Coober Pedy, Australia
Hole-y Land Downunder
"Where locals dig their homes and their neighbours' business"
Official Coat of Arms
A shield divided beneath the earth, bearing a pick-axe crossed with a periscope (for the underground churches), rampant against a field of scorched red dirt. Above, a sun so furious it has been banished entirely from the crest, with the motto scroll reading 'Nil Desperandum, Subterraneum'.
TripAdvisor Review
★★★★☆ 4/5
"Stayed in an underground dugout motel and honestly it was the best sleep I've had in Australia because the sun literally cannot get you down there. The opal shops are everywhere and everyone has a story about finding 'the big one' that never quite pans out. It's 47 degrees on the surface and like a nice cellar below, which tells you everything about why everyone lives like moles. Bring your own everything because the nearest proper supermarket run is basically a pilgrimage."— Genuine_Gary_from_Geelong
Property Listing
Stunning subterranean living opportunity with natural climate control, zero window-cleaning costs, and a rare chance to say your basement IS your house! Opal-mining potential in your own backyard, moonscape views included at no extra charge, and the closest thing to living on Mars without the commute.
Twinned With
Mos Espa — Both are dusty underground settlements on the edge of nowhere that once had a Star Wars film crew wandering around confused.
Supporting Evidence
An estimated 60% of Coober Pedy's population lives underground in dugout homes to escape the extreme desert heat, and the town supplies most of the world's opal.