Adelaide to Coober Pedy Road Trip

Are you considering the drive from Adelaide to Coober Pedy and want to find the best places to stop on the way?

My family drove from Adelaide to Coober Pedy during our holiday in South Australia, and we stopped at just about every stop on the way. To be honest, there was not much to do.

The largest and most popular overnight stop from Adelaide to Coober Pedy is in Port Augusta. Port Augusta is located 3.5 hours north of Adelaide and 5.5 hours southeast of Coober Pedy.

Though the drive from Adelaide to Coober Pedy is about 9 hours, most people complete it in 2 days, as it is suggested that you don’t drive at night or during dawn or dusk due to kangaroos and other wildlife.

Keep reading to find the best things to do from Adelaide to Coober Pedy.

Map of Adelaide to Coober Pedy

Adelaide to Coober Pedy

The drive from Adelaide to Coober Pedy is about 850 kilometers and takes almost 9 hours.

Most people choose to split the drive up, and the most popular place to stop along the way is 309 kilometers and 3.5 hours away from Adelaide, at Port Augusta.

Though Port Augusta is not halfway, it is the last town on the way to Coober Pedy from Adelaide that has multiple hotels, shops, and restaurants.

While there are a few places to stop on the way to Coober Pedy from Port Augusta, there isn’t much to do besides eat a meal and fill up your tank with petrol.

We opted to stop at Port Augusta for a night on our way to and from Coober Pedy. We did not make any stops between Adelaide and Port Augusta, but we stopped multiple times to eat, fill up with petrol, and explore between Port Augusta and Coober Pedy

Adelaide to Port Augusta

🚗 309 kilometres, 3.5 hours

The drive from Adelaide to Port Augusta is about 310 kilometers and takes about 3.5 hours.

With many places to stop along the way, it is easy to find toilets, restaurants, and petrol stations.

There are a few options for those staying the night in Port Augusta and wanting something to do to break up the drive.

We made one stop on the way from Adelaide to Port Augusta to see a pink lake. Lake Bumbunga is right off the road to Port Augusta, about an hour and 30 minutes north of Adelaide.

Though the overcast sky made it harder to photograph the pink lake, we enjoyed walking around the lake and stretching our legs.

Best Things to Do in Port Augusta

Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden

The Australian Arid Lands Botanic Garden offers free entry and is open daily from 7:30 am until sunset.

A cafe and shop are located in the gardens, as is a visitor’s centre. The hours of the cafe, shop, and visitor centre change depending on the day of the week and the season. The gardens remain open even when they are closed.

Matthew Flinders Lookout is located near the botanical garden.

Wadlata Outback Centre

Open on weekdays from 9 am to 4 pm and on weekends and public holidays from 9 am to 3 pm, Wadlata Outback Centre is a fun place to go in Port Augusta to learn about the area.

Wadlata Outback Centre has hands-on exhibits and a movie theatre. The museum begins as far back as the dinosaurs and progresses to modern times.

A cafe, Outback Tuckerhouse, is located in Wadlata Outback Centre, and there is a souvenir shop.

Water Tower Lookout

Climb the water tower and check out the view of Port Augusta from the top.

The water tower is located next to a park with BBQs, picnic tables, and a small playground.

Restaurants in Port Augusta

We opted for grocery store meals and picnics during our time in Port Augusta, but if you would rather eat out, here are a few options.

Mama Lou’s Cafe

Mama Lou’s Cafe is open on weekdays for breakfast and lunch.

Their breakfast menu includes a variety of eggs, waffles, and rolls, while the lunch menu includes burgers, schnitzel, and seafood.

A small kid’s menu is available.

Archer’s Table

Open 7 days a week, Archer’s Table serves breakfast and lunch as well as coffee and cake.

The breakfast menu at Archer’s Table includes egg dishes, waffles, and granola. The lunch menu focuses on soup, burgers, and sandwiches, though they also serve nachos and tacos.

