The Southern Hemisphere is truly unique—beer, summer Christmas, and must-buy Australian items shared exclusively with you!

[Discover a Different Australia: Beer, Summer Christmas, and Must-Buy Australian Items Shared Exclusively with You] When Australia separated from colonial rule to become the Commonwealth of Australia, determining the location of the national capital became a hotly debated issue across the country. At the time, Sydney was the symbolic landing site of Europeans, while Melbourne rapidly grew into an economically powerful city due to the discovery of gold mines. These two cities engaged in fierce competition to become the capital, but ultimately, political intervention excluded both, deciding instead to build the federal capital in a geographically central location between Sydney and Melbourne. Canberra, with its excellent location and pleasant climate, was deemed the ideal spot for the capital.

To build this city, the Australian federal government invited open submissions from countries around the world. Among 137 entries, the design by American architects Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin stood out. Their blueprint featured a radial layout with public institutions as the central axis, extending outward from the city center, and clearly separating residential and commercial districts.

However, officials at the time continuously requested revisions to the winning design. As a result, even after 10 years, not a single building had been completed, sparking significant controversy. It wasn’t until 40 years later that residents gradually began moving in.

A man-made lake called Lake Burley Griffin was created by damming part of the Molonglo River, which flows east-west through Canberra. The city was designed with neat, grid-like roads centered around this lake. The southern shore of the artificial lake houses the federal parliamentary buildings and various government offices, while the surrounding areas form residential neighborhoods for the general public.

However, when traveling to Australia, it’s not necessary to include the capital, Canberra, in your itinerary, as it lacks entertainment or recreational facilities and doesn’t offer much in the way of tourist attractions. After dark, even the city center is almost deserted, giving off a quiet and lonely vibe.

If you plan to visit Canberra, it’s convenient to combine it with a trip to Sydney. Alternatively, you can take a long-distance bus from Sydney to Melbourne and get off in Canberra along the way. This allows you to take a short break while visiting embassies with diverse international characteristics and admiring this meticulously planned city.

Visiting during spring, when the Canberra Floriade and Canberra Balloon Fiesta are held, offers even more spectacular scenery than usual.

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??Must-Buy Australian Souvenirs

Shopping is also an essential part of the joy of any journey. But what should you buy in Australia?

Australia has many unique items available only there, known as "Australian Made." Because these products must go through a quality control process to receive certification, those bearing this label are trustworthy and worth purchasing.

Health Foods

If you’re looking for souvenirs for your parents, health foods are a top choice. Australia offers a wide variety of health foods, including squalene (which improves liver function and helps combat fatigue), shark cartilage (which prevents osteoporosis and supplements calcium), green-lipped mussel extract (effective in preventing arthritis), and evening primrose oil (suitable for women experiencing hormonal imbalances or menopause).

Beauty Products

Sheep placenta contains vitamins and minerals that protect the skin, improve elasticity, fade spots and freckles, and combat aging. Creams made with sheep placenta are not only high-quality but also reasonably priced, making them great gifts for friends. Additionally, premium serums infused with gold flakes and gold leaf collagen essences are popular among women.

Australia’s Greatest Invention—The Beer Koozie

For beer-loving Australians, the beer koozie (or Stubby Cooler) is arguably Australia’s greatest invention. It keeps beer cold for extended periods and often features iconic Australian designs.

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?Australian Beer

Australia ranks among the top five countries in the world for annual beer consumption. Visiting such a country without having a beer might feel like a missed opportunity.

However, excessive drinking could delay your travel plans, so moderation is key. Knowing a bit about Australian beer before enjoying it can add an extra layer of enjoyment.

Back home, you might recognize Foster’s beer from specialty stores, making it seem like a quintessential Australian brew. But it’s actually mainly for export and rarely seen in Australia—some locals don’t even know it exists!

Australia produces a wide variety of beers tailored to regional characteristics, with over 20 different brands alone.

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?★Must-try Aussie beers—sip on a bottle of terroir-rich brew with soul.

Australia ranks among the world’s top five in beer consumption, with over 20 major beer brands. Each state has its beloved brews: the crisp, English-style lager Tooheys, richly roasted barley dark beers, Victoria Bitter... each winning over beer enthusiasts.

