Andamooka
Town
Population 528
If Queen Elizabeth II had ever been to Andamooka, perhaps she would have thought differently about the Andamooka Opal given to her as a gift in 1954 on her first visit to Australia. The opal weighed 203 carats and glistened in blues, reds and greens. It was the result of an extensive search for the most beautiful opal in the state, yet Andamooka itself is a misshapen collection of tin sheds, dugouts and fibros in the middle of the desert. With constant water shortages, no local council and an all-consuming drive to find opals, residents have become experts in making do. The town offers old-fashioned outback hospitality to an increasing number of tourists.
Visitor Information
Dukes Bottlehouse Motel (incorporating post office), 275 Opal Creek Blvd; (08) 8672 7007
Nearby national parks
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Lake Torrens National Park
The 250-kilometre-long ephemeral Lake Torrens is timeless, wild and starkly photogenic. Protected within Lake Torrens National Park, this is...more -
Lake Eyre National Park
Lake Eyre National Park encircles a desolate landscape of saltpans and waterless tracts of red desert. On rare occasions, the generally dry...more -
Lake Gairdner National Park
The vast whiteness of Lake Gairdner rests in the foothills on the northern side of the Gawler Ranges. This is one of the largest salt lakes...more
Nearby towns
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Roxby Downs
In 1975 Roxby Downs station was a hard-working property on the red sand dunes of central South Australia. That was until a body of copper...more -
Woomera
Woomera and its testing range were established in 1947 as a site for launching British experimental rockets during the Cold War era. The...more -
Leigh Creek
Located in the Flinders Ranges, Leigh Creek is a modern coalmining town that services a huge open-cut mine to the north. The original...more
In Town
Opal showrooms: showrooms in town include Andamooka Gems and Trains, attached to Dukes Bottlehouse Motel, with opals and a model railway. Historic miners huts: a handful of old semi-dugouts line the creek bed in the centre of town, complete with old tools and furnishings. Access is by tour, which includes a visit to an underground mine; details from post office. Cemetery: with miners' nicknames on the headstones.
Nearby
Fossicking: noodling in unclaimed mullock dumps surrounding town; details from post office. Lake Torrens: one of the state's largest salt lakes stretches away to the south-east; 4WD recommended for access.
Eco-friendly activities around town
Arid Recovery Reserve 28 km
Initially a public relations exercise for BHP Billiton’s massive Olympic Dam mine, the Arid Recovery Reserve at Roxby Downs is now an excellent example of how industry, government and the community can work... Find out moreHeysen Trail 182 km
Some 1200 kilometres long, this renowned walking track stretches from Cape Jervis on the Fleurieu Peninsula all the way to Parachilna Gorge in the northern Flinders. It covers a vast range of scenery from coastal cliffs... Find out moreEcology cruise around Port Augusta 234 km
Departing from Port Augusta, Augusta Westside Cruises operates a small vessel up past Redbank to the Salt Works Conservation Zone, with informative commentary on the ecology of the region, and you have about a 90 per... Find out moreCampsites around town
Farina Campgrounds 115 km
A popular stopover for travellers on the Oodnadatta and Birdsville tracks, the campgrounds are close to the historic ruins of the one-time railway town of Farina, just off the Lyndhurst–Marree Rd, 25 km north of... Find out moreElsewhere Hotel camping area 115 km
Both the Oodnadatta and Strzelecki tracks kick off from the one-time railway town of Lyndhurst, where the bitumen ends and the fun begins. This camping area is right next to the hotel and the vivid ochre pits just to the... Find out moreCoward Springs Campground 121 km
This heritage-listed former railway siding on the old Ghan Line is now a comfortable stopover for self-sufficient campers on the Oodnadatta Track. It’s surrounded by Wabma Kadarbu Conservation Park, a wetland fed... Find out moreMarree Oasis Town Centre Caravan Park 124 km
