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Cooper Pedy - a one-time miners 'paradise'
 Coober Pedy is one of Australia?s hidden jewels it not only produces the majority of the worlds opal but has to be one of the most unusual places in Australia. The Old Timers Mine is the tourist attraction that shows in one establishment the joys, heartache and history of Coober Pedy.
The Old Timers Mine is an accredited tourism business and is one of Coober Pedy?s premier tourist attractions, the only place in the world where you can see three large good quality rough opal seams and opalised sea shells in the roof. This unique opal mine depicts the history of opal mining with all the mystery of searching for opal underground with the safety of a walk-in ground level mine.
First mined in 1916 with a pick and shovel and scooped into a cowhide bucket a visit to the mine is your opportunity to learn and to see how the miners of yesteryear worked and lived in candlelight conditions to find a trace of opal.
During your tour you can see a South Australian Museum authenticated fossil, unique and rare opal pieces, walk through a 1918 underground home and then see our modern dugout home.
This is your chance to see opal in its natural state, purchase your own piece of opal jewellery or souvenirs from our underground opal showroom and a demonstrations of opal mining tunnelling machine and blower and opal cutting.
Tour is self guided a written guide in a number of different languages is available and a guide can be made available on request.
Silver and Bronze Medal, 2007 South Australian Tourism awards.
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