From Mountains to Marine Life: Fascinating Facts About Australia

With trivia ranging from the country’s vast size and lengthy coastline to quirky anecdotes like the Great Emu War, there’s a wealth of knowledge to uncover. Australia is home to a variety of unique wildlife, groundbreaking inventions, and some of the largest (and longest) natural and man-made structures on the planet. Ready to explore?

Interesting Facts About Australia: A Small Continent, A Big Country

Covering over seven million square kilometers, Australia is the smallest continent in the world. It’s also the only continent entirely situated in the southern hemisphere. Interestingly, it stands out as the only country that occupies an entire continent, making it the sixth-largest nation globally.

Australia boasts a diverse range of climates and ecosystems, with more than a third of its land classified as desert. Completely surrounded by water, its coastline ranks as the sixth largest in the world! In terms of demographics, over 85% of the population resides along the coast.

A Lifetime of Shores

Australia boasts approximately 37,000 miles of coastline, featuring nearly 12,000 beaches. If you were to visit a new beach each day, it would take you about 32 years to experience them all!

While iconic beaches like Bondi and Whitehaven attract tourists, there are countless stunning shores across the nation. Each state and territory has its own beaches, including the Australian Capital Territory. Interestingly, New South Wales ceded the Jervis Bay Territory in 1915 to ensure Canberra had its own port. Jervis Bay is located about 2 hours and 30 minutes from Canberra by car.

Premier Surfing Spots

With an abundance of beaches and most residents living near the coast, surfing is a beloved activity in Australia. The country’s beaches often offer perfect surfing conditions with excellent swells and consistent waves. Bells Beach in Victoria hosts the longest-running surf competition: The Rip Curl Pro. Originally called the Bells Beach Surf Classic, it began in 1962 and has been held nearly every year since.

Given the popularity of surfing, many coastal towns offer surfboard rentals and lessons. If you're eager to ride the waves at one of Australia's stunning beaches, check out Dinogo’s guide to surfing in Australia for insights on what each region provides.

The Longest Golf Course on Earth

Another interesting fact about Australia pertains to its golf courses. Along the southern coastline lies the Nullarbor Links Golf Course, which holds the title of the longest in the world, stretching about 850 miles across two states. The course runs parallel to a section of the Eyre Highway, allowing play in either direction between Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, and Ceduna, South Australia.

Some holes were adapted from existing courses, while others were specifically designed as roadside stops. This course was created to encourage road trippers to pause, support local communities, and mitigate driving fatigue. Unique hazards, including wombat holes and kangaroos, add to the challenge, with one hole even located in the middle of a sheep station! Nullarbor Links opened its fairways in 2009, and by 2022, over 20,000 travelers had officially played it.

The Largest Coral Reef System in the World

Nestled in the Coral Sea, off Queensland's coast, the Great Barrier Reef is one of Australia's most iconic landmarks. As the largest coral reef system globally, it boasts over 2,900 reefs and 900 islands that cover around 214,000 square miles.

The reef supports around 1,500 fish species, 400 types of coral, and notable creatures like the dugong (often called 'sea cow') and large green turtles, both of which are currently at risk of extinction. The Great Barrier Reef is a top tourist destination, with numerous companies providing snorkeling and scuba diving tours to explore this extraordinary marine habitat. To aid conservation efforts, some regions are off-limits to visitors, as rising sea temperatures pose a threat to the reefs, corals, and marine life.

Vegemite vs. Marmite

Looking for a tasty tidbit about Australian cuisine? Meet Vegemite – a beloved staple found in pantries across the nation. Invented in 1923 by chemist Cyril P. Callister for Australian food manufacturer Fred Walker, Vegemite was designed to be a spread akin to Marmite. Both spreads are derived from yeast extract, but they have distinct flavors, with Vegemite boasting a much thicker consistency.

For many years, Marmite enjoyed greater popularity in Australia, but when World War II disrupted Marmite imports, Vegemite surged ahead to claim the spotlight. Nowadays, most Australians consider Vegemite superior. It's commonly enjoyed on toast for breakfast. If you decide to try Vegemite during your visit, remember: a little goes a long way!

Uluru's underground marvels

Rising 1,141 meters and stretching 2.2 miles, Uluru is one of Australia's most iconic natural landmarks, holding deep spiritual significance for Indigenous Australians, especially the Anangu tribe.

Uluru's striking ochre-red hue has earned it the nickname 'land iceberg' due to the majority of its mass lying beneath the earth’s surface. Geologists believe it extends at least 1.5 miles underground. Additionally, Uluru is one of the few locations globally recognized with dual UNESCO World Heritage Listings, celebrating its exceptional geology and cultural importance. The rock is estimated to be around 600 million years old.

The world's largest rock formation

As the largest monolith on the planet, Uluru consists entirely of one type of rock. However, Australia boasts another remarkable geological feature: Mount Augustus, known as Burringurrah in the local language. This structure, reaching 2,352 feet, is recognized as the largest rock globally, covering about 4,795 hectares compared to Uluru's 333 hectares. Estimated to be over 1.65 billion years old, it presents a breathtaking view at sunrise and sunset. Located within Mount Augustus National Park, visitors can explore natural attractions like the Cattle Pool and encounter native wildlife such as kookaburras and goannas.

Innovations from Australia

Australians have been at the forefront of many significant technological advancements and inventions. From groundbreaking medical discoveries to innovative currency systems, Australia embraces progress.

