Folks have wildly completely different opinions concerning the land Down Below. For some, Australia is paradise on Earth, with pleasant individuals, good meals, superb climate, and tons of journey alternatives. For others, it’s the land of ‘nope!’—a spider, snake, and shark-infested nation that makes them query why anybody would select to stay there.
However it’s solely via journey and private expertise that we will be taught the reality a couple of new place. The non-Aussie members of the r/AskReddit group spilled the beans about what they discovered the strangest about Australia. Learn on for his or her ideas and tradition shock experiences.
Bored Panda reached out to Bree Clarke from South Australia, aka redditor u/Determined-Narwhal817, the writer of the intriguing viral thread. She was variety sufficient to shed some gentle on the largest tradition shock moments that vacationers face when visiting Australia, in addition to discover the boldness to journey far and vast. Learn on for our full interview with Bree!
Australian right here that has been residing in Canada for the previous three months.
It is humorous trying again at how issues are achieved otherwise in Austalia that you just develop up considering is regular and do not appricate. Easy issues like tipping tradition and taxes are already displayed on worth tags, I am discovering canada to be such an costly nation to stay in. 500ml of honey (equal of house model) $10! How?
I’ve had a number of Canadians ask how we stay with so many lethal creatures, snakes, spiders and so forth. Like WTF, you actually have BEARS roaming the road that may bodily overpower you and f**ok you up! A moose could be the dimensions of an SUV, run ridiculously quick even in deep snow, it may additionally f*cking swim and can cost you if intimidated and do not get me began on cougars (and never the enjoyable kind)
Planning on being in Canada for an additional 12 months and a half however already lacking the Austalian tradition to a sure extent. Canada is so stunning although.
In keeping with Bree, she began the thread on Reddit as a result of she was interested by how different individuals see Australia. She needed to match their experiences with these of her personal.
“Life and Aussie tradition appears so regular to me, and I needed to get actual perception from on a regular basis individuals, from all around the world. And I definitely achieved that! I did not anticipate the submit to explode prefer it did, that is for positive. I used to be fairly satisfied, to be sincere… and filled with satisfaction, amusement, and heat for my little (massive) land down beneath,” she advised Bored Panda how completely satisfied she was that the dialogue obtained plenty of consideration.
Bored Panda was curious to get Bree’s tackle the largest tradition shock moments that foreigners may expertise after they first go to Australia. In her opinion, a type of moments is “realizing there are cities right here, and busy ones at that.”
The banter. Aussies are surprisingly fast and have an incredible humorousness. Additionally they have an inclination to have a darker, irreverent style in jokes. Makes for good leisure.
“Chatting to vacationers, I get the impression they have been virtually anticipating to land on a mud patch in the course of nowhere and have a kangaroo courier them to an outback cattle station combating off snakes and sharks and spiders with a boomerang,” she quipped. “That view, or expectation, does heat our hearts, although.”
Bree stated that Australians love plenty of issues: their nation, taking the mickey out of others, the vacationers, in addition to the view the remainder of the world has about them. “The snakes and sharks and spiders and remoted cattle stations are undoubtedly right here, we have all encountered them, however I have no idea a single one that’s had a foul expertise with any of them. They have an inclination to depart you alone in the event you do come throughout one.”
She shared some extra issues that Aussies have in frequent: “All of us have a mate known as Gazza, (hello, Dad!) and everyone knows somebody known as Kylie (hello, bestie!) All of us have damaged a Hills Hoist [clothesline] as children, and all of us like our Vegemite. Everybody’s our mate, even when it would not sound prefer it from the ‘not secure for work’ language we use.”
Canadian right here. Vacationed at 3 areas in Australia with my spouse, a complete of 10 days (not close to lengthy sufficient). Brisbane, Cairns, and Alice Springs. Brisbane might have been the sister metropolis to Vancouver, BC imo. The factor that shocked me essentially the most was when in Cairns, we have been awake at 2am because of the time change, and we went outdoors appeared up within the sky and there was in all probability a thousand large bats simply flying overhead (flying foxes I consider). It was very very cool to see that!.
