool or sit on the terraces to watch the region's famous hot air balloons.

Wieliczka Salt Mine, Wieliczka, Poland

A sprawling salt mine in operation since the 13th century, Poland's Wieliczka Mine is a bizarre but breathtaking destination. Cavernous chambers filled with statues, chapels with rows of benches and even chandeliers are carved out of the rock salt, and those looking for a good night's sleep with a twist can book a subterranean stay. The salt air is said to have healing properties, and there's plenty to go around in the mine's 152 miles (245km) of hollowed-out corridors. There's even an underground restaurant.

Villa Vals, Vals, Switzerland

Located in the rustic village of Vals in the scenic Swiss Alps, this extraordinary villa is simultaneously very high altitude and underground. It's 4,100 feet (1,250m) above sea level, but was built as a den, extending into the mountainside. Completed in 2009, it's a remarkable space with three spacious bedrooms and a large living area as well as a wind-protected terrace. It's a stay for all seasons, with lush meadows surrounding the house in spring and thick powdery snow blanketing the landscape in winter.

Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita, Matera, Italy

Another Matera hotel, the stunning, candle-lit caves of Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita have been restored from abandoned ancient dwellings. A luxury retreat with a twist, the architecture retains its original shape and materials, but now comes with trappings of modern luxury like cosy king beds, bathtubs and hand-woven sheets. The rooms are set in the oldest parts of the complex, while a former church is now a restaurant perfect for romantic dinners. You can even join a cooking course to learn the art of pasta making – including how to make regional shapes like cavatelli and orecchiette.

The Caves, Negril, Jamaica

Not far from the centre of Negril, arguably Jamaica's top beachfront town, The Caves appears like something straight out of a Caribbean fairy tale. Set into the honey-coloured limestone cliffside with nothing but the azure water below, the adults-only hotel features just a handful of rooms, a spa and a saltwater swimming pool set within its characterful private caves.

Perivolas Hideaway, Thirasia, Greece

This luxurious hideaway is located on the small island of Thirasia, a short hop away from ever-popular Santorini. Cut into the foot of a cliff right above the sparkling blue waters of the Aegean Sea, it's a secluded escape. Inside there are four bedrooms, and the impenetrable stonework and white-washed walls give visitors the impression of being holed up in their own private world. This high-end residence has a private dock, a private helipad and a sea-water infinity pool, plus a spectacular terrace for when you've had enough of cave living.

Kokopelli's Cave, Farmington, New Mexico, USA

A 1,700-square-foot (158sqm) underground getaway hiding in the sandstone cliffs overlooking the La Plata River Valley in New Mexico, this quaint holiday hideout welcomes intrepid travellers 70 feet (21m) below the cliff's peak. Once guests have navigated the sloping path carved into the rock that leads down to the cave, a spacious living and dining area awaits. Visitors will have the whole place to themselves, with its rock-wall waterfall, mini-Jacuzzi and stunning views out over the valley.

Felsenhotel La Claustra, Airolo, Switzerland

Nestled deep in the Swiss Alps, La Claustra has a military past – it used to be a bunker underneath the Gotthard Pass, extending for over 43,000 square feet (4,000sqm). The hotel has now been transformed into comfortable dwellings connected by sheer but well-lit tunnels, with 17 individually designed rooms, hot tubs filled with mineral water and a unique underground dining experience. There's no phone reception or TVs in the hotel – instead the focus is on disconnecting and coming together.

Cuevas Helena, Granada, Spain

A cave house set into the picturesque landscape of Andalucia, Cuevas Helena is a very special holiday home. Created by British expats Mark and Shirley, the luxurious lodging features high-ceilinged rooms with cupboards and doorways carved out of the rock. There's a full kitchen, three ensuite bedrooms and a lounge as well as a swimming pool outside in the open air. When not enjoying cosy cave living, guests can explore the surrounding mountains and nearby Lake Negratin, which offers freshwater swimming and thermal baths.

Kagga Kamma Nature Reserve, Lochlynne, South Africa

Located in the privately-owned Kagga Kamma Nature Reserve in the Cederberg Mountains, this luxury lodge offers man-made cave suites in standard, premium and honeymoon categories, surrounded by red sand, rugged rock formations and technicolour wildflowers. Constructed to blend seamlessly into the sandstone scenery, each suite is unique and features a small terrace looking out over the sprawling landscape beyond. 

The Decoy Bunker, Monmouthshire, Wales, UK

A Second World War bunker turned cosy bolthole, the Decoy Bunker in Wales has a fascinating history. The watchmen here kept their eyes on the night sky for signs of Nazi air raids and lit decoy fires in an attempt to trick the Luftwaffe into thinking they'd hit a nearby munitions factory. Today the bunker is much more comfortable, and blends in seamlessly with its lush Monmouthshire surroundings. Inside, there's a fully equipped kitchen, a double bed and limited phone signal to help guests disconnect from the outside world.

Cap Rocat, Mallorca, Spain

Another impressive refurbishment can be found in southern Mallorca, where a reconstructed 19th-century fortress has been transformed into an award-winning resort famous for a very particular type of room. The Sentinel rooms are carved out of ancient rocky ramparts once occupied by cannons, and come with marble floors, rough stone walls and a one-of-a-kind natural aesthetic. The rooms look out to sea and open onto private terraces with small swimming pools.

Deep Sleep, Wales, UK

Billed as the deepest underground stay in the world, Deep Sleep in North Wales is nestled an astonishing 1,375 feet (419m) below the surface. The former Victorian-era slate mine has been transformed into a cluster of cabins and one double bedroom, and getting there is an experience in itself. Before you bed down, you'll have to tackle a 45-minute hike into the mountains before making a steep one-hour descent into the mine. Once you arrive there's electric lighting, a toilet, running tap water and even wifi. Pack warm though – the cabins are insulated but the temperature down below is just 10ºC (50ºF).

Read on for our list of the best underground attractions on Earth

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