Australia is a place that’s known for Steve Irwin, kangaroos, and putting things on the barbie. But it’s also home to almost 25 million people. Then there are the 2,400 different species of spiders, and that’s far from the scariest creature that lives there.
Sharks, crocodiles, jellyfish, and snakes — it seems like everything in Australia is designed to kill you. If you thought you’d be safer on the ocean, you’ll find poisonous fish, deadly riptides, and highly venomous swimming snakes.
Even the climate of Australia seems designed to be deadly. With subtropical areas and deserts alike, the country features temperatures that range from 122 degrees Fahrenheit to well below zero.
And yet amazingly, millions of people live in Australia and call it home. Somehow, they manage to live alongside the murderous birds, bats, koalas, spiders, snakes, and crocodiles. What’s more, Australia is considered one of the happiest places on earth. Its citizens consistently indicate they’re highly satisfied with many areas of their lives.
It seems unbelievable. But we’ll let them have job security, great education, the housing market, and healthcare. They have to deal with giant spiders.
1. Grey Headed Flying Fox
If you don’t live in Australia, you might not have heard the word “megabat.” It’s exactly what it sounds like. Apparently, they aren’t very good at landing and tend to crash into trees.
2. Lizards like this one
Can you imagine seeing this monster plastered to the side of your house? Monitor lizards like these can reach about six feet long and are regularly seen in Australia. To top it off, there are 20 different kinds of them!
3. Huntsman spider
As terrifying as this sight is, huntsman spiders are neither the largest nor the deadliest species in Australia. They’re actually pretty harmless unless accounting for the fact that you might have a heart attack at the sight of one.
4. Sydney Funnel-Web
On the other hand, this frightening spider is so venomous that it can cause death within 15 minutes of biting. Thankfully, an anti-venom was developed in 1981. Since then, no deaths have been reported.
5. Olive python
The olive python is Australia’s largest of this species but it’s far from its only one. This python is not particularly dangerous to humans since it’s neither venomous nor aggressive. However, it’s known to eat other huge animals like crocodiles.
6. Australian freshwater crocodile
The Australian freshwater crocodile is endemic to the northern parts of Australia. Although it’s not quite as large or terrifying as its cousin, the Australian saltwater crocodile, it’s still scary enough, especially since it’s known to wrestle pythons.
7. Araucaria Pine Cone
It’s not only animals that are dangerous in the land Down Under! The Araucaria pine cone has reportedly killed the people who were unlucky enough to be standing below where it fell. It can weigh as much as 22 pounds.
8. Muscular kangaroos
We don’t generally think of kangaroos as frightening creatures, but looking at this picture may make you reconsider. Male red kangaroos may get up to six feet tall and pack a punch with those feet.
9. Australian saltwater crocodile
These terrifying creatures are the cousins of the Australian freshwater crocodile, but they’re much bigger and scarier. The person who took this photo said the river is full of them — this one is 20 feet long.
10. Goliath mantises
Okay, mantises and stick bugs aren’t all that scary. But ones this big? They’ll make you jump when you feel them crawling up your leg.
11. Spider season
Doesn’t the frost on the ground look beautiful? But oops, that’s not frost. That’s spider season when Australia’s 2,400 species come out in full force!
12. Snakes in toilets
If you’re planning on visiting Australia any time soon, make sure you always look down before you sit on the toilet. Think of it as saving yourself the cost of years of therapy.
13. Toads riding on a python
One of the craziest things about Australia is seeing different creatures interact — some of them in a friendly way. Just take these giant toads that decided to hitch a ride on this passing python!
14. Exploding whales
This whale was found off the coast of Bunbury, Australia. As it decomposed in the hot sun, it produced gases that caused its body cavity to swell until it was ready to explode.
15. Vivid, hard-to-find slugs
This bright pink slug is amazing to look at, but it’s anything but common. You can only find it in one forest on a volcano in rural Australia. It’s not dangerous – it just looks bizarre.
