Australians love hanging out at the beach. The combination of sun, sand, and surf make the beach a regular visiting place, especially during the long hot summers. Tiny townships dotted from one end of the coast to the other become major tourist destinations. And learn Aussie slang used at the beach.
Australian Beach Lifestyle
Although in terms of land mass, Australia is a significant country, in terms of population it is really quite small. Given the harsh, dry inland environment, much of Australia's 20 million or so citizens live around the fringes - close to the coast, the beach and the water. The major cities of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are on the eastern seaboard, while Perth is many thousands of kilometers away in the west, but also close to the coast. In fact, the only major inland city is Alice Springs, home to Uluru (Ayers Rock).
Australians love the beach, and many spend hours each summer swimming, surfing, sailing and simply hanging out at the beach. Surfing stars like Layne Beachley, multiple Word Surfing champion, have become household names.
Beaches are free to visit, and most are regularly cleaned by local councils with sand sweeping machinery as well as volunteers who pick up litter to keep the beaches in top shape.
Surf Life savers
Little wonder then, that a strong beach and surfing culture has developed over the years in Australia. This is the home of the Surf Lifesaver, a hardy breed of individuals who spend their summers patrolling the beaches and surf to keep local and visiting swimmers safe. Each year at beaches across the country, surf lifesavers carry out rescues and offer first aid and help to those who need it. The culture of surf lifesaving began in the early 1900's when the first surf reel was introduced to safely guide rescuer and swimmer back the the beach. By the year 2005, there were 305 surf lifesaving clubs around Australia.
Most surf lifesavers are volunteers. Estimates put the number of hours put in by volunteers over a year at around 1.4 million. If these lifesavers were not around, it is likely around 500 people would drown at Australian beaches in the course of a year.
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Beach towns
All along the coast, there are tiny townships where the focal point is the local beach. These places exist as a flashback to a simpler time, when towns were just a strip of shops running perpendicular to the single road along the beach front. Many offer walking tracks along the beach front, and are ideal places to stroll and enjoy the long hot summer.
Most see a dramatic influx of visitors during summer, many of whom spend weeks at a time in camping grounds, holiday flats and houses, and self contained accommodation. At times, it can be a challenge to find a parking space or buy fish and chips at the local store, but most people seem happy to put up with the 'shoulder to shoulder' element in order to enjoy the quieter moments on the beach and sitting around with friends and family.
Lorne, Rye and Torquay in Victoria, Trinity Beach, Arlie Beach and Mission Beach in Far North Queensland, and Eden in Central New South Wales are all examples of small townships where the population grows exponentially during summer, before reverting to quiet country hamlets in the colder months.
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Language in Australia
Australians seem to have a slang word for just about anything. Maybe it comes from having such a laid back, relaxed approach to life! Here's a few you may not have heard before:
surfie - someone who surfs. But being a surfie is much more than a hobby - it is a way of life!
esky - this is a large insulated box used to keep drinks cold. An essential for long hot days at the beach.
boardies - long shorts worn for swimming. And a better look than the alternative budgie smugglers!
rashy - a protective top, designed to give protection from the sun and from stinging jellyfish in the tropical waters up north
sunnies - sunglasses - another summer essential. Without these, your eyes will fry in the summer sunshine.
snags - another word for sausages, although no one can really explain why this is so!
barbie - no it's not a doll, it's a hot plate used outside for cooking food.
hanging out - relaxing, not doing much at all.
bathers or swimmers - in our house, this is an often discussed battle ground between the states. If you are born north of the Murray River, you say 'swimmers'. But us true Victorians still cling to the slightly illogical 'bathers'. My daughter argues that we swim in them, so why would they not be swimmers? Can't really argue that one I guess!