A kid’s menu is available all day at Archer’s Table.

The Standpipe

Located at The Standpipe Gulf Motor Inn, The Standpipe is open for dinner 7 days a week. They also serve an early breakfast daily.

A north Indian menu is available at The Standpipe, as is a Modern Australian menu.

Both menus are large with many options. A kid’s menu with both Australian and Indian options is also available, as is a take-out menu, a breakfast menu, and a dessert menu.

Where to Stay in Port Augusta

Standpipe Gulf Motor Inn

⭐ 4.3/5 🛒 Book Now

We spent a night at Standpipe Gulf Motor Inn on the way to Coober Pedy from Adelaide.

The Standpipe Gulf Motor Inn is a 3-star hotel with an outdoor saltwater swimming pool and a restaurant.

Room types include standard rooms, suites, family rooms, and 1-bedroom apartments. Some of the rooms are wheelchair-accessible or pet-friendly.

Comfort Inn and Suites

⭐ 4.1/5 🛒 Book Now

On the way back to Port Augusta from Coober Pedy, we stayed at Comfort Inn and Suites.

Comfort Inn and Suites have a variety of room sizes that sleep up to 5 guests.

A 3-star hotel, Comfort Inn and Suites Port Augusta, has a fenced-in outdoor swimming pool.

Crossroads Ecomotel

⭐ 4.7/5 🛒 Book Now

Crossroads Ecomotel is a 4-star motel with all ground-floor units and rooms that sleep up to 4 guests.

Each room has a kitchenette and a seating area.

A shared lounge is available, as are BBQs and free guest laundry.

Port Augusta to Coober Pedy

🚗 540 kilometers, 5.5 hours

Soon after leaving Port Augusta, you will drive past a sign welcoming you to the South Australian Outback.

Woomera

The most interesting stop between Port Augusta and Coober Pedy is Woomera, a military base about 10 minutes off the highway.

In Woomera, you can view rocket ships and airplanes. They also have a small museum that is free to enter.

Near the museum is a bowling alley, a convenience shop, and a cafe.

Woomera also has a swimming pool, and on Friday evenings, the Woomera Observatory opens for viewing.

For those who would rather not veer off course, there is a restaurant and petrol station on the main road where you need to turn to drive to Woomera.

Pimba

Spud’s Roadhouse Pimba has public toilets, petrol, a restaurant, and a shop. There is a caravan park and a hotel for those who wish to stay the night.

Lake Hart

If you want to see one of South Australia’s salt lakes or you want to get out of the car and stretch your legs, there is a salt lake that you can walk to and even walk on.

Lake Hart rest stop is located about 30 minutes from Pimba, which is where you turn to get to Woomera.

You can see the lake from the car park, or you can opt to walk there, which includes walking through a tunnel to get to the lake.

Don’t forget your hat! The walk is not shaded.

Wirramina Station Bed and Breakfast

Just 15 minutes past the Lake Hart rest area is Wirramina Station Bed and Breakfast, which is located just off the Stuart Highway.

Wirramina Station is a working cattle station that offers a Queen unit and a Family unit. Both options have a kitchen, ensuite, air-con, and TV. Wirramina Station is pet-friendly.

If you want a unique place to stop between Adelaide and Coober Pedy, you can book a night at Wirramina Station Bed and Breakfast through their Facebook page.

Wirramina Station is a 6-hour drive from Adelaide and a 3-hour drive from Coober Pedy.

Glendambo

Another option for those who want to spend a night between Adelaide and Coober Pedy is in Glendambo, which is 2.5 hours south of Coober Pedy (and 6.5 hours from Adelaide).

Glendambo jokes that their town is filled with sheep and flies, with a human population of about 30.

In addition to a petrol station and a roadhouse restaurant with seating options and a public toilet, those who want can spend a night at Glandambo Hotel Motel or the caravan park.

The shop at the petrol station sells food as well as toys and games, and things to do.