1. The black box

Today, every commercial airplane is equipped with a black box flight recorder, which has been essential in enhancing aviation safety. This nearly indestructible device was created by Australian scientist David Warren, who was part of a research group examining the causes of specific aircraft crashes. Warren introduced the idea in 1953, with the first prototype developed in 1957. Following a tragic accident in 1960, black boxes became a required feature on all aircraft in Australia.

2. Harnessing penicillin

The discovery of penicillin by Alexander Fleming in 1928 stands as one of the most significant scientific achievements of the 20th century. However, it wasn't until over ten years later that a group of scientists at Oxford, including German refugee Ernst Chain and Australian scientist Howard Florey, figured out how to effectively use the drug. Florey and his team initiated the first clinical trials of penicillin in 1941, ultimately saving countless lives during World War II.

3. Polymer banknotes

While many countries are now transitioning to polymer banknotes, Australia was the pioneer, introducing them in 1988. This innovation emerged from a partnership between the Reserve Bank of Australia and CSIRO during the 1980s. By 1996, all Australian currency had shifted to plastic. Renowned for their vibrant colors, Australian banknotes are extremely difficult to counterfeit, featuring advanced security measures such as 3D images and color-shifting birds. Today, around 50 nations have adopted polymer banknotes, with about 10 fully converted.

Unexpected snowfall

Australia is often seen as a sunny paradise with warm beaches, vast deserts, and lush rainforests. However, it shouldn't be overlooked as a winter destination. One surprising fact is that the Australian Alps in the southeast receive more snowfall than the Swiss Alps during winter. This is partly because their proximity to the coast results in higher precipitation compared to the landlocked Swiss Alps.

Whether you're drawn to ski resorts like Thredbo and Charlotte Pass or prefer the sunny northern beaches, plan your upcoming adventure with our guide to winter in Australia.

World’s longest war memorial

The Great Ocean Road winds along approximately 150 miles of Victoria’s coastline, constructed by soldiers returning from World War I. Once completed, it was dedicated to those who lost their lives during the conflict. At the beginning of the road, you'll find the Memorial Arch, honoring the soldiers who built it; nearby, a statue depicts two soldiers working on the road, created for its 75th anniversary.

Linking the towns of Torquay and Allenstown, the Great Ocean Road is famous for attractions such as the Twelve Apostles and the Split Point Lighthouse along its route.

The Nine Apostles

Here’s a quirky fun fact about Australia: there were never actually twelve apostles. The Twelve Apostles refers to a collection of rock stacks located off the coast of Port Campbell National Park, and it’s one of the most famous attractions along the Great Ocean Road.

Today, it’s noted that due to the collapse of some stacks, only seven remain instead of twelve. Initially, there were only nine, and when they were named the Twelve Apostles, eight existed. Before this name, they were known as the ‘Pinnacles’ and the ‘Sow and Pigs’ or ‘Sow and Piglets’. Regardless of their name or the accuracy of it, the Twelve Apostles are a stunning sight and a must-visit for anyone traveling the Great Ocean Road.

Unique wildlife

When many think of Australia, they envision its iconic animals like koalas and kangaroos. Australia is easily recognized by its wildlife, with approximately 80% of its animals being unique to the continent. Some, such as platypuses and echidnas, can only be found in Australia and nearby islands like Papua New Guinea; these are the only surviving monotremes in the world.

Others are confined to specific areas in Australia, like quokkas, the charming smiling marsupial found on small islands off Western Australia. And while Australia is also home to notorious spiders, you might be surprised to learn there hasn't been a confirmed death from a spider bite since 1979. Only redbacks and funnel webs have caused fatalities in the past, but effective anti-venoms have been created for both.

The world’s longest fence

Dingoes, Australia’s largest land carnivores, are notorious for preying on livestock and causing crop damage. To protect farmland, extensive fencing is often erected. The Dingo Fence was not merely constructed for a single farm; it was designed to block dingoes from an entire southeastern region of the country. This remarkable barrier starts in Jimbour, southern Queensland, and stretches all the way to the Nullarbor Plain in South Australia.

Measuring approximately 3,488 miles, the fence has proven largely effective, though young dingoes have found their way through gaps. Interestingly, dingoes also play a beneficial role in Australia’s ecosystem by controlling populations of non-native predators like cats and foxes that prey on smaller mammals.

The Great Emu War of 1932

One of Australia’s distinctive animals is the emu, a tall, flightless bird known for its large, vibrant blue eggs. In 1932, Australia declared ‘war’ on these birds... and the emus emerged victorious! Emus were wreaking havoc on crops in the Campion district of Western Australia, and initial efforts to manage their population proved futile.

This prompted the Royal Australian Artillery to deploy soldiers armed with machine guns, leading to the media dubbing the incident the ‘Emu War.’ While the army managed to cull a number of emus, the population remained resilient, and there’s ongoing debate about whether the number of emus killed sufficiently reduced crop damage. Farmers ultimately adopted alternative strategies, such as exclusion fencing, to protect their crops from emus.

The largest tram system in the world

As cars became more prevalent throughout the 20th century, many Australian cities dismantled their tram networks. By the 1970s, Melbourne stood out as the only city with a functioning multi-line tram system, which continues to expand. By 2018, Melbourne boasted the largest operational tram network globally, featuring around 155 miles of double track, approximately 1,700 stops, and over 5,000 daily services.

While Melbourne’s tram fleet has seen continuous modernization, you can experience a ride on vintage trams from the 1920s and 30s by taking the City Circle tram. Recently, other Australian cities, including Sydney and Canberra, have begun to reintegrate trams into their public transport systems.