Down under down under: inside the world's only underground town

One way to save on air conditioning... Photos: F8BThere / BozzyD200

The South Australian mining village is a community familiar with the benefits of subterranean soil: it is the main source of opals on the planet. But since it was founded almost 100 years ago (in 1915), the waterless town has found much more underground than gems: they have found a home.

Coober Pedy is a typical town, with houses, Bars, shops and even churches - but all located between 8 and 22 feet below the surface. The community, which is connected by a series of dugouts, contains around 1,500 homes, complete with air shafts for ventilation. Bathrooms and kitchens are above ground, where sewage and water are more easily accessible, forming the entrance to each abode. The rest of the accommodation, though, stretches down into the earth.

Need more living space? Just dig deeper. Come across some opals along the way? You're rich. It is a bizarre way to live, but one that has already paid dividends for the town - and not just from curious tourists, who can stay in (yes) an underground hotel.

How much does it cost to live in the world's only subterranean village? Each dugout is able to be excavated "for pretty much the same price as building a house above surface", notes Messy Nessy Chic, with one crucial saving: the air conditioning bills.