Toilet Stops between Port Augusta and Coober Pedy

If possible, visit the petrol stations listed above to use their toilets. Additional toilets are located along Stuart Highway on the way to Coober Pedy from Port Augusta, though they are not as well taken care of.

We opted not to miss a toilet stop and stopped at each petrol station on the way, as we were unsure how long it would be until the next stop.

Food Options between Port Augusta and Coober Pedy

You may need to plan out your meals when driving between Port August and Coober Pedy.

Here are the options:

• Pimba, almost 2 hours from Port Augusta (5.5 hours from Adelaide
• Woomera (off Stuart Highway), 2 hours from Port Augusta (5.5 hours from Adelaide)
• Glendambo, 3 hours from Port Augusta (6.5 hours from Adelaide)
• Coober Pedy, 5.5 hours from Port Augusta (9 hours from Adelaide

Restaurants in Coober Pedy

Outback Bar and Grill

Outback Bar and Grill is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating.

The menu is large with various food, including salads, seafood, steak, burgers, pizza, and Outback classics. Outback Bar and Grill has a kids’ menu.

John’s Pizza Bar and Restaurant

Head to John’s Pizza Bar and Restaurant for lunch and dinner daily.

In addition to the many pizza options, John’s also serves burgers, pasta, seafood, salads, yiros, and parmas. A gluten-free pizza base is available.

If you are looking for something unique, John’s has a Native Pizza selection that includes pizza with kangaroo and emu.

Big Winch 360 Cafe

Open seasonally, the Big Winch Cafe is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner depending on the day.

Indoor and outdoor seating are available. Those who opt to sit on the lawn can enjoy the sunset over Coober Pedy while playing lawn games.

The breakfast menu includes fruit, pancakes, avo toast, as well as egg dishes and a variety of toasts, fritters, and toasties.

For lunch or dinner, they offer wraps, burgers, salads, pasta, pub meals, and platters.

Where to Stay in Coober Pedy

Coober Pedy is known for its underground accommodations, and as many people are stopping over on their loop of Australia, there are many caravan parks.

Radeka Down Under

Radeka Down Under offers underground accommodations, including family rooms and hostel share rooms, in addition to their regular hotel rooms.

They have a laundry room, a TV room, and a kitchen that all guests can use.

Desert Cave Hotel

The largest hotel in Coober Pedy, Desert Cave Hotel, has rooms both above and below the ground.

Desert Cave Hotel is a 4-star accommodation with an outdoor swimming pool, a restaurant, an underground bar, and a laundry room.

Big4 Stuart Range Outback Resort

Big4 Stuart Range Outback Resort has both powered and unpowered campsites and shade sails, which are offered first come.

The saltwater swimming pool is open year-round as is the camp kitchen and playground. A TV room and restaurant are open seasonally.

Find the best things to do in Coober Pedy, the best things to do in Coober Pedy with kids, and things to do in Coober Pedy at night.

Adelaide to Coober Pedy Road Trip Wrap-Up

Hopefully, this helped you to plan out your road trip stops from Adelaide to Coober Pedy. The road to Coober Pedy does not have many stops, so it is important to know when to stop for food and fuel, as it will be a while before the next stop.

Many people opt to stop overnight in Port Augusta on their way to Coober Pedy from Adelaide. It is the last big stop on the way to Coober Pedy and offers plenty of hotels, caravan sites, restaurants, and grocery stores.

Try to drive from Adelaide to Coober Pedy during daylight hours as wildlife tends to be on the road at night, especially during dawn and dusk.

You May Also Like

• Things to Do Between Port Augusta and Coober Pedy
• Things to Do in Coober Pedy
• Things to Do in Coober Pedy with Kids
• Things to Do at Night in Coober Pedy
• Coober Pedy Signs
• Coober Pedy Tours
• Underground Hotels in Coober Pedy
• Coober Pedy Caravan Parks
• Where to Stay in Coober Pedy with Kids

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