The jellyfish issue in only up north (as in parts of Queensland). Box jellyfish are the cause of beach closures throughout summer in northern areas (though there are safe enclosures created for swimming year round).

I have spent around twenty years in Australia (it's hard to figure out with all my going backwards and forwards!). And in that time I have NEVER seen a snake - apart from in a zoo.

There are some dangerous spiders, but I do not know a single person who has been bitten by one - and I spend most of my time in Canberra, the city that has more bushland than urban areas. The worst spider bites I know anybody to have had are a couple of white tailed spider bites. They caused pain and they sometimes require antibiotics, but that's it.
The scariest spider you will probably encounter is the (often hand-sized) huntsman. Some crazy people don't even bother moving or killing them when they see them. They are big, but they're not going to hurt you (apart from giving you a heart attack on sight!).

Sure there are lots of deadly creatures in Australia, but most are in places the average person is never going to go. It's a bit like worrying about being killed by a rattlesnake in New York City.

The thing you should really be worrying about is skin cancer. The Australian sun is stronger than anywhere else in the world, and something like two out of three Australians contract some kind of skin cancer.

Now this i can vouch for ! when we were in Oz years ago my parents of course warned us of the "things that bite" in great depth but not once did any of them or my 'Local' family tell of the Dumping

And boy did i learn the hard way on a beach in Moolabar

However after reading this and a few other similar threads i think the ants will be my biggest problem

Dougie

Exactly right l don't know why Poms seem to have this paranoid fear of OZ wildlife, if they were immigrating to the USA they would'nt be worried about the venomous snakes, spiders, grizzly bears, mountain lions and sharks that kill people over there. Unless you plan to live in a croc and snake infested swamp the middle of the northern territory outback theres nothing to worry about.
l have lived in OZ for 30 years and never been bitten or attacked by a snake spider or any of the native wildlife or know anyone who has, the only things that have attacked me are dogs, bees and wasps all introduced to OZ from overseas.

Yes. There aren't as many people here as there are in Britain. And people are more dangerous than any of the Aussie wildlife.

Crocs can jump - there are several businesses up here that rely on the fact.

google 'jumping crocs NT'

The things that will kill you are not always visible either - melioidosis is no fun either...

Oh for God's sake, they are just spiders and reptiles. They don't have super powers like in the B movies and they don't work on vendettas. They are definately more scared of you than you are of them. Get over it! And if you really are terrified and cannot bear the thought of possibly seeing something slightly out of the ordinary out of the corner of your eye, go and live in a bubble

No kidding...I'm not particularly fond of spiders, but it's not like they wait for you and pounce. I was at my sister-in-law's place and her pergola is spider heaven. I looked up and saw dozens of black spiders, all having a lovely time waiting for the flies drawn by the BBQ to make their way up. But seriously, they just do their own thing...

Of course once I get my first huntsman in the house I'll probably freak out...

Cats are good at keeping huntsmen out. Which is a pity, cos huntsmen are good at keeping cockroaches out.

Hey folks...pleasure as always.

Now...business end. I like these debates - I really do, but I have issues. First - I know it seems like the poms always go off the handle about the deadly spiders but a little bit of compassion please. They're f**king huge people
It's not that they can kill you - who cares. It's that they can steal your car and wear your favourite pair of jeans while doing it. Not right.

Second - when I get there, I WILL become all "you don't see THAT many.. puurrleeese!!!"

Boo

Its because the wildlife is pushed in your face. All you have to do is switch on the TV and you see 'Australias Deadlist Destinations' (which is all about the deadly wildlife) or Steve Erwin (RIP) banging on about dangerous snakes/spiders or something about Man of War jellyfish.

On the flip side, I would've liked to have emmigrated to the USA. I love the place and have been there numerous times. I've walked around some of the, alledgedly, scariest places, but i felt safe. However with all the TV shows about Cops and Americas Wildest Police Chases, gun crime, yada yada yada, my wife wouldn't even consider the conversation about going there.......

It _is_ a matter of perspective, however, i'd still blame the media

Mosquitos are responsible for more deaths worldwide than any other creature so no need to panic unless malaria comes to OZ.

Those shows are all set in the middle of the Queenland or Northern territory outback and tropics where few people live or ever go, l don't know why so many Poms seem to think Suburbia and peoples backyards are crawling with all those creatures. Saying Australias a deadly destination is stupid when all the wildlife only kills around 10 people a year compared to 1,600 in car accidents

Yep, I did the same and went head first into a sandbank. For a while I just lay in the surf thinking my neck was broke! I broke a finger as well, but couldn't feel any pain at first from there. Then I limped off to a chiropractors a few blocks away from the beach, went in wearing my wet shorts and carrying my board.... After he clicked and crunched my spine back into place, I felt great - although I still have the fractured finger, that's never healed.

The other thing everyone should be educated on is avoiding rips and how to get out of them...

True give me anything but cockroaches I hate those little cucking fritters

People get parylised by being dumped in waves and people drown in the ocean all the time but it never or hardly ever makes the news as it happens so often but if someone gets attacked by a shark its headline news all around the country.