11 FUN FACTS ABOUT AUSTRALIA

In this article we have prepared a list of 11 fun facts about Australia. These 11 fun facts about Australia range across all topic areas from geography, culture, demographics, sport and more.

If you know of any fun facts about Australia that you think should be included in our list, please let us know in the comments below!

Australia is Big!

Australia is big! Australia is the world's 6th largest country - occupying an entire continent with a size of approximately 7.6 million km² (2.9 million miles²).

Another interesting fact is that servicing such a large land mass requires big trucks! In fact, Australia has the largest and heaviest road-legal vehicles in the world, with some "Road Trains" reaching close to 200 tonnes in gross vehicle mass (GVM).

Australia is Sparse!

Although Australia is one of the biggest countries in the world, it is also one of the least densely populated! Australia's population density is a low 3 people per km² - a stark contrast to other countries such as the United States (35 people per km²) and the United Kingdom (267 people per km²).

Greek Population

Melbourne is home to the largest Greek population of any city in the world outside of Greece! Only the cities of Athens and Thessaloniki (both in Greece) have larger Greek populations. It is estimated that there are more than 150,000 Greek people living in Melbourne.

Beach Lovers!

More than 85% of Australians live within 50 kilometres (31 mi.) from the coast!

This is a fun fact about Australia that is close to our hearts!

Sheep

As of 2017, Australia was home to approximately 72 million sheep - a ratio of approximately three to one when compared to Australia's population of 25 million people.

As of 2014, Australia had the third largest population of sheep in the world, after only China (187 million sheep) and India (75 million sheep).

From all those sheep, the total wool production for the year (2017) was approximately 340 million kgs greasy (unwashed) and approximately 230 million kgs clean weight (Source: Australian Wool Production Forecast Committee).

Here at AustraliaInfo, we think this is one of the more interesting fun facts about Australia!

Apparently, NASA Owes Esperance $400!
NASA has an outstanding fine with the small coastal town of Esperance in Western Australia.

In 1979, the US space station "Skylab" crashed into the ground in Esperance. The space station had been orbiting Earth since 1973, but had been abandoned by NASA in 1974.

Bits of the space station landed all around Esperance, littering the ground. In response, Esperance Council issued NASA a $400 fine for littering, which by all accounts remains unpaid!

Cattle

Australia is home to the largest working cattle station in the world. Anna Creek Station, located in the South Australian outback, covers 23,677 km2. This makes Anna Creek Station considerably larger than Israel (20,770 km2).

The Right to Vote

Australia was the second country in the world (after New Zealand) to grant women the right to vote. Australia's Parliament House, located in Canberra, is pictured on the left.

The dates of when Australian women gained rights to vote can be found on the Australian Electoral Commission website.

Do you think this deserves a mention in our list of 11 fun facts about Australia? Let us know in the comments below.

Melbourne Cup

On the first Tuesday of November every year the Melbourne Cup is held. It is affectionately known as "the race that stops the nation". The race has a long tradition, with the first race being run in 1861. The race day is gazetted as a public holiday in Melbourne.

Commonwealth Coat of Arms

The Australian Coat of Arms features a kangaroo and an emu. Some people say that these two native animals were chosen as they can't walk backwards.

This is to symbolise progress, and and our intention, as a nation, to always move forwards.

We think this fun fact definitely deserves its place in our list of 11 fun facts about Australia!

Longest Fence in the World

The longest fence in the world is located in Australia.

The Dingo Fence is located in South Australia and was constructed to keep dingoes out of the farming land in the south-east of Australia.

Construction of the 5,614 kilometre (3,488 mi.) long fence was completed in 1885.

5,614km and the world's longest fence? That definitely deserves a mention in our 11 fun facts about Australia!

Originally seen here:
https://australiainfo.com.au/2018/04/26/11-fun-facts-about-australia/

Australia Vidcon 2018 - Melbourne Travel Vlog

Originally seen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_1wq2ryy6c

Slowing down in the Blue Mountains - MBS Travel - AUSTRALIA

Originally seen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aXIf2OG7Lg

Simple Australia Itinerary

Australia is on a lot of people’s short list of places to go…
…but it is huge and can be hard to know where to begin.

You aren’t going to see everything in a single trip to Australia, but you can see a lot of the highlights. With a bit of planning you can put together a trip for whatever time you have that gives you a good look at Down Under.

This post lists some of places to start and how many days to think about spending in each. Use this as a basis to make your perfect personalized itinerary to see Australia.

Australia doesn’t have to be overwhelming

I recently wrote about 6 countries for new travelers, one of which was Australia. It’s a great country to visit no matter how much travel experience you have, but it’s especially easy to navigate for those who haven’t done much traveling. You won’t have to worry about a foreign language, and there is so much to do no matter what you’re interested in.

