Unearthing Opal ExperienceCheck dates
Dan Measey standing beneath an excavator under the Coober Pedy night sky

Coober Pedy · South Australia

For one night, you're not watching miners You are one

Join Dan Measey from Outback Opal Hunters on freshly opened Coober Pedy ground - real tools, a real working claim and the crew beside you after dark.

Choose your experienceSee what happens
  • Working opal mine
  • Two generations of know-how
  • Walk-in open-cut access
  • March to November

Choose your way in

Two real mining experiences. One working claim.

Start with the bucket-list night dig, or go deeper with Dan through the full mine-to-stone story the next morning.

Guests searching for opal with lights on Dan's mine face

Core experience · up to 10 guests

The role is yours for the night

Opal Miner for a Night

Step onto Dan's crew for a genuine night dig on freshly opened Coober Pedy opal ground.

  • Price$300 adult · $200 child (8–16)
  • Group sizeMaximum 10 guests
  • Runs withFour guests — or any $1,000 booking
  • Time2.5+ hours on site
  • StartAround 30 minutes before sunset

Booking as one, two or three? A Guaranteed Slot covers the $1,000 minimum and the night runs — and if more guests join later, we refund you the difference. Travel to the claim and an opal briefing are additional to the on-site time.

Check core dates
Freshly found Coober Pedy opal held in a miner's hands

Limited dates · maximum 6

The exclusive experience

The Miner's Cut

Mine it by night. Work the opal the next morning. Keep your share if colour is found.

  • Price$1,000 per person
  • Group sizeMaximum 6 guests
  • Runs withTwo guests — or any $2,000 booking
  • Night3+ hours mining with Dan
  • Next morningPrivate opal workshop session

Booking as one or two? A Guaranteed Slot covers the $2,000 minimum and the experience runs — and if more guests join later, we refund you the difference. If opal is found, each participant receives a 5% share, provided as opal or its value in cash at UAO's discretion.

Check premium dates

Both experiences run March to November. Bookings are essential and minimum numbers apply — a Guaranteed Slot covers them if you are travelling in a small group. Finding opal is never guaranteed - this is genuine mining.

Guests working newly exposed opal ground beside an excavator at nightA young guest mining with an adult beside them

Your night on the claim

This is the real thing.

You are not watching from behind a rope. Dan opens his working claim, puts the crew's tools in your hands and shows you how Coober Pedy miners read the ground.

  1. Meet before sunset

    Start with Dan's opal briefing, then tag along behind the crew to the claim in your own car - or ask Dan about pickup from your accommodation.

  2. Gear up and get shown the ground

    Walk into the open-cut mine - no ladders or winches - and learn the pick, jack pick and safe way to work.

  3. Mine newly exposed ground

    Work beside Dan and his crew as the desert cools, chasing the signs that experienced miners look for.

  4. Switch on the UV

    Sweep the face under blacklight and watch ordinary-looking ground reveal flashes the naked eye can miss.

Honest expectations

Opal is never guaranteed. A real experience is.

There are no planted stones and no staged reveals. Dan prepares genuine, freshly opened ground so your time is spent doing what miners do: reading it, working it and sharing the anticipation of what might be there.

Colour visible in freshly found Coober Pedy opal
If the ground gives up colour, The Miner's Cut continues the story from rough opal to finished gem.

The exclusive experience

The full story of opal, lived in 24 hours.

The Miner's Cut is not simply more time at the mine. It is deeper access to Dan, the opal process and what happens after a promising piece leaves the ground.

  1. 01

    Mine with Dan by night

    A smaller group, extended time on his claim and the crew beside you deep into the evening.

  2. 02

    Work it at the opal workshop the next morning

    Return to clean, sort, class and cut the finds at the Unearthing Opal workshop with Dan.

  3. 03

    Keep your 5% share if opal is found

    Receive your share as opal or 5% of its value in cash, at UAO's discretion. A notable parcel may also open the door to seeing how local experts assess it.

Explore The Miner's Cut
Dan Measey closely reading opal ground by headlamp

Your miner and host

Two generations. No script.

Dan Measey has spent his life reading Coober Pedy ground. You may know him from Outback Opal Hunters; here, he is the miner beside you, showing you the techniques, decisions and optimism that keep every crew chasing colour.

This is Dan's working claim and his livelihood. That is what makes the invitation rare - and why no two nights can be the same.

Working claimGenuine production ground, prepared for your visit
Small groupsTime to learn directly from Dan and the crew
Walk-in accessOpen cut and underground drives - no ladders or winches
On screenDan Measey from Discovery's Outback Opal Hunters
Ask Dan a question

Guest stories

The kind of night people talk about for years.

Real guests, real ground and the shared suspense of every swing of the pick and UV sweep.

“Something you have to do in your lifetime is spend a night on the face with Dan and his team.”

Amore F. · Google review

“History, science with a hands-on experience that is just great fun. The real outback opal mining experience!”

Rachel R. · Tripadvisor
Read Tripadvisor reviewsRead Google reviews

Before you book

Straight answers for a real mining night.

Still deciding? These are the details most guests want to know first.

Is finding opal guaranteed?

No. This is a genuine working claim, not a staged attraction, so no find can be promised. Dan prepares newly exposed ground and puts you where his crew would work, but the ground decides what it gives up.

What does the premium 5% share mean?

If opal is found during The Miner's Cut, each participant receives a 5% share. UAO may provide that share as opal or as 5% of its value in cash, at UAO's discretion.

Is the experience suitable for children?

Yes - children aged 8 to 16 are welcome on both experiences with a responsible adult. Opal Miner for a Night has a child rate; on The Miner's Cut, children are the same price as adults. Contact Dan before booking if you have questions about your family's needs.

Do we go underground or climb ladders?

Underground, yes - ladders, no. The current claim at 17 Mile has walk-in underground drives, so you can experience real underground opal mining without ladders, winches or shafts. It remains a natural working mine with uneven ground; contact the team to discuss mobility or access needs. For a more extensive underground mining experience, ask about a tailored experience.

How do we get to the claim?

Tagging along in your own vehicle is how most guests attend - you follow Dan from the meeting point out to the claim on 2WD-suitable access. If you need Dan to pick you up from your accommodation, let him know when booking.

How long does it take?

The core experience includes at least 2.5 hours on site, plus travel and an opal briefing. The premium includes at least 3 hours of night mining, plus travel, briefing and a next-morning workshop session.

When do experiences run?

Experiences run from March to November and begin around 30 minutes before sunset. Dates are limited, minimum booking values apply and advance booking is essential.

Can we book as one or two people?

Yes. Both experiences have a minimum booking value rather than a hard headcount — $1,000 for Opal Miner for a Night, $2,000 for The Miner's Cut. Secure a Guaranteed Slot for that value and your night goes ahead regardless of who else books. If more guests join later, we refund you the difference.

An excavator prepared for night mining at sunset in Coober Pedy

The opal fields come alive after dark

Which experience will be yours?

Choose the bucket-list night dig or go all the way from the mine to Dan's opal workshop with The Miner's Cut.

Check dates and bookTalk to Dan