Did you know that Aussies not only call their friends ‘mate’? They also use that word to address a total stranger! Want to learn more about Australia? We have some interesting facts for you!!
Australia, is the land of world wonders, koalas, kangaroos and so much more. But, did you know that Sydney is actually not the capital of Australia? That's right, the little-known city of Canberra is! The city of Canberra was built to be the capital of the country, since no one was able to decide if the capital was supposed to be Sydney or Melbourne.
Sydney is known for its sandy beaches, trendy coffee shops, and some of the friendliest people in the world. The "Sydneysiders" will most likely take you in as if you were their own and show you around their beautiful city.
Australia is well known to be one of the most diverse animal kingdoms. Sydney itself boasts zoos and aquariums where you can learn all about those locals. Among those are the flying foxes, one of the most widely recognized warm-blooded creatures in the area.
Also popular are the adorable Common wombats, the closest relative of the koalas. If you visit the Blue Mountains, you might just run into them outside of a zoo.
Should you stroll the Sydney Harbor National Park after nightfall, don't be surprised if you spot a long-nosed bandicoot. Other creatures you can regularly spot are the Common Ringtail Possum, Eastern Pygmy Possum, and Bushtail Possum. With their big, bulging eyes, they look quite different than those you may have run into here in the US.
One of the highlights when visiting Australia is a day trip to the Blue Mountains west of Sydney in New South Wales. The Three Sisters are a spectacular rock formation that should not be missed while exploring the area.
A famous legend has it that the three sisters were young ladies 'Meehni', 'Wimlah', and 'Gunnedoo' who lived in the Jamison Valley as members of the Katoomba tribe.
They had fallen in love with three brothers from the Nepean tribe, but tribal law forbade them to marry. To make a long story short, a wizard turned them into stone when war broke out over the forbidden love. His plan was to turn them back to humans after the war, but to his and their demise, he was killed during the war and the three sisters still stand as beautiful rocks for millions of visitors to adore to this day.
A second legend said their father turned them into stone with a magic bone to protect them from a scary monster. He then, unfortunately, lost the magic bone, which was the only way to turn them back to humans. Whilst being chased by a scary monster, the father got trapped and turned into a magnificent Lyre Bird.
When you stop to admire the three sisters, you may hear the amazing sounds of the Lyre Bird and we can only imagine what they may be talking about.
This bird can mimic almost any sound it hears! Don't believe us? Turn up the volume on the video below, and be amazed!