Beers of New South Wales (NSW)

The stag logo on the bottle is highly eye-catching. Tooheys is the iconic beer of New South Wales. Tooheys NEW, known as the Australian standard lager, and the intensely bitter Tooheys Extra Dry are the company’s most representative products. There’s also Tooheys OLD, a dark ale (DarkAle) with many loyal fans.

Tooheys can be described as an English-style beer. Meanwhile, Hahn Beer, which enjoys high popularity in NSW, has a German-style profile. Bondi Blonde, though not yet wildly popular, also made headlines when Paris Hilton, heiress to the Hilton Hotel Group, was its brand ambassador at its 2006 launch—another notable NSW beer.

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Beers of Victoria (VIC)

With a shorter bottle design and bold bitterness, Victoria Bitter accounts for over 30% of Australia’s beer sales and is widely available nationwide. It’s commonly abbreviated as VB—its simple, clear pronunciation makes it easy to order even in noisy bars or clubs, contributing to its popularity. Try saying it: “One VB, please.”

Foster’s Group, which produces export-only Foster’s beer, once shot an ad for its domestic Carlton Draught beer—a must-watch for marketing buffs. In 2006, its TV commercial titled *Big Ad* won a Gold Lion at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity and was hailed as a masterpiece of viral marketing. The 2008 *Skytroop* ad, which also won a Bronze Lion at Cannes, was heavily influenced by its predecessor. These ads remain easily searchable online by typing “Big AD” or “Skytroop.”

(source by trulydeeply.com.au)

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Beers of Queensland (QLD)

With its bold red “XXXX” on a yellow background, the label is instantly recognizable. XXXX is the second-best-selling beer in Australia after VB. Its mainstream products include the 3.5% ABV light beer XXXX GOLD and the bitter XXXX Bitter, which rivals VB’s strong hop profile. The product range also includes XXXX Draught, XXXX Light Bitter, and XXXX DL (Diet Lager).

Fun fact: When the British first arrived in Australia, they gave beer as gifts to Indigenous Australians, who loved the taste so much that they began drawing beer bottle symbols on the ground and marking them with “XXXX”—thus giving the beer its name.

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Beers of Western Australia (WA)

Swan Bitter, featuring the black swan emblem of WA, and Emu Export, symbolized by the emu native to the vast Australian outback, are two iconic state brews. Their shared avian branding is a standout feature.

Beers of South Australia (SA)

Coopers is SA’s most iconic brewery. Its flagship brews have higher alcohol content than most: Extra Strong Vintage Ale (7.5% ABV) and Special Old Stout (6.8% ABV), plus over 10 other varieties. The Original Ale (4.5% ABV), with its simple green label, is especially beloved internationally.

?Note: Liquor laws vary slightly by state, but public drinking in parks and similar spaces is universally prohibited—violators face fines under AUD 300.
?Liquor isn’t sold in Australian convenience stores or supermarkets—head to a Bottle Shop (liquor specialty store) instead.
?Australians often assume Asians look very young, so bring ID (like your passport) when buying alcohol at Bottle Shops or entering bars.
?Duff Beer was originally a fictional brand from the animated sitcom *The Simpsons*. In the 1990s, an Australian brewery in Adelaide released a real beer under the same name, prompting 20th Century Fox (copyright holder of *The Simpsons*) to sue. All cans were pulled and destroyed. Today, collectors bid up to AUD 10,000 per bottle—a sky-high price.

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Australia’s Summer Christmas

Experience Christmas in the Australian summer

Australia's seasons are the exact opposite of those in Taiwan, and that's part of what makes traveling to Australia so appealing. When the northern hemisphere is sweltering in the heat of summer, you can escape to Australia for relief; when the winter winds are biting cold, you can bask in Australia's sunny embrace. Among the most exhilarating days are the highlights of the Australian summer—Christmas and New Year's holidays. Seeing Christmas ladies wearing Santa hats and red bikinis lets you truly experience what a summer Christmas feels like.

