Coober Pedy is a strange town. Half the population live underground and most of what appears above ground is weirdly tacky.

The landscape is sparse, barren and pink

Tourist attractions and opal sales blend into crass, desperate attempts to extract money from passing visitors

Underground houses are burrowed into the hillsides around the town

It is a strange sight, TV antennas, satelite dishes and solar heaters apparently mounted on the ground.

Makeshift structures of corrugated iron and junk are everywhere.

Trashed cars abandoned on the streets don’t look at all out of place

Architecture leans more towards functional than decorative.

The odd time function gives way to decoration the theme of over the top tackiness still triumphs.

The town is incredibly unique and, after a while, the trashy mixture of junk, dirt and recycled tin becomes oddly appealing.