Why We Love the Australians

We love sexy Australian actor Hugh Jackman, and his portrayals of the superhero character, Wolverine, in <i>X-Men</i>, and the rugged ranch hand, Drover, in <i>Australia</i>. Other notable Aussie actors include Sam Worthington, Eric Bana, Simon Baker, Geoffrey Rush, Errol Flynn and Heath Ledger.

We love the picturesque view of Sydney Harbor at night. Adventurous travelers are allowed to climb the Sydney Harbor Bridge. If that’s not your thing, check out a performance at the Sydney Opera House, also located on the harbor.

We love Bondi Beach and the Aussie beach culture. Surfing and saving lives is so important that there’s an annual competition called the Surf Life Saving Championships, in which surf lifesavers or lifeguards showcase their skilled talents.

What’s not to love about this furry creature? Koalas, native to Australia, are found along the country’s eastern and southern coasts. The government has already taken precautions to protect the friendly marsupial by adding it to the list of priority species for conservation.

Australians call them Queensland nuts, bush nuts or bauple nuts, but in the US, we know them as macadamia nuts. The macadamia nut is the only plant food native to Australia that is produced and exported in significant quantities.

Aussie actress Nicole Kidman has been in a few movies that we love, including <i>The Hours, Rabbit Hole, Cold Mountain</i> and <i>Moulin Rouge</i>. We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention other Australian actresses, including Naomi Watts and Cate Blanchett. They're just a couple more reasons why we love the Australians.

We love the Outback and Australia’s rugged landscape, including Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock. The large sandstone rock formation, located in the southern part of the Australia’s Northern Territory, is home to several springs, waterholes, rock caves and ancient paintings. Ayers Rock is sacred to the Aboriginal people in the area, and it’s listed as a World Heritage Site.

Hearing the sound of a didgeridoo is a clear sign that you’re in the land down under. The wind instrument, developed by Australian Aborigines more than 1,000 years ago, is described as a natural wooden trumpet or drone pipe. Traditionally, only men play the didgeridoo and sing during ceremonial occasions.

The kangaroo is the national symbol of Australia. It’s used on the Australian coat of arms, some of the country’s currency, as well as well-known organizations, including the Australian airline, Qantas. We think they’re cool because they’re the only large animals that hop as a means to get around.

We enjoy watching the competitive spirit of the Australia Wallabies, the national men’s rugby team. Cricket, soccer, netball, hockey, motorsport and swimming are other popular sports in Australia.

Real Aussies eat Vegemite, a dark brown Australian food paste made from yeast extract. You’ll be surprised to know that Kraft Foods, an American company, produces the tasty paste in mass quantities. So why not try it yourself, of course, on a piece of Melba toast. Other popular foods Down Under include meat pie and sausage sizzles at barbecue stalls.

Listed as one of the sexiest men alive, celebrity chef Curtis Stone has made us fall in love with the joys of cooking. The Melbourne native began cooking with his grandmother at 5 years old, and now he’s a star, making guest appearances on <i>Iron Chef America, The Biggest Loser, Top Chef Masters</i> and <i>The Apprentice</i>.

Take a trip down the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia, to see the 12 Apostles -- limestone rock stacks off the shore of the Port Campbell National Park. We love communing with nature, road trips and a nice stroll along the beach.

We enjoy exploring new territory, especially if it’s the Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef system. It’s located in the Coral Sea near Queensland, stretching more than 1,600 miles. The reef’s diverse marine life, with thousands of species, includes saltwater crocodiles, humpback whales, dolphins, sea turtles, sharks and 400 coral species.

We love beer and so do our Australian mates. There’s nothing better than ending a long day by sipping a glass of Foster’s Lager, an internationally distributed Australian brand beer.

We love the fun-loving, adventurous attitude that sometimes characterizes what we like to think is the typical Aussie. A good example is the late crocodile hunter Steve Irwin, who lived life on the edge.

Travel to Gold Coast, a major tourist destination in Queensland. The coastal city makes a lot of money from its booming tourism industry. Gold Coast is known for its sunny subtropical climate, beautiful surfing beaches, intricate canal and waterway systems, rainforest and hopping nightlife.

We love pop-and-dance music diva Kylie Minogue and other great Australian music makers, including the Little River Band, Bee Gees, Olivia Newton-John, Midnight Oil, Air Supply, AC/DC and INXS.