Bree defined to Bored Panda that Aussies are “tremendous protecting” of vacationers, even when they may take pleasure in gently poking enjoyable at them once in a while. “While we could also be scaring you with tales of drop bears, in the exact same breath we have now our eyes peeled and we cannot allow you to raise up a chunk of tin within the Outback, or stroll round barefoot in a paddock, or wander via the mangroves.”
The writer of the viral thread identified that getting together with the locals is “virtually a given,” which ought to put plenty of us vacationers relaxed. “The second we hear an accent, we don our Aussie hats and take you straight beneath our wings. So long as you may take a joke, and are conscious that we love our tradition, and are filled with satisfaction for it, you are good as gold to us,” she shared some recommendation with all vacationers.
Bree additionally had some encouragement to share with anybody hoping to journey to and round Australia. “Touring wherever new is equally thrilling and terrifying, and my recommendation for anybody wanting to go to Australia is straightforward: simply do it! I really feel so extremely lucky to stay in such a various, accepting, laid-back nook of the world the place it’s secure and welcoming,” she opened as much as us.
The nutbush 100%.
exobiologickitten replied:
My Scottish household got here down for my sisters marriage ceremony on the weekend and two issues occurred: The band performed 500 miles by the Proclaimers, which despatched the Scots right into a highland dancing frenzy They then performed Nutbush, which despatched the aussies completely feral And on either side, the opposite household would have a look at those on the dance ground like “what the precise F is happening??” It was hilarious
“I feel my view of Australia might solely get higher if I skilled much less lucky locations and was capable of respect extra what my sunburnt nation has to supply. And, as an Adelaide resident, simply do not drink the VB beer. That is for the Victorians and us South Aussies have a tongue-in-cheek love-hate bond with our neighboring State,” the redditor prompt.
On a extra severe word, she warned that any journey within the Australian Outback must be taken very significantly. Vacationers should be extraordinarily well-prepared. They need to by no means take these journeys evenly. On a lighter word, Bree stated that Australia is a large nation, and he or she urged everybody to go to the smaller cities “on the outskirts of the cities for a real Aussie vibe and expertise.”
Many of the nation’s cities are close to the ocean, and the redditor added that the seashores are “insanely accessible and exquisite.”
As an Australian the factor that will get me is that town of Melbourne was virtually known as BATMANIA. Now all that is left of that dream is Batman Avenue.
The scale of the place, Once I flew there, a film completed, I checked the flight tracker map factor – noticed we have been nearly approaching Australia. Thought to myself not lengthy til we land, I gained’t watch one other movie. – I might have watched one other two movies as there was over 5 hours left of the flight.
American right here and was there a 12 months in the past. I do know that is simply my perspective however after I obtained off the airplane and the entire time I used to be there, I didn’t really feel rigidity within the air like I do right here. Like I stated, that was simply my perspective. It was an incredible journey visiting my daughter. I am unable to wait to return to go to.
For anybody frightened of the Aussie wildlife, Bree, who was “born and bred” in Australia and has lived there for 40 years, has some excellent news. “I’ve by no means as soon as been bitten by a snake or spider, chased by a shark, stung by a jellyfish, or boxed by a kangaroo. I’ve, nevertheless, had a secure, enjoyable, privileged, and fulfilling life, and consider you may completely like it right here. You will mechanically be within the ‘mate’ class and we have your again.”
One other upside of Australian life, in response to her, is the dearth of notable violence within the nation. “We simply do not see it right here fairly often and it offers you such a way of safety and safety. It actually is exclusive.”
The land Down Below is extremely biodiverse. In keeping with the Australian Authorities, the continent and surrounding seas assist a whopping 600k to 700k native species. Most of them aren’t seen wherever else on our planet!
A jaw-dropping 85% of Australian plant species gained’t be discovered wherever else on Earth. Furthermore, the Australian continent is house to half of the world’s marsupial species.
