Umoona Opal Mine and Museum

Umoona began as a working claim staked in 1920 and grew into a labyrinth of drives and shafts that miners worked for decades. Today those same tunnels are open to the public, with hand-carved walls still showing the potch and colour bands that once drew prospectors from across the world. The temperature underground sits at a constant 23 degrees, a welcome contrast to the 50-degree summer heat above.

The museum level holds a dedicated Aboriginal Interpretive Centre explaining how the Antakirinja people have lived on this country for tens of thousands of years, alongside fossil displays featuring Umoonasaurus, a plesiosaur discovered in the region. Guided tours run several times daily and finish near the opal shop where stones cut on the premises are available for purchase.

For visitors who want a hands-on experience, a public noodling pit lets you sift through opal-bearing dirt under UV light. Underground accommodation for groups is also available, making Umoona one of the few places on earth where you can spend the night inside a working mine complex.