The country is almost the size of the continental US, so you can’t cover it all in one vacation, but these are some of the highlights for first time visitors. Pick a couple places and build your Australia itinerary based on how much vacation time you have. Include time to get to and from Australia, as well as transportation between locations.

Please note that some posts contain links that earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Sydney – 4 to 5 days

As Australia’s most famous city, it’s a great place to start. It’s Australia’s oldest and largest city (but not the capital), and it has plenty to offer for both city and nature lovers.

• Sydney Opera House – Whether you want to take a tour or just admire its beauty from the outside, this is one landmark not to be missed. My favorite time to see it was as the sun started setting.
• The Harbour Bridge – You’ll see the bridge near the Opera House. If you’re not scared of heights, consider doing a bridge climb tour.
• Circular Quay and the Harbour – The energetic port lies in between the Opera House and the Bridge. Take a boat tour or just hop on a commuter ferry for a different view of the Harbour and the city.
• Beaches – Escape the city for an afternoon by spending some time at any number of beaches.
• Royal Botanical Gardens – For a slice of nature inside the busy city, take a stroll through these gorgeous gardens.
• Blue Mountains – Get out into the scenic mountains and forest not far from the city. Plenty of tour operators have day tours to the Blue Mountains.

Melbourne – 4 to 5 days

Melbourne is a wonderful city to wander around in. It doesn’t have anything similar to the big iconic Opera House in Sydney, but the city has its own great vibe and lots of delicious restaurants. Consider a walking tour of Melbourne to see the highlights.

• Federation Square – The perfect starting point. Here you will find a tourist office as well as the Ian Potter Centre National Gallery and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image.
• Flinders Street train station – Located across the street from Federation Square, this gorgeous building is worth a look even if you’re not taking a train anywhere.
• Yarra River – The river runs behind Federation Square, and it’s a nice place for a stroll.
• Bourke Street Pedestrian Mall – This street and the many surrounding it are the place to go for shopping. Not into shopping? Relax on a bench and watch the world go by.
• Chinatown – I had a hard time choosing a restaurant here because there are so many!
• Queen Victoria Market – Stop in here for fresh produce, meats and cheeses, or a wide variety of souvenirs. There’s also a small food court.

Read more about this article here:

https://travel-made-simple.com/simple-australia-itinerary/

Perth's summer set to be a hot one according to the Bureau of Meteorology summer forecast

A spring scorcher today of 37 degrees Celsius is shaping up as a taste of things to come, with a hot summer heading our way — in stark contrast to the unusually cool summer of 2017-18.

Perth did not record a single day over 38C last summer but above average temperatures are expected over much of Western Australia this time around, according to the outlook for December to February from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM).

"It was unusual not to have a 40-degree day in summer," BOM spokesman Neil Bennett said.

"It would be a reasonable assumption to think that we would see high 30s and possible 40s again because that really is a trademark of Perth summers, particularly as we move into January and February.

"The outlook would suggest that temperatures are going to be above average.

Last season, Perth experienced its longest run of summer days below 35C in more than two decades, with the cool spell lasting 31 days.

The outlook suggests that is less likely to happen again this season, but on the flipside the BOM is not expecting record-breaking heat either.

"The average [maximum temperature] for Perth for summer is 30.7C. We're obviously thinking it could be warmer than that, but there's nothing to suggest at the moment that it will be a record-breaking summer," Mr Bennett said.

"Just to put some context on that, the hottest day that we've ever recorded in Perth for the summer months was 44.5C back in 1997 on the 26th of February."

The BOM's summer outlook shows the odds favour warmer than average summer conditions for almost the entire state.

Drier season for the tropics

The BOM is also predicting a drier than average summer for the north of WA, which would be a stark contrast to the tropic region's exceptionally wet start to the year.

"The South West and Southern Coastal [regions] are probably leaning more towards average falls and that would include Perth, but the further north you go, the odds of being above average drop quite considerably," Mr Bennett said.

"So it's looking more likely that those areas would be drier than average and that does include our tropical north — the Kimberley and also along the cyclone coast of the Pilbara."

Broome smashed its annual rainfall record in the first two months of this year when a series of cyclones and tropical lows delivered more than 1.5 metres of rain to the coastal town.

Read more about it here:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-15/bom-weather-outlook-forecasts-hot-summer-for-perth/10500910

Melbourne’s weather is notoriously changeable — here’s why

Mother Nature can get awfully moody in Melbourne — but there’s actually a good scientific reason why the weather sucks in the Victorian capital.

The Sydney versus Melbourne rivalry is a long and archaic one.

