Old Timers Mine

Wow. What a little gem of an attraction that cost $15 to go through. Su interesting to go through all the tunnels looking at the mining then head upstairs to see underground rooms and the end up in a beautiful souvenir and jewellery store. I cannot recommend this place any higher. Loved loved loved it!

We had an awesome time at old timers mine. The family is lovely, down to earth and passionate about opal mining. Most places in coober pedy were closed (both seasonal closures and some places closed on Tuesday). This was the only place you could actually go underground in a mine/tunnels and it gave us a real appreciation of the mining of opals (not just underground in a motel). This is a must stop in coober pedy.

Great value for money and such a good way to learn about the history of Opal mining in Coober Pedy, while walking through a real underground mine. Owner very informative. Really enjoyed our visit and then fossicking in the pit out the front for our own little pieces of Opal. Highly recommend this place for everyone!

Such a great place to explore and get insight into the old mining practices in Coober Pedy. Tours are self guided and there is lots to see and the interpretation is very interesting. Kids had a ball finding all the different spots and reading the signs etc. No good if you have mobility issues - there are a few very low spots too that require bending over to walk through. Very interesting to see the old dug out house all set up too. Gift shop on site and very friendly staff. We also visited the Umoona mine and it's with doing both as they are quite different experiences.

Such an amazing little experience. Only $15 to explore the original mines, how they were formed and used back when they were first opened. A tour Into the homes that are carved into rock and also souvenir shop with some stunning jewellery

Ample parking, nice noodling pit outside, kids were able to find some nice stones. Self guided tour, well laid out and numbered. Lots of things to see. We spent about an hour inside. Good souvenir selection from affordable to eye opening.

Old Timers Mine was the only opal mine tour open during our visit to Coober Pedy over the Christmas–New Year period, so first and foremost: we were very grateful they chose to stay open. Without it, we wouldn’t have experienced an opal mine at all. The tour is self-guided and costs $15 per adult, which we were happy to pay given the circumstances. That said, it’s hard to judge value compared to guided tours that may be available at other times of year. Entry is via a small foyer with a modest display of opals and souvenirs. The tour itself begins by heading down a staircase that serves as the original mine entrance, which immediately sets the scene. From there, you walk through various sections of the mine. Some areas are narrow and quite dark, which adds to the sense of authenticity and was particularly exciting for the kids. The route includes displays on the history of Coober Pedy and opal mining, as well as areas showing where a family once lived underground. There’s plenty to look at, but because it’s self-guided, it’s not always clear what the most important or interesting points are, and it’s easy to feel a bit unsure about what to focus on as you move through. At the end, kids are offered a noodling activity. Manage expectations here! It’s essentially a supervised sandpit filled with small rocks, some containing common opal (white, colourless stone) and the very rare tiny fleck of precious opal. That said, the kids genuinely enjoyed searching, finding colour, and keeping what they collected. Best suited for: Families visiting Coober Pedy when guided tours aren’t running People wanting a safe, accessible introduction to underground mining Older kids who have done something like this or are able to deal with the dark tunnels and ‘creepy’ mannequins. LOL Less ideal for: Visitors wanting a deeply engaging or guided storytelling experience Those looking for detailed explanations without reading displays A guided tour would almost certainly be more engaging and informative, but as a self-guided experience, especially during a period when nothing else was open, this was well worth doing, and we’re glad we visited.

An eclectic collection of artifacts showcasing the history of oral mining in Coober Pedy... well worth the nominal entry price. Take the self guided tour through the underground mine to see actual living quarters of the original mine owner.

Very good! Very good insight into mining in this town. Good experience for children and after going around the mine and trying out the rock crushing machine they can then go panning for gold! Also a wealth of information for adults as well.