Coober Pedy

The Breakaways Reserve got its name from the colourful low hills that appear from a distance as if they are ‘broken away’ from the higher ground of the reserve. The landscape was once an inland sea and over time has been transformed into a dramatic landscape that changes colour with the passing of the sun creating an almost surreal panorama.

The Breakaways Lookout is a highlight for guests of the walking tour and provides the perfect vantage point to truly appreciate the breathtaking landscape.

Your local walking guide will take you on a journey that will bring the land to life by showcasing some of the vibrant local flora and fauna and delight you with indigenous ‘dream time’ stories and tales from the past.

You will discover the beauty and history of Australia’s national gemstone at the Umoona Opal Mine and Museum, one of Coober Pedy’s original attractions showcasing Aboriginal history and fossils.

A guided interactive tour of the museum is a perfect back drop to allow you the opportunity to explore the underground caverns, hand dug shafts and tunnels featuring an original underground dugout home and memorabilia from the past.

A visit to the Opal Quest Mine is where you will be able to don a hard hat and try your luck finding fortune while enjoying an underground lunch.

Recommended Fitness Level: Moderate – approximately 500m of walking and standing for long periods at the Breakaways. The remainder of the experience involves stairs, steep inclines and navigating underground tunnels.

Coober Pedy is an ‘underground’ town where you could arrive with just the shirt on your back and leave a millionaire.

Tour the town and hear about its history. See the Serbian Orthodox Church, built underground with rock carvings in the walls, high roof ‘ballroom’ style design and stained glass windows making this one of Coober Pedy’s most awe inspiring structures.

Visit Umoona Opal Mine and Museum, an underground museum with detailed historical content of the town, an Aboriginal Interpretive Centre, an underground home known as a ‘dugout’ and an original opal mine. Should you wish, some professional advice is available on opal quality and pricing in the gift shop.

With your fortune stored safely in your pocket, travel along a portion of The Dog Fence, the longest continual construction in the world. Stretching some 5,300 kilometres, it begins east of Surfers Paradise in Queensland and ends up north of Ceduna in the Great Australian Bight, South Australia.

Stop en route for a great photo opportunity before arriving at The Breakaways, a striking example of arid scenery. Looking out over the Breakaways it is hard to believe that a vast inland sea covered the area. Marvel at the scenery that stretches as far as the eye can see.

Recommended Fitness Level: Moderate to high – stairs, steep inclines, short walks and navigating underground tunnels required.

On this half day tour guests discover the beauty and history of Australia’s national gemstone at the Umoona Opal Mine and Museum, one of Coober Pedy’s favourite attractions. This immersive experience reveals all there is to know about these alluring gemstones and you’ll also get to see the very best examples of them on display.

Umoona also features historic artefacts, underground caverns, hand dug shafts and tunnels, as well as one of the original underground homes. At the Opal Quest Mine, you’ll have the chance to fossick for your own opal and enjoy a relaxed lunch underground.

Watch the earthy colours of the ancient mesas and valleys transform as the sun moves across this surreal panorama. Your second lookout is the Big Winch, which offers another perfect vantage point to truly appreciate this powerful place.

Recommended Fitness Level: Moderate – stairs, steep inclines, short walks and navigating underground tunnels required.

The Anna Creek Painted Hills is a spectacular and recently discovered section of the beautiful Breakaways country in the far north of South Australia. Travelling from Coober Pedy Airport, the area can only be accessed by air due to its fragility and natural beauty, and guests fly over the dramatic landscape to see it in all its glory.

Continue flying over Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre, Australia’s largest salt lake. A seemingly endless expanse that stretches an impressive 144 by 77 kilometres of shimmering salt crystals of pink and orange, which are captivating whether full of water or totally dry.

Stop at William Creek for a quintessential Australian pub lunch at the famous William Creek Hotel, followed by a guided ground tour of the township. Fly over Anna Creek Cattle Station, the world’s largest working cattle station, for the final sector of this experience as you circle back to Coober Pedy before re-joining the rest of The Ghan at Manguri for drinks by a bonfire.

The Painted Hills and Lake Eyre Scenic Flight experience offers a day of unmatched beauty where the vibrant colours of the Outback are truly on display.

As this experience is an optional upgrade, a cost of $1290 will be payable direct to your Hospitality Attendant. If you choose this experience, you will not be able to participate in the included Off Train Experiences.

Recommended Fitness Level: Low – Guest required to board and disembark aircraft unassisted, some walking and standing throughout the experience, weight restrictions apply.

To avoid disappointment, we highly recommend guests pre-book this tour, for more information on how to pre-book please contact our team.

PLEASE NOTE:  Weight restrictions of 130kg per person do apply.