If you have been thinking of embarking on the ultimate Australian adventure for an experience of a lifetime then why not learn a little more about this idyllic country before you book your trip?

It’s likely you’ve already gathered some information about Australia and the wonders it has to offer however, we’ve put together a list of 25 interesting facts about Australia that you (probably) didn’t already know.

 

Take a look and see for yourself here:

  1. The name ‘Australia’ comes from the Latin word ‘australis’, meaning southern.
  2. It is the 6th largest country in the world, occupying an entire continent of some 7.6 million square kilometres.
  3. It has the world’s 3rd largest ocean territory, spanning three oceans and covering around 12 million square kilometres.
  4. Vegetation covers nearly 7 million square kilometres or 91% of Australia.
  5. Most of Australia’s exotic flora and fauna cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
  6. The highest mountain on mainland Australia is Mt Kosciuszko, standing 2228m (7310ft) above sea level.
  7. One of the greatest things about Australia is the incredible marine life. The world’s largest reef system, the Great Barrier Reef, is found off the north-eastern coast of Australia. great barrier reef in australia
  8. Australia has a range of different landscapes, which includes urban areas, mountain ranges, deserts and rain forests.
  9. Australia is home to a host of unique animals, including the koala, kangaroo, emu, kookaburra and platypus.
  10.  Largely keeping to themselves, there are a number of dangerous snakes in Australia such as the Brown Snake, Tiger Snake and Taipan.
  11. Australia is the only nation-continent made up of 20 million people in the world.
  12. More than 80% of Australians live within 100 kilometres of the coast making Australia one of the world’s most urbanised coastal dwelling populations.
  13. Over 200 different languages and dialects are spoken in Australia including 45 Indigenous languages. The most common non-English spoken languages are Italian, Greek, Cantonese, Arabic, Vietnamese and Mandarin.
  14. The first Australian of the Year award was awarded to Professor Macfarlane Burnet who had won the Nobel Prize in the same year of 1960 for his ground-breaking physiology research.
  15. It has 16 world heritage listed sites including historic townships, cities and landscapes.
  16. It is believed that the Aboriginal game of Mangrook inspired the rules for Australian Football, while invented in Sydney became popular in Victoria.
  17. Australia was the second country in the world to give women the right to vote in 1902.
  18. The largest cattle station in the world is Anna Creek Station in South Australia at over 34,000 square kilometres is the world’s largest cattle station. It is even larger than Belgium.
  19. Australia Day today is a celebration of diversity and tolerance in Australian society, embracing all ethnic backgrounds, racial differences, and political viewpoints. The annual Australia Day Regatta has been held in Sydney harbour in celebration since 1837. Sydney alone has so much to offer, take a look at these interesting facts about Sydney Harbour Bridge, a sight which is not to be missed on a trip to this bustling city.
  20. Kangaroo meat can be purchased from the supermarket, butcher and is available on restaurant menus as a leaner and healthier alternative to beef or lamb with a 1-2% fat content.
  21. Approximately 1.35 trillion bottles of wine are produced by Australia.
  22. An often-unknown fact about Australia is that Canberra was selected as the capital because Sydney and Melbourne could not stop arguing which city should be the capital of Australia.
  23. Melbourne has been crowned the world’s most liveable city 4 years in a row since and including 2011.
  24. The only place in the world where you can still find the lung fish which is a living fossil from the Triassic period 350 million years ago.
  25. Australia is the proud sports capital of the world with 70% of its total population participating at least once a week in a recreational activity or sport.

Whether you want to sample the local delicacies or swim in the world’s largest reef, these facts about Australia show just how much is on offer on a trip down under. If you’re keen to read some slightly more peculiar facts, then why not take a look at our top 10 unusual facts about Australia.

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Images by Jason Tong and Gary Bembridge via Flickr.