45 Photos That Show Australia Is Truly a Land Like No Other

If you've never been there, you have no idea how different Australia is. From the snow-capped peaks of the Australian alps to the deserted bush, (not to mention the more than 10,000 gorgeous beaches all around the country), Australia has it all. This is without even considering the fascinating wildlife. The best thing about Australia, though, are the people who settled in this vast wilderness. Need more proof? Keep reading!

Australia has some big lizards, not like the little geckos we get here in America. These lizards have little to no fear of humans, so you'll find them all over the place. The one in this picture is a lace monitor lizard, and it can get up to 6 and a half feet long and weigh over 30 pounds.

Uluru Rock, which is also referred to as Ayer's Rock, is a single rock formation in the center of Australia, and it's the largest monolith in the world. It also has the distinction of being sacred to the local Aboriginal tribe, the Pitjantjatjara, who call it Anangu.

Maybe it's because they're all alone on that giant island, but apparently, Australians swear a lot. It's not uncommon to hear the worst of the worst swear words in normal conversation, and certain words that are very taboo in America are actually words that Australians use for friends.

In line with our theme of shortening words, Aussies won't tell you where the closest McDonald's is. Instead, they'll point you towards the golden arches of Macca's. Some of the signs even say Macca's on them, so it's not just local slang. It's the real deal.