16. Even the frogs are scary
They say it’s only in Australia that you will see frogs eating snakes, and that might just be true. In the land Down Under, it’s either eat or be eaten.
17. Not even the store is safe
Some people say this is a common sight in Australia, happening as often as two or three times a week. Thank goodness for online shopping, because I don’t think I’d ever leave the house again.
18. This caterpillar parade
As cute as these little guys are, they can cause extreme skin reactions if you come in physical contact. Considering the damage that one can do, you probably don’t want to encounter a whole train of them.
19. A reason to take the bus
You need to be constantly on the lookout for snakes no matter where you are in Australia. Not even trying to pump gas is safe. I think I’d rather walk than face that thing!
20. Monster earthworms
This one isn’t dangerous, but it does make you wonder: is there anything in Australia that’s a normal size? On the bright side, the soil in Queensland where this worm was found must be great for gardening!
21. Armed anemones
This is an armed anemone. The good thing is that it won’t kill you! The bad news is that the stings are excruciatingly painful and cause damage that doesn’t heal for months.
22. The worst thing to approach from behind
The person who shared this photo approached this sign from behind. They were horrified to realize they’d been blissfully unaware while hiking through the breeding territory of an extremely venomous snake.
23. This common roadside sight
Look at that, it’s a crocodile devouring a shark. That’s a once-in-a-lifetime sight …unless you live in Australia where it is reportedly not uncommon to see on the side of the highway.
24. A reason to take the name literally
Okay, that’s not a croc in those Crocs, but it’s still not something you ever want to see. So, do yourself a favor and check not only the toilets but also your shoes!
25. Brown snakes in lunchboxes
On second thought, make sure to check your lunchbox, too. One mom found this visitor in her child’s lunchbox and identified it as a brown snake, the second-most venomous species in Australia.
26. Monster hail
Even the weather in Australia is ready to kill you. Just look at this enormous hail shown side-by-side with some game balls for comparison. That would do some real damage to any structure or person that it hit.
27. Not even the ceiling is safe
You might think that inside is safer than outside with all the snakes, spiders, sharks, and crocodiles. But it turns out they find all sorts of ways to break-in. Add the light fixture to your list of things to check.
28. Venomous octopuses
This deceptively cute little guy is the blue-ringed octopus, an extremely venomous creature with venom 1000 times stronger than cyanide. The fatal neurotoxin works by causing complete paralysis, ending with the heart.
29. You can’t get too comfortable
Don’t think that only little snakes can fit inside septic pipes. Snakes are known for their flexibility. That means you could find all kinds of snakes in your toilet!
30. Monsters wrestle each other to the death
What’s more terrifying than a python or a megabat? How about a python and a megabat devouring one another alive — in the middle of a public road? It’s enough to give you nightmares.
31. Enormous termite mounds
Okay, maybe termites aren’t dangerous to humans, but can you imagine the damage that these creatures could do to a home? Considering how big their mounds are, you can only imagine their size.
32. This…
Nowhere in the entire country is safe, not even your own home. If there was ever a sign to stay inside and lock the door, this spider is it!
33. A reason to go out for dinner.
Spiders, snakes, and more all make their way into homes in Australia, and sometimes even into kitchens. On the bright side, this is probably a sign that you should go out for pizza.
34. Swarms of flies
Australia does nothing by halves, not even pests. This swarm of flies will make you think twice about calling anything harmless in the land Down Under. They might not be dangerous, but they’re anything but pleasant.
35. Spiders that set traps
The net-casting spider earns its name from the way it traps its prey: it hangs upside down and waits to drop a net of silk on unsuspecting bugs. It might not be dangerous to humans, but can you really trust a spider that’s this smart?
36. Whatever this monster is
We don’t know what this spider is, what it eats, or if it’s venomous or painful. All we know is that no spider should ever be that big, and it’s not okay.
37. Black millipedes
One or two millipedes under a rock are nothing unusual. But hundreds of giant millipedes that swarm entire parts of the country every winter? That’s how to turn something harmless into a nightmare.
