In Australia, we do things a bit differently. Here’s what you need to now about the Australian way of life.

If there’s one thing Aussies are known for, it’s their easy-going attitude. Food, events, art and history are all vital parts of the Australian culture, but what really distinguishes an Aussie is his or her laid-back outlook on life. It’s the way friends turn up unannounced (but always with a six-pack of beer in hand). It’s the reason you’ll hear the words “no worries, mate” exchanged between strangers on the street. Most of all, it’s about putting aside stress to appreciate the good things in life.

In Australia, a stranger is just a mate you haven’t met yet. Mateship is the beating heart of the Australian spirit – it’s practically a national trait. Aussies pride themselves on being good friends and neighbours, and not just to people they know. They tend to greet everyone from the mail carrier to the cab driver with a “g’day” or “how ya going?” For Australians, this emphasis on mateship creates a cheery, welcoming attitude that says anyone can be a mate.

Australia is blessed with some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the world – so it comes as no surprise that Australians love to be outdoors. This passion for nature seeps into the local lifestyle all across the country, and locals take full advantage of their own backyards. Sydneysiders enjoy ocean swims at sunrise, Canberrans take weekend bike rides around the lake, and Perth’s King Park is the local’s favourite for a picnic.

Australia’s history influences its lifestyle today, and Australia’s first and oldest stories belong to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Their diverse languages and philosophies form the oldest surviving culture on Earth. Australia’s diversity continues to grow as people from around the world have settled into the country’s buzzing cities and breezy regional towns. Today, Australia’s rich multiculturalism influences everything from the food we eat to the celebrations we share.

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. It is the largest country by area in Oceania and the sixth-largest country in the world.