While "love" is subjective, data shows countries like Indonesia, New Zealand, Japan, and the USA are most popular for Australian tourists, with Asia (especially Indonesia/Bali) being the top region for holidays due to affordability and proximity, while New Zealand is seen as Australia's closest friend, according to LowY Institute polls. Turkey also holds a special place due to the shared history at Gallipoli, where Australians and Kiwis are treated exceptionally well.
The top five destination countries for Australians are Indonesia, New Zealand, Japan, the USA, and China. This year, China has moved up two places to become our fifth most popular travel destination.
It maintains significant ties with ASEAN and has become steadfastly allied with New Zealand, through long-standing ties dating back to the 1800s. The country also has a longstanding alliance with the United States of America.
While the United States (US) is Australia's key strategic ally and often seen as a very close partner by leaders, public opinion polls consistently show New Zealand as Australia's "best friend" in the world, followed by the US and then the United Kingdom, reflecting deep cultural and historical ties with both neighbors.
Australia's 10 most popular travel destinations from 2021-25
By 2017 China surpassed New Zealand as the top source of visitors to Australia, and in 2019 Chinese visitors reached a peak of over 1.4 million and had contributed about A$12 billion to the Australian economy.
Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, and Britain are among the most popular choices for Australian expats. While the weather in many of these countries may take some getting used to, their fascinating histories, unique cultures, and friendly citizens will more than make up for it!
While the United States (US) is Australia's key strategic ally and often seen as a very close partner by leaders, public opinion polls consistently show New Zealand as Australia's "best friend" in the world, followed by the US and then the United Kingdom, reflecting deep cultural and historical ties with both neighbors.
Australia's biggest rival depends on the sport, but internationally, England (The Ashes in cricket) and New Zealand (Bledisloe Cup in rugby) are historic rivals, while India has emerged as a fierce modern cricket rival, and domestically, Queensland vs. New South Wales (State of Origin) is arguably the most intense rivalry. The rivalry with England in cricket is deeply cultural and historic, fueled by colonial roots, while the India rivalry is known for sheer intensity in cricket.
You can probably thank Crocodile Dundee for this one. The iconic, laconic Aussie has spawned a worldwide reputation for not taking anything too seriously. People across the globe still think of Australians as being laidback – we'll make a joke out of anything; nothing seems to faze us. And we wrestle crocodiles.
France consistently ranks as the #1 tourist destination in the world, attracting over 100 million visitors annually due to its rich culture, iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, diverse landscapes from the Riviera to Provence, and world-renowned cuisine and wines. Spain, the United States, and Italy typically follow in the top spots, though figures vary slightly by source.
Yes, $70k is a fair salary in Australia, often near the median income, making it a decent living for a single person, especially outside major cities, but it can be tight in expensive areas or for those with high living costs like mortgages, with full-time averages now closer to $90k-$100k.
No, Australia is not 90% white; while a large majority identify with European ancestry (around 76-80% in recent years), a significant and growing portion identifies as Asian, African, Middle Eastern, or Indigenous, making it a highly multicultural nation with diverse ethnic backgrounds, not overwhelmingly white. Recent census data shows European ancestry (English, Irish, etc.) makes up a large chunk, but Asian ancestries are also substantial, with over 17% Asian population and around 3.8% identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, per the 2021 census data from Wikipedia.
Don't litter as it's illegal in Australia. Especially don't throw a cigarette but from your car window as many bushfires are caused by this. Don't ride a bike without a helmet. Don't go in the sun without sunscreen; the sun rays in Australia can be adangerous for your skin.
Aboriginal Australians are genetically most closely related to other Oceanians, such as Papuans and Melanesians, who are collectively referred to as "Australasians," which can be described as "a deeply branching East Asian lineage".
Australia's largest terrestrial predator is the Dingo, a native canine that acts as an apex predator, managing herbivore populations and benefiting ecosystem health, though the marine saltwater crocodile is the continent's largest overall reptile predator, while the extinct Thylacoleo carnifex (marsupial lion) was Australia's largest-ever mammalian predator.
In 1932, Australia went to war against 20,000 emus. And lost. Learn more about how this surreal military campaign started, and how the emus won just by being emus at the link in bio.
Observation. When thinking about Australia's best friend in the world, the majority of Australians (57%) agree that it is New Zealand — a view that has been held firmly since 2017, but that represents an increase of 25 points since the question was first posed in 2014.
The United Nations process the annual World Happiness Report to understand what happiness is and how it affects our lives, cultures and economy. Australia is ranked under 12, Canada 15 and the United States is 16th and a popular destination for most South Africans, the United Kingdom is 17th.
Key statistics
Hobart, Tasmania, is widely recognized as the cheapest major city, but smaller regional towns in Queensland and South Australia can offer even lower living costs.
While exact real-time figures vary, recent analyses suggest hundreds of thousands of Australians hold over $1 million in superannuation, though it's a minority, with estimates from around 2021 pointing to over 400,000 people, a number that has grown significantly due to investment returns, though many still don't reach this milestone. About 2.5% of the population held >$1 million in super as of mid-2021 (around 417,000 people), with forecasts indicating a larger number, while projections suggest over 10% of women and 15% of men retiring by 2060 could reach this goal, and recent studies highlight that a large majority (around 94%) of retirees don't hit $1 million.
The latter, in effect, is an adjustment to the former to incorporate the 12/16 rule, whereby an arrival counts as an overseas migrant arrival if the person stays in Australia for 12 of the following 16 months.