On one hand, Sydney boasts iconic landmarks, better beaches and one of the world’s most beautiful harbours.

Melburnians claim a number of more subtle advantages over the Harbour City: a better food and coffee culture, a thriving arts scene, and a night-life that hasn’t been crippled by depressing lockout laws.

But there’s one aspect of life on the east coast that gives Sydneysiders a smug sense of satisfaction over their southern hipster counterparts: its enviable coastal climate.

Melbourne’s weather has a notorious reputation — it can be 35 degrees one minute and 18 degrees the next. You can step outside in shorts and a T-shirt at 9am and be soaked and shivering by midday.

This, according to Bureau of Meteorology expert Tom Fejes, is largely because of the city’s geographic position in the country.

“A lot of it is because Melbourne is further south,” he told news.com.au. “You’ve got the cold coming in from the Arctic Ocean, bringing up frost and that affects the city more, and it’s also much drier as well. In a place like Sydney, with more humid conditions, temperatures are going to be more stable.

“The further south you go, you get those cold fronts coming through and the windier conditions.”

It also comes down to the landmarks surrounding the city.

“The ranges to the north of Melbourne have a big impact on the weather there. Sydney has that to an extent, but the ranges are to the west, which is why Sydney gets such lovely, dry winters,” Mr Fejes said.

While the spring months are arguably the best time to visit Sydney — when you can enjoy beach weather without suffering that inevitable annual 40C heatwave — it’s also the time Melbourne is most changeable.

“The spring months are where you see the biggest contrast,” said Mr Fejes. This is partly due to the city’s proximity to the northern ranges. As the weather warms up, hot air sweeps down towards the south, bringing warmer temperatures with them.

Read more about it here:
https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/climate-change/melbournes-weather-is-notoriously-changeable-heres-why/news-story/fbd74b7292e369d538574d5e6ee7f194

Best Sydney Brunch, Dog Cafe & Beauty Expo Australia!

Originally seen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukOuYB0uGqY

Best Places to Eat & Stay in Perth

Originally seen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2pyAL16lps

Cafe Culture in Australia from International perspectives - What is Aussie Coffee Culture?

Originally seen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBrLLSK-u7w

Best coffee in Adelaide, Australia?

Originally seen here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCAmMChJF54

A Diamond Python was found curled up on the sand at Balmoral beach

A TWO-METRE Diamond Python was found curled up on the sand at popular Balmoral beach on Sydney’s north shore on Monday.

The non-venomous snake was captured by a Mosman Council ranger who managed to take a few snaps of the python before relocating it to a reptile refuge.

Typically black in colour on top with cream or yellow spots, the snake gets its name from a series of diamond shaped patterns found all over it.

According to the council, two of its staff had spotted the six-foot snake on the beach during their early morning walk.

“WIRES was also called in, identifying the snake, which was found between Bathers’ Pavilion and the swimming club, and appeared to have been in the water, as a non-venomous Diamond Python, before taking it to a reptile refuge,” it said on its Facebook page.

A teenager who also spotted the “massive” snake told the Mosman Collective, a local blog, he was used to seeing snakes at his Goulburn farm, but never at the beach, claiming it had been there since Sunday afternoon.

He said he and his friend found it near Bathers’ Pavilion following a swim.

“It was the last thing I expected to see at Balmoral — and at first we thought we were seeing things,” Angus Clark said.

“I reckon its head was as big as my fist and it was as thick as my upper arm so yep, I’d call it a pretty massive snake.”


Mosman Councillor and Balmoral resident Roy Bendall said while snakes were around, it was highly unusual to find one on the beach.

“The snake is not venomous and has no risk to humans and no doubt its back in Wyargine Reserve,” he told Mosman Collective.

Sydney snake catcher Rob Amrbose said that while snakes on the headland in Mosman were not unusual, seeing a Diamond Python was rare.

Read more about it here:
https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/a-diamond-python-was-found-curled-up-on-the-sand-at-balmoral-beach/news-story/f5d845f5363a6e9c067cfd356bb9a7c8

Luke Foley resigns as NSW Labor Leader following ABC journalist's statement

Luke Foley has resigned as NSW Labor leader.

Mr Foley said he had retained solicitors to commence defamation proceedings after an ABC journalist released a statement detailing how he put his hand down her dress at a Christmas party in 2016.

Read more about this news here:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-08/nsw-labor-leader-luke-foley-to-resign/10477996

101 Travel Tips for Enjoying Australia on a Budget

This Summer - on a budget

Travelers planning a trip around Australia will no doubt be aware of all the big attractions – climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge, surfing at Bondi Bea ch, driving the Great Ocean Road, having fun at the theme parks on the Gold Coast and sc uba diving the Great Barrier Reef.

