Coober Pedy is known as the opal capital of the world because what are widely regarded as the most precious opals are mined there. The name Coober Pedy comes from the local Aboriginal term kupa piti, meaning white man in a hole.

Located in the Australian outback, Coober Pedy is hundreds of kilometres from the nearest settlement. The harsh summer temperatures and the dominant industry mean that most residents live in caves bored into the hillsides and work underground in mine shafts.

Some of the interesting attractions in Coober Pedy include the mines, the graveyard, and the underground churches. The first tree ever seen in the town was welded together from scrap iron. It still sits on a hilltop overlooking the town. The local golf course - mostly played at night with glowing balls, to avoid daytime temperatures - is completely free of grass and golfers take a small piece of "turf" around to use for teeing off.