In the heart of Marree’s township, this central caravan park is 111 km north of Leigh Creek. No water is provided.... Find out moreMarree Caravan and Campers Park 124 km
You’ll find this basic caravan park just south of Marree, 111 km north of Leigh Creek. Bring in your own drinking water.... Find out moreBoolyeroo Goldfields camping area 131 km
The hill country of the northern Flinders Ranges has a long history of small-scale mining. These goldfields and the associated bush camping are located 29 km east of Leigh Creek along the Copley–Balcanoona Road.... Find out moreNuccaleena Mine camping area 140 km
In a historic Flinders Ranges mine site, tucked among the sweep of hills north of Blinman, there are ruins to explore and hills to wander at this camping area on an elevated site near the ruins. Located on PAR 3, 42 km... Find out moreParachilna Gorge camping area (bush camping) 149 km
The road heading east from Parachilna to Blinman follows Parachilna Gorge as it snakes through the Heysen and ABC ranges. Spectacular summits and rock formations create a memorable atmosphere for the designated bush... Find out moreMuloorina Homestead camping area 152 km
This bore-fed billabong on the Frome River, 51 km north of Marree, is a handy staging point for 4WD visits to Lake Eyre and Lake Eyre South. Signposted access is provided along the Muloorina Station road from Marree.... Find out morePatawarta Gap camping area 157 km
This camping area lies in rugged terrain north of Artimore Ruins, with spectacular Patawarta Hill a commanding presence. It’s 42 km north-east of Blinman via PAR 5. Bring wood and water, and preferably a gas/fuel... Find out moreCaravan parks around town
Shoreline Caravan Park 232 km
This park has good facilities in a quiet, offthe- highway location. It has sea frontage and views of the Flinders Ranges. Bookings are required in peak periods.... Find out morePort Augusta Big4 Holiday Park 232 km
With very good facilities, this place is strategically based at the junction of the Eyre, Princes and Stuart highways. It can get quite busy here, even in the low season. The park is about 1.5 km from the town centre.... Find out moreNuttbush Retreat Caravan Park 243 km
This park adjoins the huge Pandurra sheep and cattle station, 40 km south-west of Port Augusta on the Eyre Highway. The park has very good facilities, including a licensed bar and restaurant.... Find out moreEco-friendly places to stay around town
Willow Springs Station, near Wilpena Pound 189 km
Another working sheep station, Willow Springs on the edge of the national park is home to the legendary six-hour 4WD route Skytrek, passing through Bunkers Conservation Reserve and culminating at the 921-metre-high... Find out moreRawnsley Park Station 191 km
Eight modern strawbale eco-villas with grand views perch on this sheep station, on the southern slopes of Wilpena Pound. Tourism is now the main industry on the property, and the one- and two-bedroom eco-villas are the... Find out moreRest areas around town
Pimba Park Area 96 km
At the roadhouse Large parking area well off the highway. GPS: S31 15.347 E136 48.236 ... Find out moreIsland Lagoon North Rest Area 105 km
20 km NW of Pimba (L) or 93 km SE of Glendambo (R) Large area adjacent to the highway at the lookout. GPS: S31 15.831 E136 35.945... Find out moreIsland Lagoon South Rest Area 106 km
155 km N of Port Augusta (L) or 18 km S of Pimba (R) Large parking bay adjacent to the highway. GPS: S31 22.774 E136 55.411... Find out moreLake Hart Rest Area 113 km
40 km NW of Pimba (R) or 73 km SE of Glendambo (L) Large area just off the highway on the edge of a large salt lake. GPS: S31 14.020 E136 24.309... Find out moreRelief Hill Rest Area 140 km
88 km NW of Pimba (R) or 25 km SE of Glendambo (L) Large area just off the highway. Limited shade. GPS: S31 07.152 E135 55.642... Find out moreIronstone Lagoon Rest Area 141 km
103 km N of Port Augusta (L) or 70 km S of Pimba (R) Large area just off the highway. Limited shade. GPS: S31 43.149 E137 13.867... Find out moreGlendambo Park Area 147 km
South end of town Large parking area just off the highway via the service road. GPS: S30 58.321 E135 45.083 ... Find out moreWhat's on around town
Market and barbecue: local art and craft; Sat long weekends (Easter, June and Oct).