Chances are you'll need to have a fat wallet in order to see and do all of these things. So, we've compiled 101 travel tips, hacks and shortcuts to help you enjoy travelling around Australia - whilst not burning a hole in your pocket.

Things to see and do across Australia

Here are some of the lesser known things you can do around Australia for free or next to nothing, starting in Sydney and then going beyond:

1. Coastal Walks – You can do the gorgeous walk between the famous Bondi around to Tamarama. On the walk along the coastline you can check out the colourful Sculptures by the Sea (18 Oct - 4 Nov 2018). On the northern side of the city there's also the Manly to Spit walk.

2. Kuringai National Park - Depending of course where you're staying, and providing the weather is co-operative, any of the local parks dotted in and around the cities make for a lovely place to stop, watch the passing scenery and have a bite to eat.

3. Hyde Park – Free to walk around and catch the annual Noodle Markets and art lining the central walkway of the park during October.

4. Centennial Park – Free to walk around but only a small fee to yee-haw it on horseback!

5. Sydney's Botanical Gardens - Free to roam around and get a beautiful aspect of the harbour, opera house and bridge all in the same photo. You'll experience the local fruit bats, ibis and cockatoo's in close proximity to the CBD.

6. Homebush - Home to the Sydney Olympics in 2000, this a great place to walk or cycle.

7. Circular Quay - A great place for sight-seeing and taking in some local culture.

8. Bondi Beach – In many respects Bondi is the epicentre Australian lifestyle (sun, sand and surf). However, parking at Bondi is notorious and the parking stingers will pounce on any offenders! Ideally park your vehicle at King's Cross or Bondi Junction and catch the bus over for your day at the beach.

9. Tap Gallery, Darlinghurst – Free exhibition of "fringe" art and cheap drinks.

10. Free Pool Tables – Be on the lookout for a number of Sydney CBD bars and hotels offer free use of pool tables including the Roof Bar, every Tuesday until Saturday after 5pm or the Golden Barley, 167 Edgeware Road, Enmore on Tuesdays after 7pm. Also check out Nag's Head Hotel, 162 St Johns Road, Glebe for free pool tables all day Sunday.

  

11. Mardi Gras (Sydney) - fantastic colourful &  lively, it's a yearly spectacle that you can catch early March.

12. Luna Park (Sydney) – It's free to get into Luna Park but if you want to experience one of the rides it'll cost around $10.

13. Combined Pass or Discovery Triple Pass – Save up to 20% off full price admission for the Sydney Aquarium, Sydney Tower (including OzTrek) and the Sydney Wildlife World.

14. Sydney Opera House – The iconic landmark on Sydney's harbour. You're free to roam around outside but a 1 hour guided tour inside will set you back $35 for adults. Save up to $6 when you book it online.

15. Visit the set of Home & Away – That's right, drive up to Palm Beach on the Northern Beaches of Sydney and you can wander around where the beach scenes of Home & Away are filmed. Time it right and you can watch the show being filmed too!

16. Kincumber Mountain Reserve, Central Coast – Check out the historic Aboriginal carvings and axe-grinding grooves which can be seen at Kincumber Mountain Reserve amongst the 700 ha of undisturbed rainforests.

17. City Ghost Tours – At the Rocks (Sydney), Picton (Sydney's south), Quarantine Centre (Manly) and Melbourne, not to mention at places like Port Arthur in Tasmania

18. Queen Victoria Markets – Melbourne's Queen Victoria's market host an eclectic mix of food, art, clothing and home wares (to name but a few) worth a stroll-through.

19. Melbourne’s Free City Tram - Melbourne is home to the free city circle tram which you can hop on and hop off anywhere along the route.

20. Haigh's Chocolates, Adelaide – Situated in Adelaide, Haigh's offer a free 20 minute tour of their chocolate factory along with free samples afterward!

21. Hobart's Salamanca Markets - Not to be missed if you're in Tasmania.

22. Bus Depot Markets, Kingston, Canberra – Check out the excellent quality hand-made foods, crafts and art

23. Floriade, Canberra - Held each September in Canberra it's a beautiful month floral display that you should check out if you're passing through. Entry during the day is free.

24. Koala Hospital, Port Macquarie – Port Macquarie is situated half way between Sydney and Brisbane on the NSW Mid North Coast. Get up close to injured koalas and kangaroo's for free.

Read more about it here:

https://www.britz.com/au/en/travel-info/enjoy-australia-on-a-budget

BEST OF AUSTRALIA 2018 | 6 WEEKS OF TRAVEL IN 6 MINUTES

Originally seen on:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDUI3k9nPDQ