30 Fun Facts About Australia

Did you know that Flight Centre Canada is celebrating its 30^th birthday this year? As such, we’ve been reflecting on our history and thinking about how far we’ve come — all the way from Australia, to be precise.

That’s right! Our story kicked off in the land down under, so we thought we’d put a spotlight on this incredible country and inspire travellers to experience it for themselves. While there are so many fun facts about Australia worth knowing, we’ve capped it at 30 to keep things on theme. Happy birthday to us! 🥳

Spanning approximately 7.7 million square kilometres, Australia is larger than most other countries — Russia, Canada, China, the United States and Brazil are the only ones to top it in terms of size. 

Yup! While every other country has to share a landmass, Australia gets an entire continent to itself. 

From the famous Red Centre in the Northern Territory to the Golden Outback in Western Australia, more than 80% of the country is comprised of vast, remote, desert-like landscapes. No wonder it’s also one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world.

When you look at pictures of the Sydney Opera House, what does it make you think of? Hopefully an orange! Danish architect Jørn Utzon came up with the idea for the famous building after peeling and segmenting the citrus fruit.

Box jellyfish, funnel-web spiders, stonefish, cassowaries, sharks, snakes — there are a lot of venomous, deadly and downright scary animals that can be found within Australia’s borders.

That said, you won’t encounter many of them (especially if you don’t venture out to super-remote areas) so you shouldn’t let this fact deter you from visiting. Not to mention, there are plenty of cuddly animals to tip the scale in the other direction. 

From furry wombats and little blue penguins to spiny echidnas (the animal that inspired the HP universe’s Niffler), eucalyptus-munching koalas and smiling quokkas, there are many animal species that will have you saying “Aww!” rather than screaming “AHH!”

Speaking of Australia’s wildlife, did you know that there are more kangaroos than people in the country? No matter where you’re travelling, chances are you’ll spot one of these Australian mammals.

11,761, to be exact! If a sunny vacation is what you’re after, Australia is the ultimate destination. There are numerous (and we mean numerous!) beaches to choose from, including the crescent-shaped Bondi Beach in Sydney, the postcard-worthy Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsunday Islands and the seemingly endless 75-Mile Beach on K’gari (aka Fraser Island). The latter is the world’s largest sand island, so you can trust the shores will be pristine.

This is one of Australia’s biggest tourist draws and for good reason! Formed over thousands of years, the Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest coral reefs and one of its most impressive natural wonders. More than six species of sea turtles, more than 30 species of marine mammals and more than 1,500 species of fish can be found here. Grab your snorkel gear and dive in!

You know those big roadside attractions that you can’t help but pull over and take a picture of? Australia is full of them! Originally created to entice tourists to stop along major routes and explore the surrounding areas, they’ve become beloved by travellers.

From animals (Big Chook, Big Koala Family) to fruits (Big Banana) and miscellaneous everyday items (The Big Easel, Big Coins), there’s sure to be something that will tickle your fancy.

Evidence suggests that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have had a presence in Australia for more than 65,000 years. Want to learn more about and show respect for these Traditional Owners? There are plenty of tours and experiences that immerse you in Australia’s aboriginal culture. 

Don’t go to Australia and expect to drink a triple grande caramel frappucino every day. The locals take their coffee culture seriously, so you should prioritize popping into one of the country’s many independently owned cafés instead of a Starbucks. Trust us, you won’t regret it.

Love road tripping and golfing? Make your way to Nullarbor Links. This 18-hole golf course spans 1,365km from Kalgoorlie in Western Australia to Ceduna in South Australia, inviting travellers to play a single hole at participating towns along the Eyre Highway. 

The Dingo Fence, built in the late 1800s/early 1900s to protect sheep and croplands, is the world’s longest. It stretches for more than 5,000km between Nundroo and Jimbour.

Wine is another major reason that people visit Australia. While South Australia gets the glory of being the country’s wine capital, don’t discount the Margaret River Valley on the western coast or Tasmania.

It can rain cats and dogs in many destinations around the world, but in Australia it might rain spiders! Back in 2015, the town of Goulburn in southern New South Wales, received global attention when millions of spiders descended from the sky during a process known as ballooning.

While it has and could happen again, the chances are pretty slim as it depends on when and where spiders lay eggs — and also very specific weather conditions. 

Given Australia’s large number of beaches (see above) and the fact that it’s often referred to as the “island continent”, it should come as no surprise that almost everyone lives in coastal cities. Who else is jealous?

Thanks to the presence of an algae that produces a red pigment when exposed to sunlight, several lakes in Australia have a bubblegum-pink hue. See this natural spectacle for yourself at Lake Eyre, Hutt Lagoon, Lake Bumbunga and more.

Uluṟu, otherwise known as Ayers Rock, is one of the top attractions in the outback for a few reasons: 1) It’s a place of significance for Australia’s aboriginal people, 2) It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and 3) It’s located in the breathtaking Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park.

While this sacred natural rock doesn’t technically change colour, it’s hue will vary depending on when you visit — from vibrant reds and oranges at sunrise to deep purples at sunset.

Unable to choose between Sydney or Melbourne, Australians decided to build a capital city from the ground up. The Australian Government even hosted a design competition to help ensure it would shine as a destination.

Okay… that’s a bit of a lie. Australia doesn’t have any active volcanoes. Situated in the middle of the Indo-Australian tectonic plate, volcanic activity is unlikely here. The last eruption occurred more than 5,000 years ago!

This probably isn’t the first place that comes to mind when you think about a ski vacation — but the Australian Alps get plenty of powder. There are even rumours swirling that these mountains are snowier than the Swiss Alps.

Why not celebrate the holidays in the Southern Hemisphere? With more than one million people attending each year, the Sydney New Year’s Eve event rivals New York’s... and has the added bonus of being held smack-dab in the middle of summer. Watching fireworks light up above the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge is unlike anything else.

Seriously, where would we be without John O’Sullivan? The radio-astronomer and his colleagues at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation laid the foundations for wireless networking technology, which is used in billions of devices today.

Penicillin, wine casks, notepads, electric drills, Google Maps — we have Australians to thank for some pretty helpful medicines, tools and apps.

Now used throughout the world, Australia was the first to use the term “selfie”. And it’s all thanks to a man named Nathan Hope. In 2002, he used the word while sharing a photo to social media.

We work with a lot of Australians and none of them go by their real name — not even Flight Centre founder Graham “Skroo” Turner! Using nicknames is an important part of Australian culture, as it celebrates community and egalitarian friendship.

Australian Rules Football is a rugby-soccer hybrid… that’s played on a cricket field. There really is nothing else like it.

No matter where you stay in Australia, it’s bound to be unforgettable — but you can take your trip to the next level by checking into one of its more iconic hotels. The crocodile-shaped Mercure Kakadu, underwater Reefsuites and the Barbie-esque Pink Hotel are just a few of our favourites.

Yes, it’s long — but visiting this fascinating country is so worth it! If these facts about Australia have inspired you to book a trip, get in touch. Our Travel Experts can help you find flights, accommodations, sightseeing activities and more in the land down under.