Fun Facts About Australia, the Land Down Under

Australia is a continent of superlatives — the only nation that is also a continent, home to landscapes and wildlife found nowhere else on Earth. Here are some of the surprising facts that make the Land Down Under endlessly fascinating for travelers.

Surprising facts

• Australia has six states and two territories, and its capital is Canberra — not Sydney or Melbourne, as many assume.
• Sheep vastly outnumber people: there are tens of millions of sheep against a human population of roughly 27 million.
• It's often claimed the Australian Alps receive more winter snow than the Swiss Alps.
• The country is home to around 1,500 species of spider, yet deaths from spider bites are extraordinarily rare thanks to modern antivenom.
• Australia began as a British penal colony; its first police force was famously drawn from the best-behaved convicts.

A land built for travel

Beyond the trivia, Australia rewards the curious traveler with the Great Barrier Reef, the red heart of Uluru, the vineyards of South Australia, and cosmopolitan harbour cities. Each region is a world of its own.

Plan it with specialists

Swain Destinations has specialized in Australia for decades. We build private, tailor-made itineraries that thread these contrasts — reef, outback, wine country and city — into one seamless journey.