{"id":97187591,"date":"2017-04-14T19:17:35","date_gmt":"2017-04-14T19:17:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/?p=97187591"},"modified":"2024-08-26T14:21:28","modified_gmt":"2024-08-26T14:21:28","slug":"what-to-know-about-australia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cheapoair.com\/miles-away\/what-to-know-about-australia\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything You Think You Know About Australia Is Wrong"},"content":{"rendered":"

As an Aussie living in the United States, I am often confronted by the misconceptions about Australia and its people. I\u2019ve certainly heard them all, from killer wildlife to the cherished pastime of comparing knives. And while they all sound incredibly entertaining (and Australians do love a good yarn), the truth is they make about as much sense as a talking clownfish.<\/span><\/p>\n

So I want to set the record straight and prove that the land Down Under is a one-of-a-kind destination that\u2019s well worth the journey. Here’s a roundup of some common misconceptions, that will make you realize you\u2019re completely full of porky\u2019s (lies) about Australia and have no choice but to book yourself a ticket to see our picturesque scenery and experience our welcoming and friendly nature.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Everything Doesn’t Want to Kill You”<\/h2>\n

\"Kangaroo<\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s true that we Australians are more accustomed to being around wildlife in our daily lives. Whether it\u2019s possums lurking about at night, skinks (lizards) darting across the backyard or a Daddy Longlegs chilling in a bathroom corner. But pretty much everything you\u2019ll encounter is harmless and even useful–the Daddy Longlegs will keep the mozzie (mosquito) situation under control.<\/span><\/p>\n

But it\u2019s also true that Australia is home to <\/span>more deadly snakes than any other country<\/span><\/a>, a <\/span>snail that can fire a poison dart<\/span>, and <\/span>pythons that can swallow a saltwater crocodile whole<\/span><\/a>. So it\u2019s not surprising that, unfortunately, deadly encounters can occur. But the chances of you seeing a deadly animal in the wild, let alone being attacked by one, are pretty slim. <\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, the large majority of Australians themselves only see such creatures in one of our many wildlife sanctuaries and zoos that protect and display the country’s unique and fascinating native fauna (including some of its deadliest).<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Image via Flickr \u2013 CC BY 2.0<\/a> \u2013 Dushan Hanuska<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

At the <\/span>Australian Reptile Park<\/span><\/a> in Sydney, you can witness everything from a Galapagos tortoise being fed to venomous snakes, watch the milking of funnel-web spiders for the production of antivenin, and hand-feed friendly free-range kangaroos (okay, roos aren\u2019t dangerous, but that is cool). The Sydney area is also home to the <\/span>Taronga Zoo<\/span><\/a>, which features up-close encounters with kangaroos, koalas, and other animals, as well as a nocturnal platypus habitat and a behind-the-scenes tour!<\/span><\/p>\n

But no mention of Australia\u2019s wildlife parks would be complete without mentioning Queensland\u2019s Australia Zoo<\/a>. It was owned and operated by the legendary Steve Irwin (The Crocodile Hunter) and is now run by his family, including kids Bindi and Robert. The Australia Zoo is an hour drive from Brisbane and is famous for its live croc feeding show (no surprise there)!<\/p>\n

“It’s So Far Away, You Need to Visit for a Lengthy Stay”<\/h2>\n

\"Surfing<\/a><\/h2>\n

Australia<\/a> is on the other side of the world, granted, but for many Americans, the thought of a 14-hour flight is unfathomable. This somehow leads to the notion that you need at least a month, maybe even two, to really \u201cdo\u201d Australia, and that spending just a couple of weeks of annual vacation time isn\u2019t worth it even if you managed to book the lowest airfare<\/a> around.<\/span><\/p>\n

Trust me, mate: the flight really isn\u2019t a struggle. The airlines make a point of offering great customer service, surprisingly delicious food, and quality entertainment systems for those long-haul flights, so you\u2019ll be there in no time.[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]On top of that, there is a <\/span>whole host of helpful tips and tricks<\/span><\/a> for avoiding jet lag and making those international dream vacations come true![\/perfectpullquote] <\/span>And besides, with the right amount of planning, it\u2019s amazing what you can do in Australia in as little as two weeks. You\u2019ll be able to enjoy everything from our laid-back coastal lifestyle, flawless beaches, our world-class culinary scene, and of course, our iconic wildlife. In just two weeks, you can come home with memories that\u2019ll last a lifetime.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Everyone Drinks Fosters”<\/h2>\n

You might have heard that Fosters is \u201cAustralian for beer.\u201d In fact each year, a little more than 100 million pints of Foster\u2019s lager is drunk in Australia! According to this clever commercial, Foster\u2019s lager is the \u201cOutback Steakhouse\u201d of beers.<\/p>\n