William Creek and Coober Pedy

After departing early, 10.00am for retirees, it was not long before we were on the road to William Creek.

Along the way we came across Lake Eyre which, much to our surprise, was full of water.

Lake Eyre full of water June 2015

Soon after this stop we called into and old Gahn Train Line station at Curdimurka. All deserted but in very good condition. This track and its other infrastructure is a restoration project waiting to happen.

Curdimurka Railway siding between Marree and William Creek

Later that day we arrived at William Creek Hotel. Booked into the caravan park across the road and also booked a table for 4 at 7.00pm for dinner. What a great little country pub and the meal was delicious. Nev Harrison and I had steak and Dallas and Bev had Flathead and Chips. It was genuine Flathead served in northern SA. Nev and Bev live in Southern WA and they were a great couple to spend some time with.

William Creek Pub's Dining Room.

William Creek Pubs Directory.
Management is looking at including Hobart!

William Creek Manager stokes the fire only because
the warmer it is the more customers drink!

Bev and Nev Harrison from WA joined us for dinner at William Creek.

Next morning we headed off for Coober Pedy whilst Nev and Bev set off for Oodnadatta.

We arrived in Coober Pedy at approximately lunch time and booked the Tour of Coober Pedy mines and dug outs as well as the Break Aways and the Dog Fence. for 1.00pm the following day.

The bus was full when we set off out through Coober Pedy and on to the mines. One of our first visits was to the Coober Pedy Golf Club. Not many greens just gravel and some green to tee off from.

Coober Pedy Golf Club

No greens on the course just nice gravel!

Next it was off to the mine sites out of Coober Pedy. We were warned of the heavy fines if we strayed too far but more importantly of the open shafts all over the sites.

Many years ago the brown mound mine yielded a good return
for its then owners. They sold it to new owners who
trebled the origial owners income!

A Coober Pedy invention the vacuum blower!

The ingenuity of the Coober Pedy miners was and still is incredible.

Coober Pedy Open Cut mine

With horizontal shafts

Beware vertical shafts alongside every pile of mullock!

Modern Opal Mine Machinery at work, including laser grading!
Note the excavator down to its top boom in the foreground!

After the mine sites we set off to the Breakaways Conservation Park SA. This area shows clearly what was the under seal level beds of what was once the inland sea of Australia many centuries ago. It is the land of the Antakarinja Indigenous people who inhabited this area. They are now assisting with the management of this beautiful Conservation Park.

The Breakaways out back from Coober Pedy.

Another Breakaways shot!

And more Breakaways

Leaving the Breakaways Conservation Park we headed toward the track out to the Dog Fence to find the road still closed. So it was back to the Dugout Umoona mine and housing. This was a truly great experience to see how the miners worked and lived. More importantly though we were shown a documentary on the finding of Opal in Australia which was an incredible insight into what is still a small but very successful mining venture. Well done Coober Pedy.

Coober Pedy underground Crib Room

Coober Pedy old Timer

Some of the mining spoils

The dugout living quarters were simply amazing and so comfortable  with a steady 22 degrees all day and night.

Coober Pedy underground living

The Kitchen

Smoking Room

Formal Lounge

Another Kitchen

The working side of the mine was also very interesting and incredible. The working conditions would have been very tiring and challenging.

Coober Pedy working mine

Coober Pedy Sausage Shot Holes

Coober Pedy Sausage Shot bottom of board.

Above and Below showing Opal in seams of the working mine

Creatures of the deep, Inland Sea of Australia

After Umoona Mine and Dugout Living quarters we drove around to The Lithuanian Church. Simply breathtaking. An amazing dugout practicing church with its own successful mine.

Lithuanian church sculptures

Lithuanian church, note the shape of the dug out ceiling!

Lithuanian church windows

Another sculpture

Lithuanian church windows from outside.

Following this tour we attended the Big 4 Caravan Parks Happy Hour where Yani and his sons made us his famous Pizzas. Truly the best Pizzas ever. Yani had mined for many years as well as making Pizzas for many years before getting into the Tourism business. Well done and many thanks Yani!

A few more Posts to catch up on, coming soon!