Fair Go for Our Regions: Coober Pedy shares spoils of tourists’ interest in the Outback and life underground

Tourism is booming in Coober Pedy, driven by an increase in caravanning culture and the lure of precious opals and the chance to experience life underground.

Comfort Inn manager Melissa Georgianoudis and Coober Pedy Retail, Business & Tourism Association event co-ordinator are happy with the tourism influx. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

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Tourism is booming in Coober Pedy, driven by an increase in caravanning culture and the lure of precious opals and the chance to experience life underground.

Coober Pedy Council figures show that during the peak season from April to September, it is common for more than 600 people per day to go through the town’s visitor information centre.

The local council’s chief executive Colin Pitman said tourism growth had been “astronomical” over the past two years, estimating there were up to 25 per cent more visitors.

A large driver of the increase was the rising popularity of caravan and 4-wheel drive holidays, he said, with tourists boosting the bottom lines of shops, restaurants and motels during their stay.

“All of a sudden, we’ve had this massive leap in interest, probably driven by the fact that there’s a lot of Grey Nomads on the road,” Mr Pitman said.

The town is half way between Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park and Adelaide, Mr Pitman said, and perfectly located to pick up on tourists travelling to the Red Centre.

Coober Pedy Retail, Business & Tourism Association treasurer Debbie Clee estimated that over the last couple of years, the number of people hired in tourism and hospitality had risen by almost 50 per cent.

However, she said many of these jobs were temporary as the tourist season ran from April to October.

“I went from one cleaner in 20013-14 to four cleaners last year,” Ms Clee said.

“During that time, you’re just screaming out for people – even the opal shops almost need somebody else there to cater for all the people coming through the doors.”

Comfort Inn Coober Pedy Experience Melissa Georgianoudis said tourists wanting to climb Uluru were also heading north now, before a ban came into place in October for cultural reasons.

“While they’re doing their bucket lists, people are coming in to Coober Pedy because the town is getting quite a name for itself,” Mrs Georgianoudis said.

Most tourists wanted to visit mines open to visitors, experience the nearby Kanku-Breakaways Conservation Park and take day trips to Oodnadatta or William Creek.

“People were extending their stays because they didn’t know there was so much out here to explore,” Mrs Georgianoudis said.

The tourism association’s event co-ordinator Gai Di Donna said the boom-bust tourism cycle in town was a catch-22.

“It’s great that we have this big influx of tourists but it’s short-lived,” Mrs Di Donna said.

“At one stage, the whole town was booked out, which is great, but a couple of months later the tourists aren’t around.

“Some of the businesses want to expand to be able to meet the demand for the tourists but we also know that demand is for only eight months of the year.”

The town will host its annual opal festival from June 21-23, expecting about 1000 people to flood local accommodation while they check out the region’s offerings.

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