5 things you never knew about Australia

By Andrew Bain

You're probably familiar with a few aspects of Australia: the curious wildlife, friendly people and extraordinary landscapes, for example. But it's a country of so many dimensions that it also has more than a few secrets. Here are five Australian facts that might surprise you.

Australia has the cleanest air on the planet

Australia truly does have the world's cleanest air: science has confirmed it! Data from a government science station at Cape Grim, on Tasmania's north-west tip, reveals this to be the freshest air on the planet, just part of the reason for Australia's wealth of stunning natural landscapes and fantastically fresh produce. Experience the cleanest of the clean with a remote rafting trip on Tasmania's famed Franklin River. Its catchment contains not a single settlement or a bit of cultivated land, and west from here it's more than 10,000 kilometres (6000 miles) to the next house... in South America.

There are more than 10,000 beaches here

Much of Australia's edges are covered in beaches that are among the most beautiful and inviting in the world. More than 10,000 beaches line the Australian coast, including many that you might find you have all to yourself. Head to Bondi Beach in Sydney or Perth's Cottesloe Beach for a city swim, take a boat ride to perfection at the stunning Whitehaven Beach on Queensland's tropical Whitsunday Islands, and be dazzled by colour among the orange rocks and smooth blue seas of Tasmania's Bay of Fires. 

Australia has more national parks than any other country on Earth

No country on Earth can match Australia for its volume of national parks. Across the nation there are more than 600 of them, ranging from the vast wetlands and cliffs of Australia's largest national park, Kakadu, to thin strips of wild coast such as Victoria's Croajingolong National Park and Tasmania's Freycinet National Park. There are even high mountain ranges in New South Wales' Kosciuszko National Park and Victoria's Alpine National Park. Most parks offer beautifully located campsites, enticing walking trails and the chance to get close to Australia's weird and wonderful wildlife. You can find one of Australia's most unusual landscapes at Purnululu National Park in Western Australia's Kimberley region. In this World Heritage-listed park, tall mounds of sandstone stand crowded together like beehives. Wander through the gorges between the mounds, or take a scenic flight to view their full wonder.

Australia has the world's oldest living culture

Recent research has shown that Aboriginal people arrived in Australia at least 50,000 years ago, making this the oldest surviving culture in the world. Among the many ways to experience Aboriginal culture, you can celebrate dance, art and storytelling at the biennial Laura Dance Festival in northern Queensland, held in the surrounds of one of Australia's most important rock art sites. The incredible Kakadu National Park alone has more than 5000 recorded rock art sites.

The outback is actually very easy to get around

Australia's outback is far from empty. You'll find hundreds of thriving regional cities and towns across the outback, and plenty of service stations, roadhouses and hotels along its highways - making it a great place to take a road trip. There are also several regional airports and major cities (such as Darwin, Alice Springs and Broome) in the outback, as well as plenty of great tour operators available if you don't want to drive yourself. In the outback, you’ll come across numerous quirky sights: stop at Wycliffe Well, the Northern Territory town that bills itself as Australia's UFO capital (complete with alien statues), drive the 120-kilometre (75-mile) Tin Horse Highway in Western Australia, lined with colourful horses made from scrap metal, and perhaps add your bra to the collection on the walls of the remote Daly Waters Pub.