Tom's Working Opal Mine

1993 Stuart Highway, Coober Pedy, South Australia, Australia

0886723966

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Ranked #6 of 10 attractions in Coober Pedy

40 Reviews

Type: Mines

Owner description: We are a well-established modern day Working Opal Mine situated just 500m north of town along the Stuart Highway.OPEN 7 Days and All Public Holidays!!... more » Owner description: We are a well-established modern day Working Opal Mine situated just 500m north of town along the Stuart Highway.OPEN 7 Days and All Public Holidays!! Tickets for your Tour are available DIRECTLY at TOM'S MINE in our large Reception Area.No need to pre-book, just come on down to the office a few minutes before the start of the tour.(Please note that we are not connected to or part of any town tours offered from other organisers in Coober Pedy). We offer two different ways to tour our mine, which is spacious and well-lit, no crouching through narrow tunnels at all! 1) The Guided Tour is interactive (if you want it to be) and visitors can try their hands on a variety of Mining Features. Our experienced Miners/Guides will provide all explanations & demonstrations of these features in a safe underground environment. Lots of fun guaranteed! 2) The Self-Guided Tour is a Walk-Through only and visitors can stroll through our mine by themselves and in their own time to just look at the various Mining Features. (Machinery will not be in working mode). These are some of our Mining Features to be experienced:Look at "Opal" in the wall, learn all about the Precious Stone, how a "Blower" and a "Tunneling Machine" works, why we drill "Holes" into the ground, experience a ride on the "Bosun Chair", try your hands on "Divining" and go "Noodling". After the tour, sit down and relax in the friendly atmosphere of our reception area, browse through the "Opal" and "Opal Jewellery" on display while having a FREE cuppa or use our FREE Internet. We accept VISA, Mastercard, EFTPOS and Paypal. WE ARE WHEELCHAIR FRIENDLY (access through the whole mine)EASY & SAFE WALKING, SPACIOUS, HIGH CEILINGS, WELL-LIT UNDERGROUND AREA, NO CROUCHING AT ALL!...WE WELCOME PETS (lockable, shaded facilities available)..."Guided Mine Tours" are available 7 days a week at: 8.00 AM, 10.00 AM, 2.00 PM, 4.00 PM... Allow 1 to 1 1/4 Hours per Tour... Admission Fees: Adults $25.00...Children $10.00...Family = 2 Adults & 2 Children Age 5-15 $55.00...Seniors' Concession available..."Self-Guided Mine Walk-Throughs" are available any time between 8.00 AM and 5.00 PM...(You will receive a Map of the Mine, allow 15 - 20 minutes per tour)... Admission Fees: Adults $10.00...Children Age 5-15 $5.00...(No Concession available)...We are happy to book special tours for larger groups outside the normal tour times by appointment, please contact us with your details...Large Car Park & Coach Parking...Shaded Picnic Area...Large Indoor Reception Area...Wheelchair friendly environment with access through the whole mine...Free Internet, Coffee & Noodling...Toilet Facilities at premises...

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40 reviews from our community

Brolly2013

Australia

1 review

“Worth doing”

Reviewed 5 May 2013

Thought this tour was really interesting as there were just two of us and Ben answered all our questions in an easy to understand way. Definitely better than DIY. The "pick up and deliver" service is very much appreciated in a town which has no taxis or public transport and it is nice that all donations for their tea and... More

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EricPoh

Singapore, Singapore

Reviewer

4 reviews

“Great Experience”

Reviewed 1 May 2013

The first time going to a mining area. We paid for $10 and had our own tour around the underground mine. Its awesome experience which you see how a they dug a mine and a feel of it. U can even dig your own opal at the back of the entrance near carpark. You can bring home if you found... More

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hihihiakl

Brisbane, Australia

Reviewer

5 reviews

Reviews in 4 cities

1 helpful vote

“Wonderful experience!”

Reviewed 15 April 2013

Thank you for guiding us, Jimmy! Your tour was FUN and very interesting!

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lizaj963

Perth, Australia

Senior Reviewer

7 reviews

5 attraction reviews

Reviews in 2 cities

“A must see!”

Reviewed 14 April 2013

This is another must see in Coober Pedy. It gives you another look at Opal mining, from a real working Opal mine. The staff were very helpful, in picking me up and dropping me back off into town, or anywhere I wanted after the tour.

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onlyworld

Queanbeyan, Australia

Top Contributor

178 reviews

132 attraction reviews

Reviews in 71 cities

127 helpful votes

“Mining...”

Reviewed 12 April 2013

Four of my friends were visited this mining and not impressed. If you were already seen any mining in NSW or other states then this is nothing. They are charging more for the guided tour so we taken self guided tour and paid $10/person. It was not worth for that price. Within 15 minutes we finished the tour. It may... More

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SeanVintin

Melbourne, Australia

Top Contributor

66 reviews

38 attraction reviews

Reviews in 32 cities

27 helpful votes

“Ok, Small, Qiuck Tour.”

Reviewed 13 March 2013

Small. Not much to see of the actually working, infact it appears much like a non-working modern mine. The Old Timers Mine is far superior in terms of history and information. But this is an ok alternative.

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Mike M

Perth, Australia

Senior Reviewer

9 reviews

5 attraction reviews

Reviews in 5 cities

3 helpful votes

“Interesting”

Reviewed 19 February 2013

If you want to learn and see how coober pedy digs underground and mines the area it is well worth a visit. All the info is here on display

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carribean59

Newcastle, Australia

Senior Reviewer

8 reviews

3 attraction reviews

Reviews in 5 cities

4 helpful votes

“meet the original owner”

Reviewed 9 February 2013

meet the owner and walk through a working mine even though its open for tourist, they have a shop under ground and its all explained for you ,the process of opals . you can get a feel and see the mechanical way of digging .and maybe get the bug to dabble yourself.there is an area for going through yourself and... More

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Andrew W

Warrnambool, Australia

Contributor

18 reviews

8 attraction reviews

Reviews in 9 cities

14 helpful votes

“Best Mine in Town!!”

Reviewed 29 January 2013

After looking at some other tours around town that are run down and out dated it is pleasing to see an “actual” up to date way of mining. You also get to try out some of the tools!!!

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Jenny C

Melbourne, Australia

Reviewer

4 reviews

“Very interesting”

Reviewed 14 January 2013

We decided to do this tour as an afterthought, and happened to turn up right on the dot of a tour starting. There were already quite a few people in the tour, but we were allowed to take part, and it was very interesting. My 7 year old daughter loved it! The miner who took us around had spend years... More

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