Traditions Only Australians Can Understand

Australia’s British heritage and multiculturalism mean that most of their traditions are adopted from far and wide; however, there are a few Australian customs and rituals that only Australians can understand; and although they may seem ridiculous to non-Aussies, they are a part of their true blue identity.
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Boxing Day Test Cricket

While Boxing Day is comparable to America’s Black Friday, many Australians choose to skip the sales altogether and instead spend the day after Christmas on the couch, stubby in hand, air-con turned up high, watching and soon after falling asleep in front of the Boxing Day Test.

Small Talk with Cabbies

If catching a taxi alone, it’s expected that you’ll not only sit up front in the passenger seat but that you’ll also engage in small talk with the cabbie. If you don’t know how the taxi driver’s day has been and have no clue how he or she found themselves in said industry by the end of the journey, then you need to reevaluate your life in Australia.

Just like baseball games and hot dogs, meat pies go hand in tomato-sauce-smeared hand with a game of footy. You’ll either love them or hate them, but there’s no denying the importance of a Four’N Twenty meat pie.

Muck Up Day

While not condoning the Choppergate prank or putting the principal’s car up for sale, muck up day is a rite of passage for all year 12 students and should be enjoyed responsibly while wearing a ridiculous costume. From parades and water guns to harmless pranks and tearful goodbyes, muck up day is a celebration that all senior year students deserve.

Schoolies

Once the school year has finished and all manner of muck up day and formal celebrations have come to an end, graduates set off to the Gold Coast for a weeklong holiday known as Schoolies. A tradition since the 1970s, Schoolies symbolises freedom and fun.

Triple J Hottest 100

If you’re at a picnic, pool party or barbecue on Australia Day and someone switches on the radio to any station but Triple J, kick them out. Millions of listeners tune in annually on Australia Day to the Triple J Hottest 100 to find out which song has been voted number one.

Bunnings Sausage Sizzle

Bunnings Warehouse is a hardware shop that sells just about everything for home renovation – in addition to sausages. Hungry on a Sunday arvo or simply looking for a cordless drill with a side of snag? Then head on down to the Bunnings Warehouse, where great sausages are just the beginning.

Bare Feet at the Melbourne Cup

Because the most prestigious horse race in Australia wouldn’t be complete without a hoard of barefoot women staggering out of Flemington Racecourse, stilettos in hand. The best part is that the local news feels the need to broadcast this unfortunate tradition year after year for the entertainment of home viewers.

Maccas Run

An evening out, no matter how sophisticated, always ends with a late-night trip to Maccas (McDonald’s) or a stop at a greasy kebab shop or sketchy-looking van. This post-party snack ritual is known as a Maccas run.

Two-up

Dating back to the convicts, Two-up was popularised by the Diggers in World War I and involves tossing two coins into the air and gambling on how they might fall. In Victoria, the game is illegal every day except on Anzac Day, while in New South Wales, the game is legal not only on Anzac Day but also other commemorative days.

Christmas Seafood

While the Northern Hemisphere enjoys roast turkey, down under, the silly season falls in summer, which means Christmas lunch or dinner is somewhat sprightlier and typically includes some form of seafood such as prawns.

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Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

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