States & Territories
Victoria
Capital City: Melbourne
What’s it known for?
Melbourne: The cultural capital, celebrated for its arts, coffee culture, and vibrant street art scene.
Great Ocean Road: Famous for the Twelve Apostles, a collection of limestone stacks along the coastline.
New South Wales
Capital City: Sydney
What’s it known for?
Sydney: Famous for the iconic Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge surrounded by beaches.
Blue Mountains: Known for stunning natural scenery and the Three Sisters rock formation
Australian Capital Territory
Capital City: Canberra
What’s it known for?
Canberra: Also the capital city of Australia; home to national institutions, museums, and the Australian Parliament House.
South Australia
Capital City: Adelaide
What’s it known for?
Adelaide: Known for its festivals, wine regions (Barossa Valley), and cultural events.
Kangaroo Island: Home to diverse wildlife, including seals, sea lions, and, of course, kangaroos.
Queensland
Capital City: Brisbane
What’s it known for?
Brisbane: A laid-back vibe, access to glorious beaches on the Gold and Sunshine Coasts, theme parks, and great year-round weather.
Great Barrier Reef: One of the world’s most famous coral reefs, offering incredible marine biodiversity.
Western Australia
Capital City: Perth
What’s it known for?
Perth: A modern city known for its beautiful beaches, like Cottesloe and Scarborough.
Margaret River: A famous wine region and surfing destination.
Northern Territory
Capital City: Darwin
What’s it known for?
Darwin: Its tropical climate and proximity to Kakadu National Park.
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park: Famous for the iconic Uluru (Ayers Rock) and Kata Tjuta (The Olgas).
Learn The Lingo
Arvo
Afternoon.
Example:
“Maybe we can meet up sometime tomorrow arvo?”
Barbie
BBQ or Barbecue – a social get-together where food is cooked on a grill or hotplate.
Example:
“Throw a few more sausages on the barbie for Jim.”
Bingle
Motor Vehicle Accident.
Example:
“John found himself in a bingle on the way home from work.”
Boardies
Boardshorts.
Example:
“Should I bring my boardies in case it’s warm enough to go for a swim at the beach?”
Chook
Chicken/Hen.
Example:
“Put the chooks in their coop before nightfall!”
Esky
Large insulated food or drink container kept cold with ice.
Example:
“How many drinks should I put in the esky for the weekend?”
Footy
Australian Rules Football (AFL).
Example:
“Do you have tickets to the footy this weekend? I’m hoping Carlton wins!”
Flat Out
Very Busy.
Example:
“Sorry, I can’t come to your party this weekend! I’ve been flat out at work and need to finish up a few things.”
G’day
Hello. (Literally ‘Good Day’)
Example:
“G’day Tim! How was your weekend?”
Hard Yakka
Hard Work.
Example:
“I’m exhausted! Cleaning up the backyard was hard yakka!”
Hooroo
Goodbye.
Example:
“Have a good night! Hooroo!”
Jaffle
A sandwich that is toasted in a press either on a campfire or power – can be filled with anything from baked beans to ham and cheese.
Example:
“What do you want in your jaffle?”
Melbournian
A person from Melbourne.
Example:
“Yes, Sara is a Melbournian. You can tell by her love of coffee and art galleries.”
Mozzies
Mosquitoes.
Example:
“Did you bring the bug spray? The mozzies are really bad tonight.”
Op Shop
Opportunity shop, thrift shop, or second-hand goods shop.
Example:
“I got this great pair of jeans from the op shop on the weekend. They fit perfectly!”
Potato Cake
In Victoria and Tasmania, this is the name given to a thin slice of deep-fried, battered potato. Known as a Potato Scallop in other states.
Example:
“Do you want any tomato sauce with your potato cakes and sausages?”
Runners/trainers
Sneakers, shoes to exercise in.
Example:
“Don’t forget your runners! We’re going to go for a hike on Sunday.”
Sanga
Sandwich.
Example:
“I’ll have a salad sanga with tomato, lettuce, onion and beetroot please.”
Schooner
A glass of beer that varies in size according to which state or territory you’re in.
Example:
“I’ll have a schooner of pale ale please.”
Servo
Service/gas station where petrol and snacks are sold.
Example:
“Do you want any snacks? I need to top up at the servo.”
Shout
“My shout” means my turn to pay, usually for food or drinks.
Example:
“You got our last dinner out, this one is my shout.”
Sydneysider
Someone from Sydney.
Example:
“Jude is a classic sydneysider. He loves the beach and spends every weekend at Bondi!”
The Tan
3.827km running/walking track around the Botanical Gardens in Melbourne – the name comes from ‘botanical’
Example:
“After brunch on Sunday, do you want to walk a lap of the Tan?”
Togs
Swimming Costume – also most commonly known in Victoria as Bathers and Swimmers in New South Wales/ACT.
Example:
“Are we supposed to bring our togs on our camping trip this weekend for the beach?”
Woop woop
Somewhere rural, remote town.
Example:
“Turn left on Johnston Street otherwise we will end up in Woop Woop.”
Support Services & Useful Links
Get a Tax File Number with the Australian Tax Office (ATO)
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