White Cliffs: The Underground Town
Driving into White Cliffs, the landscape looks like something out of a sci-fi movie. This Aussie town offers something so unique, that can’t be found anywhere else on the planet.
Driving around town with opal mine craters everywhere!
About the town
Although they have a mere population of 100 people, when you drive into White Cliffs you quickly notice there are not many buildings or people walking the streets. This is because what makes the town particularly unique is that the locals live underground! The ‘dug outs’ purpose are to help regulate temperature as the winters are bitterly cold and the summers extremely hot. The underground temperatures remain steady throughout the year at around 20-23 degrees Celsius with no air conditioning, heating or power required.
White Cliffs is also most famous for opal mining. The ‘White Cliffs Pineapple Opal’ cannot be found anywhere else in the world and is highly sought after by miners in the area. Some giant pineapples are sold for almost $200,000. It definitely gives off a life on Mars vibe as you drive around the town as there are giant crater sized mining holes everywhere!
White Cliffs definitely has a historical feel to it and almost feels like a step back in time. There is a lot of rich history in the town and the locals are proud of the mining they accomplish each year.
What to do
Head to the tourist information centre (which is the town general store) and the lovely lady will give you a town map which points out the points of interest in the area and a heritage trail to follow around the town which includes the first ever solar power station (in the world!)
A White Cliffs Opal ring purchased from Southern Cross Opal Showroom.
As COVID-19 has put a halt on almost everything in the town, a few of the main attractions were shut but looked like they would definitely be worth while. One thing that was closed was the Red Opal Tour - a tour of an actual opal mine where you go underground and learn about the history and mine for your own opal.
Things we loved:
You can fossick for your own opal! A portion of the mining area is free rein as many of the mining shafts have been abandoned but are still open holes in the ground. Just be careful as there is no safety equipment or signage out there and some of the holes can be 20m deep (so maybe don’t go fossicking after a few beers!)
Southern Cross Opal Showroom - The owner has a great documentary playing on loop about the town and its mining history which is worth a watch. He is a miner himself and all the jewellery he sells is mined and made by him and his son.
White Cliffs Pub - I would definitely recommend going to the town pub for a beer and a feed. Outback pubs are always a great gage for the town and the culture and this one was no exception.
Stubby House - an opal showroom made out of 50,000 beer bottles!
Town Highlight
The highlight of the town for me was the White House Dugout Tour. They run tours at 11am and 2pm each day and $10 per person gets you a guided tour through an actual dug out home. The owners are a resourceful tradie/miner husband and a talented artist wife and have made the most luxurious architectural underground home. It is aptly named the ‘White House’ as all the walls and ceilings underground are completely rendered and painted white. I was literally in awe the entire time and now suddenly want to live in a dugout in White Cliffs. You aren’t allowed to take photos inside so you will have to go check it out for yourself!
Where to stay
The White Cliffs Undergound Motel gives you the opportunity to stay in your own dugout room! Unfortunately it was closed when we went as it closes during the summer months, and then COVID-19 forced them to close down even longer. It is due to open up in July and looks like it would definitely be worth the experience!
However there are plenty of free camping spots available. We free camped at a campground called Potch Gully which can be found on the town map and Wikicamps.
Although White Cliffs is the home to some of the most sought after jewels in the world, this little town is one of the best hidden gems in the outback.