The truth that virtually the whole inhabitants lives close to the coast. The middle is gigantic and lethal. Idk why but it surely blows my thoughts seeing these pics of indicators saying stuff alongside the traces of: subsequent gasoline station is way af, in the event you’re not ready you’re gonna die.
Australia boasts round 2k species of spider. Most of them are (comparatively) innocent to individuals. One thing that has been an enormous assistance is the widespread existence of antivenom.
The Victoria State Authorities has some useful recommendation on avoiding spider bites. For one, it is best to at all times purpose to put on gloves, lengthy pants, and footwear whereas gardening. You must keep away from strolling barefoot round your backyard. And be sure you shake out your footwear earlier than you set them on. You must also not go away your garments mendacity round on the ground.
Should you occur to stumble throughout a possible spider lair, don’t go rummaging round it together with your arms! Use a stick. Or higher but, go away it alone and phone somebody who works in pest elimination companies.
I am half-Australian with plenty of Aussie household and have spent most of my life residing outdoors of the nation, so I really feel I’ve a semi-outsiders perspective to the nation. Some issues which instantly spring to thoughts are:
1. How utterly uninhabited a lot of the nation is. 2. The sheer expanse of the purple rocky deserts. 3. How a lot informal racism nonetheless exists in the direction of the aborigines and the way a lot the nation is struggling to navigate its previous. 4. How countless and gobsmackingly stunning it is stretches of shoreline are. 5. How insanely massive saltwater crocodiles can develop to, they’re like monsters from one other time. 6. How clear and well-designed the cities are, together with the water high quality at main ports. 7. Australians are very anti-littering and I’d say are far more environmentally conscious than most individuals I’ve come throughout. 8. The low charges of smoking and gun violence. 9. The environmental hypocrisies within the nation, equivalent to its love affair with coal, mining and trawlers. 10. How a rustic with so many sources, good metropolis planning and a lot area nonetheless has a rental disaster growing. 11. Australians fascination with snow and what number of will embellish store window shows with pretend snow And so on within the run-up to Christmas regardless of the sweltering temperatures. 12. How insanely lethal or toxic/venomous some actually tiny and innocuous trying Australian animals are. 13. The stereotype that they love their beer and barbecues may be very true. 14. Kangaroos actually do field one another. 15. How large and grass-less fields on sheep farms are.
Edit: 1. “Ozzie” (moderately than Aussie) was a typing error (I wrote this submit whereas very drained), however thanks, it looks like each different remark right here is on correcting me about that. 2. I did not know that Aborigine was racist whereas Aboriginal will not be (my apologies). 3. Lots of people right here themselves appear to be confused as to what the native peoples must be known as.
As an trade scholar from Hong Kong, the primary cultural shock I skilled was how y’all don’t actually put on footwear, I by no means anticipate to see so many toes on the streets lmao.
It shocked me after I came upon that their time period for the best leaning occasion is “liberal” and as soon as I figured it out, I out of the blue understood plenty of the issues I noticed on-line that have been complicated me.
You must clear away the bushes, shrubs, and bushes from round your doorways and home windows. Nevertheless, it’s not advisable to make use of pesticides in your backyard: the native spider inhabitants, spooked, may flee proper into your own home. (A really horrifying proposition, certainly..!)
In the meantime, add screens to your home windows and vents, and guarantee that there’s no area beneath your doorways for spiders to squeeze via.
American right here… its shockingly comparable, actually. Just a few surprises: 1) Toasties! It’s like having glorious grilled cheese sandwiches obtainable in all places, always. 2) how properly “faucet on, faucet off” works. 3) for a individuals who ridicule fundamental American espresso…. you positive go onerous on the moment espresso. 4) how one can go away your stuff mendacity round and it doesn’t get stolen. General fabulous nation. 5 stars.
My Hungarian pal had been residing and dealing in Australia for 2 months. We have been strolling house late at night time when she out of the blue stopped useless ‘The moon! It’s…improper approach up’. I couldn’t perceive what she was on about and it took like 10 minutes of explaining, as a result of I’ve by no means observed the moon on my uncommon journeys to Europe.
