What Everyone Should Know About Australia | Zachary Kai

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Est. 2019

This is another title trade with the lovely James (we're up to three or four now.) He suggested a few, and the one that most piqued my interest was 'what everyone should know about Australia.'

For all Americans reading this, pay attention.

I've been asked the same handful of questions, and I've had enough.

Table Of Contents

No, It Won't All Kill You

The Food Is Worth The Trip

More Than Red Dust

The Kindness Of The Bush

Raid The Supermarkets And Markets

Books, Skies, And Open Space

The Thing That Matters Most

No, It Won't All Kill You

First: will everything in Australia kill you?

No. For goodness' sake, no.

Yes, there are things with the capacity to kill you (like everywhere) and yes, we have a large selection.

Spiders, snakes, and sharks get all the attention, yet you're more likely to die from a falling coconut than a shark attack, and the people killed by spiders is infinitesimal next to the other unfortunate ways to go.

It's no different to how Americans and Canadians warn tourists at national parks: whatever you do, don't get close to a bear. We say the same about kangaroos.

Are there plenty of things in the States that could kill you? Yes. Do you stay away from them? Also yes.

Can kangaroos box? Sometimes. Certain males engage in what looks like boxing, usually during mating or a dispute over territory. A stereotype, sure, but it's not so different from why many bar fights start.

So, things here are unlikely to kill you, especially if you're smart and don't provoke them!

The Food Is Worth The Trip

If you like coffee, all the more reason to come! Despite not being able to grow the stuff, we have some of the best coffee and café culture. I don't drink coffee, so I can't attest to it, but I hear it endlessly, and we have styles you're unlikely to find elsewhere: long blacks and flat whites among them.

We also have unique baked goods.

Cheesymite scrolls, if you're brave, but also walnut and apple, cheese and bacon, or cinnamon. We love our scrolls! A scroll is a spiral-shaped bread like brioche with a filling swirled through.

We're also partial to vanilla slices: set vanilla custard between two layers of pastry, topped with icing and sometimes desiccated coconut. A little like a cheesecake, but purely vanilla.

We take them so seriously there's a national annual competition.

More Than Red Dust

Australia isn't just a flat red dustbowl. We have everything.

We have some of the longest coastline in the world, unsurprising, given we're one of the biggest continents on the planet. (Yes, I consider Australia a continent. Don't argue.)

Skiing in the mountains (yes, it snows here) and a stunning alpine region. Rainforests, rivers, tropical north Queensland where the mangoes grow, wetlands, river deltas, swamps, and deserts of every kind.

Almost any natural region you can name exists somewhere on this big island of ours.

The Kindness Of The Bush

Rural areas gets a bad rap for being backward.

It's true the more isolated a community, the less worldly it can be, simply for lack of exposure. But what remote and rural places lack, they make up for in spades of generosity and kindness.

A perfect example: a few years ago, on a road trip, we pulled onto a side road to grab some food from the back of the car. In the short while we spent reorganizing, about six cars passed. Each slowed down, cut the engine, wound down the window, leaned out, and asked some variation of, "You all right out here?"

That's what you do. You look out for people, even complete strangers, because there aren't many of you.

Another example: if you ever do a road trip (which I'd recommend, there's so much driving, but it's wonderful) you'll find every driver passing lifts two fingers off the wheel to say hello.

You do the same. Always.

The cuisine may leave something to be desired if you're after international flavors, but what those places lack in variety they make up for in fair prices, great service, and sheer generosity. Some of the most generous plates I've had have been in a rural pub: you order lunch, and it covers you for the next three.

Ask, and they'll happily box up the rest to take home.

If you ever come, that's my recommendation: get out to the remote and rural parts.

Sydney and Melbourne are well known for good reason, and there's plenty to do in both (my beloved Melbourne) but so many of the most amazing places are well out of the way.

Raid The Supermarkets And Markets

You'll be blown away by the sheer variety in our supermarkets. You can find basic ingredients for nearly any cuisine you'd want to cook. After almost two years in the Balkans, walking back into an Australian supermarket was stark. Incredible. If you want to try something you never would've, that's the place.

While you're shopping, seek out relishes and chutneys: another Australian love, especially at farmers' markets. Think of them as a savory...