Down Under Wonders: 40 Uniquely Australian Things To Crack You Up

To learn more about this beautiful country, we reached out to Australian travel writer Tess Moone, who shares her adventures on the blog Tessomewhere.

"Australia's sheer diversity of landscapes never ceases to amaze me, from the burnt red sands of the north to the tropical rainforests in the east and picture-perfect beaches with crystal-clear water in the south," Tess told Bored Panda. "Its vastness means you could spend a lifetime exploring and still be awed by the contrasts between regions - it often feels like you're traveling through multiple countries within one!"

We also spoke to Jade Collins, co-founder of Salty Aura, an Australian sustainable brand she created with her partner, Jake, offering aesthetic rugs, bedding, and more, who said, "Australia is so unique because it's so easy to escape the hustle and bustle and head slightly inland to feel like you're the only person on earth.

"Nearly 40% of the country is uninhabitable due to the dry desert conditions, and more than 80% of the country's population lives within 50 kilometers [31 miles] of the coast. This is why it's so well known for some of the best beaches in the world, and why it's so easy to escape to the desert and camp amongst the unpolluted stars in outback Australia and enjoy some solitude," Jade added.

Australia is famous for its dangerous fauna. It is home to some of the world's most venomous snakes and spiders, and many outsiders believe that you're risking a confrontation pretty much every minute you spend there.

However, according to Tess Moone, the notion that lethal wildlife lurks around every corner is one of the biggest misconceptions about the country. "Many tourists worry about sharks and spiders, but in reality, having lived by the beach my whole life, I've never encountered a shark," she said.

"While it's important to be mindful and shark-aware, the chances of an encounter are very low."

Jade Collins agrees. "Depending on where you are, typically you won't actually see a spider on your trip here. We [locals] hardly ever think about the poisonous creatures here, and personally, I only ever see a deadly spider 3-4 times a year."

"People also think they should head straight to the east coast when travelling Australia, but if you want a more authentic experience, west and northern Australia are so much better with incredible beaches and outback adventures," she shared.

However, when planning your itinerary, remember that while Australia is the smallest continent, it's still an enormous country. Spanning roughly 7.7 million square kilometers (or 3 million square miles), it’s nearly the same size as the contiguous United States.

"My top tip [for tourists] is not to underestimate the distances between destinations—Australia is massive!" Tess Moone, said. "Many visitors cram too much into a short one or two-week holiday and spend more time traveling than appreciating the beauty of the place."

"Another tip is to venture beyond the typical tourist hotspots on the East Coast, like Sydney and Cairns (home to the Great Barrier Reef). The west coast, my home state, is spectacular and arguably has some of Australia's best beaches," Moone highlighted. "Plus, with the addition of direct flights from Europe to Perth, reaching Western Australia has never been easier."

Some of Tess's must-see recommendations include Rottnest Island near Perth which, as she pointed out, is home to the adorable quokkas; Exmouth and the Coral Coast, where you can snorkel the Ningaloo Reef and swim with whale sharks; and the Margaret River Region, famous for towering karri forests and world-class wineries.

For more detailed travel guides exploring these and other destinations, you can check out her website Tessomewhere.

No matter where you ultimately choose to go, though, the locals are very warm, said Jade Collins of Salty Aura.

However, she added that their attitude can change depending on which region you're in.

For example, "the locals in ‘outback Australia,’ typically northern Australia, are a lot more like the movies, very friendly with lots of banter and slang," she explained.