Whereas many people would like to journey extra—to Australia and past—a few of us preserve in search of excuses to not. It’s inconvenient. It’s costly. It’s scary. It’s uncomfortable… The checklist is countless. The actual fact of the matter is that journey is usually a great alternative for journey and exposing ourselves to new cultures and methods of residing. However we have now to have slightly little bit of braveness and be open-minded.
The important thing to gaining confidence in journey is… to journey! It’s a must to begin out small. Like, actually small. Take into consideration some large journey that you just’d prefer to have sometime. Now, make that your long-term objective. Within the meantime, plan a complete collection of smaller journeys.
Not anymore however when i came upon that the tasmanian satan is an actual factor and tasmania is an actual place.
Think about what you’d love to do and see in your hometown. Then go and do this. Then, take into consideration what you’d like to do in a close-by city, a metropolis even additional away, after which work your technique to journey overseas. Tempo your self. Take tiny steps. And shortly sufficient, you’ll be touring and adventuring with one of the best of one of the best.
You must also work out what kind of journey and tourism you’re most comfy with. Are you higher off being a solo traveler, or do you thrive if you’re on an journey with a gaggle of mates? Do you favor having high quality lodging, or are you high-quality with crashing on somebody’s sofa? Do you wish to journey by airplane, practice, and automobile, or are you a fan of hitchhiking? Do you take pleasure in lengthy hikes (hello!) or lazing about within the pool (hello once more!)?
Tall poppy syndrome: you’ve obtained to observe your self…it’s an egalitarian society so in the event you come from a society that celebrates and flaunts success, you’ll are typically disliked.
How immense and various it’s in all kinds of the way in relation to panorama and wildlife. The birdlife is unbelievable………. I lived there for a decade in Victoria and WA (Perth, The Kimberly, Goldfields and Warburton.) Just a few months in the past I began including up the journeys I had pushed while there and it was over properly 100,000 km’s. I visited each State and Territory bar Tassie. I drove to work from Perth as soon as and it took three days to journey 3000kms. Additionally drove Perth to Bathurst through Ayers Rock. Had a pet Kangaroo, shot, ate and bumped into a number of additionally. Hunted goanna and roos with some aboriginal fellas. Ĥeld a gold bar which was the weeks manufacturing for the mine I labored at, on the time. Had a ball. Was really again there in Melbourne for Christmas simply gone. Strala ‘s f*****g superior!.
There’s no disgrace in figuring out what you’re most comfy and happiest with, even when others favor a completely completely different model of touring. It is as much as us to determine how shortly to step out of our consolation zones.
Within the meantime, be sure you do no less than some fundamental analysis about any metropolis, area, or nation you wish to go to. Understanding get together with the locals is usually a great technique to benefit from your expertise! However what issues essentially the most is having an open coronary heart and thoughts.
What did you discover essentially the most surprising the primary time you visited Australia, pricey Pandas? What recommendation would you give non-Aussies to assist them get together with the locals? Be at liberty to share your ideas within the feedback.
The quantity of well-known Australian actors which have an appearing credit score in Neighbours and/or Residence and Away.
That individuals nonetheless stay there regardless of studying the existance of: 1. spiders the dimensions of my hand 2. flying spiders the dimensions of my hand 3. literall wingless dragons 4. boxing world champion bipedal deer on roids 5. snakes that WILL ok**l you with one chunk throughout the hour 6. residing rocks simply outdoors the coast that will provide you with the early entry of what hell will really feel like 7. and the truth that THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN BURNED TO THE GROUND.
As an Australian myself, the factor I hate most is our anti-intellectualism. We’re mechanically suspicious of a bloke that may string two phrases collectively with out “f***en” in the course of them.
I assumed everyone could be pleasant there after which after I went I realized I’d moderately speak to an a*****e within the tourism trade in NYC than to a espresso barista in Sydney.
Australian right here that has been residing in Canada for the previous three months.
The banter. Aussies are surprisingly fast and have an incredible humorousness. Additionally they have an inclination to have a darker, irreverent style in jokes. Makes for good leisure. 