38. The heat
Let’s not discount all the non-living things that want to kill anyone who sets foot in Australia. The heat alone can be dangerous. Australia’s unique climate comes from battling air pressure, which can send temperatures soaring into the 120s or plummeting below zero.
39. The ocean
If an ocean full of sharks, jellyfish, snakes, and poisonous octopi wasn’t enough to deter you, there are also deadly riptides. The coast off of Australia routinely sees 40-foot rises and such rough waters that it’s not uncommon to see multiple waves breaking on top of one another.
40. Cone snails
This little mollusk doesn’t look all that threatening, but it’s not a creature you want to run across. It has a tooth it uses like a harpoon, which injects venom that causes extreme diarrhea and vomiting.
41. Great White Sharks
Not only do these enormous sharks have a total of 222 dagger-like teeth, but they also have the terrifying ability to sense the electromagnetic fields of any creature with a pulse. That means they’re out there, watching you.
42. Drop bears
These creatures may look like cute koalas, but they’re actually pretty terrifying. They get their name from their tendency to drop out of trees onto anybody passing beneath — all to get a meal, of course.
43. Giant centipedes
The American South is known for having its share of big centipedes. But those are nothing compared to the ones in Australia, which can grow up to 6.25 inches long. Then you have to consider they also have venomous pincers.
44. Cassowaries
These bizarre-looking birds may look funny, but don’t let their appearance fool you. They’re 6-feet tall, can run more than 30 miles per hour, and can leap 5- feet into the air. They’re also extremely aggressive and attack hundreds of people every year.
45. Box jellyfish
These monster cousins of regular jellyfish are nothing to mess around with. Their sting is excruciatingly painful, and unlike most jellyfish, which drift aimlessly, box jellyfish actively hunt their prey. Even worse, they have a short-term memory, so they’ll sting twice.
46. Stonefish
These terrifying fish earn their name because they camouflage themselves in the rocks in the ocean. If you’re unfortunate enough to step on one, you’ll get a foot full of spines that causes waves of pain. Even more terrifying is the fact that they can survive on land for 24 hours at a time.
47. Redback Spiders
Redback spiders are closely related to the black widows of the United States. They’re differentiated by the red stripe on their backs. But unlike black widows, they tend to infest urban, not rural, areas.
48. Taipans
Taipan snakes include two kinds, inland and coastal. While the coastal version is much more aggressive, inland taipans tend to be shyer. However, both kinds belong to the list of the most venomous snakes in the world.
49. Copperheads
Copperheads can live in the coldest regions of Australia, where most other snakes can’t survive. Their venom, while it doesn’t usually cause death, causes hemoglobin to leach into other bodily fluids. The bite is agonizing and usually destructive to bone and muscle.
50. Yellow-Bellied Sea Snake
It seems like neither land nor water is safe in Australia. The yellow-bellied sea snake is exactly what it sounds like. And it gets worse: its bite is almost always fatal.
50 Terrifying Things About Australia That’ll Make You Happy You Don’t Live There
Cedric Jackson
07.23.19
Australia is a place that’s known for Steve Irwin, kangaroos, and putting things on the barbie. But it’s also home to almost 25 million people. Then there are the 2,400 different species of spiders, and that’s far from the scariest creature that lives there.
Sharks, crocodiles, jellyfish, and snakes — it seems like everything in Australia is designed to kill you. If you thought you’d be safer on the ocean, you’ll find poisonous fish, deadly riptides, and highly venomous swimming snakes.
Even the climate of Australia seems designed to be deadly. With subtropical areas and deserts alike, the country features temperatures that range from 122 degrees Fahrenheit to well below zero.
And yet amazingly, millions of people live in Australia and call it home. Somehow, they manage to live alongside the murderous birds, bats, koalas, spiders, snakes, and crocodiles. What’s more, Australia is considered one of the happiest places on earth. Its citizens consistently indicate they’re highly satisfied with many areas of their lives.
It seems unbelievable. But we’ll let them have job security, great education, the housing market, and healthcare. They have to deal with giant spiders.