FRC CLUB OFFER
$5 off Adults and $10 off Family Passes to all FRC Premium Club Members

*Must be a current FRC Premium Club Member and present FRC Membership Card

Located in Coober Pedy, the ‘Opal Capital of Australia’, Old Timers Mine & Museum offers a pet friendly free camping area (the only one in Coober Pedy) next to the Museum. There is no time limit on the length of stay allowing visitors the time to get a taste of what life and conditions in the mines were like back in the early 1900s and to explore the other attractions in the area.

The sites are level with limited shade and best suited to those who are self sufficient or fully self-contained as there are no showers, power, or water available. There are toilets next to the shop that are open 24/7 for campers to use and showers are available at the service station which is a 2 min drive from the site.

Old Timers Mine & Museum is not only offering free camping, but they are also offering discounted passes to all FRC Premium Club members. The mine was hand dug around 1916 and was one the first mines to be worked in the area. Visitors can don a hard hat and take a self-guided mine tour to see seams of opal and fossils in their natural state as well as old mining tools and equipment.

The museum contains many items from Coober Pedy’s history, and there is also an underground home on display, decorated as it would have been in the 1960s. The shop has opal jewelry, cut stones, and rough opal as well as other souvenirs for sale. Outside, there are pits where you can try your hand at noodling and maybe find some pieces of opal yourself.

Being isolated, Coober Pedy needs to provide for residents’ and visitors’ everyday needs. Services include a hospital and ambulance, pharmacy, dentist, supermarket, butcher, hardware and other stores, places to eat, and fuel, mechanical and tyre services.

HOW TO GET THERE
Take the Coober Pedy turn-off from the Stuart Highway and follow into town. Turn right into St Nicholas Street at the Tourist Information Centre then take the first left into Italian Club Road. Follow until you come to Crowders Gully Road (next road on the right after the Italo Australian Miners Club). Old Timers Mine & Museum is about 200m along on the right.

Alternatively, continue past the Tourist Information Centre and follow the main road (Hutchison Street) through the shopping strip then turn right into Umoona Road (drive-in is on the corner). Crowders Gully Road is then the second street on the right and the mine and museum is about 200m along on the left.

SITE ACCESS
The mine and museum are well signed. There are two parking areas and plenty of room to park and turn large motorhomes and caravans. If you plan on staying in the camping area, go into the mine and museum to find out where you can park your RV.

FEES & BOOKINGS
Sites are free but they would appreciate your patronage. If you are staying at this site we encourage you to help keep it clean and tidy.

THINGS TO DO
Josephine’s Gallery and Kangaroo Orphanage
Located not far from Old Timers Mine & Museum, this is a combined wildlife rescue centre and Aboriginal art gallery. There are also Aboriginal artifacts on display, and culture and heritage talks are available by appointment. Visitors also have the opportunity to feed orphaned kangaroos.

The Big Winch
The Big Winch is a replica of the winches used to bring opal up to the surface from the mines and celebrates the area’s mining history. Its hilltop location provides views over Coober Pedy, and there is also a café and opal shop on site.

Kanku Breakaways Conservation Park
The Breakaways reserve lies 32 km north and consists of colourful low hills which have broken away from the Stuart Range, hence the name ‘the Breakaways’. The colours of the rocks change with the sunlight. A permit, which can be obtained from Coober Pedy Visitor Information Centre, is required to visit the area.

Tours
There are a number of tours that can be taken from Coober Pedy. These include joining the mail run to Oodnadatta and William Creek, or touring Lake Eyre, the Painted Desert or the Breakaways (mentioned above). Scenic flights are also available.

Coober Pedy Opal Festival
This annual festival is held over a weekend, plus the preceding Friday night, each June. Among its features are opal cutting demonstrations, fireworks, music, shows, workshops, and a side show alley.

Golf
Coober Pedy has a unique golf course in that there isn’t a blade of grass in sight. Players tee off from a patch of artificial grass, and the ‘greens’ are oiled sand. Clubs can be hired. The Opal Classic Golf Open takes place each June.

Horse racing
Coober Pedy hold an annual race meeting each August. As well as horse races, it includes a gymkhana, arts and crafts, and children’s entertainment.

WHAT’S NEARBY
Family Parks – Oasis Tourist Park
Opal Inn Caravan Park
BIG4 Stuart Range Outback Resort

Opening Hours

Monday

8:30am - 5:30pm

Tuesday

8:30am - 5:30pm

Wednesday

8:30am - 5:30pm

Thursday

8:30am - 5:30pm

Friday

8:30am - 5:30pm

Saturday

8:30am - 5:30pm

Sunday

8:30am - 5:30pm

Address & Contact

Our Address

2190 Crowders Gully Road

GPS

-29.0090765, 134.7597823

Telephone

Additional Information

Suburb:

Coober Pedy

State:

SA

Pin Code:

5723

Offer Detail:

$5 off Adults and $10 off Family Passes

Post ID:

66593

Click on button to show the map.

Features

 
  
Toilets Available
24/7
Rubbish Bins Available
Mobile Phone Reception
Pets Permitted
Suitable for Tents
Camper Trailers
Caravans
Campervans & Motorhomes
Big Rig Access
RV Turn Around Area
RV Parking Available
Some Shade Available
Limited
No Fires Permitted
Picnic Table Available
Generators Permitted
 

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