Canadian right here. Vacationed at 3 areas in Australia with my spouse, a complete of 10 days (not close to lengthy sufficient). Brisbane, Cairns, and Alice Springs. Brisbane might have been the sister metropolis to Vancouver, BC imo. The factor that shocked me essentially the most was when in Cairns, we have been awake at 2am because of the time change, and we went outdoors appeared up within the sky and there was in all probability a thousand large bats simply flying overhead (flying foxes I consider). It was very very cool to see that!. 
The nutbush 100%.
How AMAZING your wine is.
As an Australian the factor that will get me is that town of Melbourne was virtually known as BATMANIA. Now all that is left of that dream is Batman Avenue. 
The scale of the place, Once I flew there, a film completed, I checked the flight tracker map factor – noticed we have been nearly approaching Australia. Thought to myself not lengthy til we land, I gained’t watch one other movie. – I might have watched one other two movies as there was over 5 hours left of the flight. 
American right here and was there a 12 months in the past. I do know that is simply my perspective however after I obtained off the airplane and the entire time I used to be there, I didn’t really feel rigidity within the air like I do right here. Like I stated, that was simply my perspective. It was an incredible journey visiting my daughter. I am unable to wait to return to go to. 
The truth that virtually the whole inhabitants lives close to the coast. The middle is gigantic and lethal. Idk why but it surely blows my thoughts seeing these pics of indicators saying stuff alongside the traces of: subsequent gasoline station is way af, in the event you’re not ready you’re gonna die. 
I am half-Australian with plenty of Aussie household and have spent most of my life residing outdoors of the nation, so I really feel I’ve a semi-outsiders perspective to the nation. Some issues which instantly spring to thoughts are:
As an trade scholar from Hong Kong, the primary cultural shock I skilled was how y’all don’t actually put on footwear, I by no means anticipate to see so many toes on the streets lmao. 
It shocked me after I came upon that their time period for the best leaning occasion is “liberal” and as soon as I figured it out, I out of the blue understood plenty of the issues I noticed on-line that have been complicated me. 
American right here… its shockingly comparable, actually. Just a few surprises: 1) Toasties! It’s like having glorious grilled cheese sandwiches obtainable in all places, always. 2) how properly “faucet on, faucet off” works. 3) for a individuals who ridicule fundamental American espresso…. you positive go onerous on the moment espresso. 4) how one can go away your stuff mendacity round and it doesn’t get stolen. General fabulous nation. 5 stars. 
My Hungarian pal had been residing and dealing in Australia for 2 months. We have been strolling house late at night time when she out of the blue stopped useless ‘The moon! It’s…improper approach up’. I couldn’t perceive what she was on about and it took like 10 minutes of explaining, as a result of I’ve by no means observed the moon on my uncommon journeys to Europe. 
Not anymore however when i came upon that the tasmanian satan is an actual factor and tasmania is an actual place. 
How immense and various it’s in all kinds of the way in relation to panorama and wildlife. The birdlife is unbelievable………. I lived there for a decade in Victoria and WA (Perth, The Kimberly, Goldfields and Warburton.) Just a few months in the past I began including up the journeys I had pushed while there and it was over properly 100,000 km’s. I visited each State and Territory bar Tassie. I drove to work from Perth as soon as and it took three days to journey 3000kms. Additionally drove Perth to Bathurst through Ayers Rock. Had a pet Kangaroo, shot, ate and bumped into a number of additionally. Hunted goanna and roos with some aboriginal fellas. Ĥeld a gold bar which was the weeks manufacturing for the mine I labored at, on the time. Had a ball. Was really again there in Melbourne for Christmas simply gone.
That individuals nonetheless stay there regardless of studying the existance of: 1. spiders the dimensions of my hand 2. flying spiders the dimensions of my hand 3. literall wingless dragons 4. boxing world champion bipedal deer on roids 5. snakes that WILL ok**l you with one chunk throughout the hour 6. residing rocks simply outdoors the coast that will provide you with the early entry of what hell will really feel like 7. and the truth that THE COUNTRY HAS BEEN BURNED TO THE GROUND. 
