Crocodile Harry's Underground Nest & Dugout — Attraction in Coober Pedy

Crocodile Harry's Underground Nest & Dugout at Coober Pedy Visited on 5/6/2021

It costs $7, as donation by an honest system, to visit this outback museum near Coober Pedy. This is the "master piece" of Avid von Blumenthal, believed to be a baron from Latvia who fought for Germany in WWII. He came to Australia where he hunted crocodile for 13 years, and for that reason he was known as Crocodile Harry. Legend has it that Harry killed as many as 40,000 crocodiles throughout the Northern Territory and the Queensland.

Harry came to Coober Pedy in 1975. He was known for his eccentricity and notorious personality. He died in 2006 at the age of 80, leaving a treasure trove of weird and wacky sculptures, painting, furniture and sound equipment of yesteryear, graffiti and displays of women’s underwear.

There are several bicycles on top of a mount of soil, a couple of them are ridden by a "sculptured" cyclists. On the arid and lifeless ground, a rather interesting sign is erected, which reminds visitors, "Newly Planted Lawn Please Keep Out".

The dugout is like a rabbit warren, and the roof of several passages are not high, and visitors have to bend to...

First off, Crocodile Harry is no longer alive. He died in 2006. Sadly, the current custodians (whoever they are), have not even acknowledged this fact with a sign or plaque or something at the entrance. I think that's a real shame [current as of 2023].

Secondly, if you visit - PLEASE, do not take a souvenir from the walls. I visited in 2006 (one month before Harry passed away), also in 2023 - there are far fewer items on the walls than I saw on the first visit.

Lastly - as other reviewers have said, it's a strange place made all the more strange by Harry's absence. I guess now it is a living museum to the legacy of his life.

RIP harry - it was nice having...

After reading various reviews we paid a visit to Harry's Den. I was quite underwhelmed with this attraction. Yes unique. It was also dusty and filled with graffiti from tourists. There was no information provided about Harry's life. Parts I found dark and creepy and no basic housekeeping taking place. The entrance fee of $10/ person was a little too much for this experience. It seems tourists are actively encouraged to add to the graffiti which is now overpowering this site. This attraction could be managed so much better. I felt we were under surveillance and were being watched. Each...