During Christmas, while Sydney is widely regarded as the most elaborately decorated city, the street scenes in Melbourne, Brisbane, and other cities are also quite captivating. Throughout this period, each city hosts exciting events such as concerts, street parades, and fireworks displays. Although these performances typically run only from mid-December to Christmas or December 31st, the festive Christmas decorations in the streets start appearing in early December and remain on display until around mid-January of the following year.

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?Sydney

The Christmas street decorations in Sydney begin at Martin Place and gradually extend to various corners of the city, filling the entire metropolis with a festive holiday atmosphere. Historic buildings in the city center are also illuminated with dazzling lights, and the colorful light shows are absolutely not to be missed. In the Pitt Street Mall, where the Sydney Tower is located, star decorations symbolizing Christmas can be seen everywhere.

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At 11:59 PM on December 31st, Australia’s most spectacular New Year’s Eve fireworks show (New Year’s Day Firework) begins, lasting over 30 minutes. The best spot to enjoy the fireworks is Mrs. Macquarie’s Point in the Royal Botanic Garden, where you can not only watch the fireworks but also take in views of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. There’s also a fireworks show at Darling Harbour at 9:00 PM on December 31st, but if you watch it there first, it may be difficult to secure a good viewing spot later when heading to Circular Quay, where the Sydney Opera House is located.

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Melbourne

Federation Square in Melbourne also features a massive, dazzling Christmas tree that rivals the one at Sydney’s Martin Place in scale. Due to the overhead tram power lines crisscrossing the city skyline, creative decorators have used these wires for Christmas adornments—an ingenious touch that leaves a deep impression. If you find the wire decorations not enough, you can also hop on the free City Circle Tram, which is also festively decorated and brimming with Christmas cheer.

At 9:00 PM on December 31st in Melbourne’s Docklands and at midnight on January 1st along the Yarra River, spectacular fireworks shows will be held. Among them, the Yarra River fireworks, with the backdrop of the Arts Centre Melbourne and Southbank, are considered the grand finale of the New Year’s celebration.

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Brisbane

Not only does the bustling Queen Street Mall feature Christmas decorations, but the large Christmas tree is also set up in the square in front of the Treasury Casino at the end of the mall. As Brisbane is known as the “Sunshine City,” the Christmas tree looks even more dazzling and enchanting under the bright sunlight.

On December 31st, there will also be a fireworks show in Brisbane, launched from the free swimming pool area and the Story Bridge side of South Bank, and it can also be viewed from Eagle Street Pier.

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?Cairns

Although Cairns is one of Australia’s top tourist cities, its Christmas atmosphere is somewhat more subdued compared to other places. There aren’t many Christmas decorations throughout the city, and even the shopping center connected to Myers department store and Cairns Central Station only has a simple Christmas tree. However, the bars and nightclubs in the city center, filled with young travelers, actually become the most lively spots for Christmas cheer.

Although large fireworks displays are also held during the Cairns Show, they take place inland and are slightly less impressive. The fireworks show on December 31st at the free man-made lagoon is more dazzling, with fireworks launched directly from a large yacht offshore. The display lasts about 20–30 minutes, painting the Cairns sky and the lagoon in brilliant colors.

Other

Each city showcases Christmas in its own unique way, but the most festive atmosphere can often be found in major shopping malls. From department stores like Myer and David Jones to smaller shopping centers and retail outlets, most begin decorating as early as early November to create a distinct Christmas ambiance. Naturally, the more upscale the department store, the more elaborate and exquisite the decorations, providing shoppers with a visual feast. Additionally, at transportation hubs like airports, train stations, and bus terminals—the gateways to the city—you can also find a variety of Christmas decorations.

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Recommended Books

Author Introduction

Cheng Tai-guan

Graduated from Yonsei University’s Department of Tourism Management and worked at a professional independent travel agency for 8 years. A freelance writer who has published travel stories through diverse media such as travel blogs and corporate publications. Author of “Enjoy Traveling Australia,” “Enjoy Traveling Hokkaido,” and “Parent-Child Fun: Enjoy Japan.”

Rediko37@gmail.com/readygotour.com

Cheng Yang-hee

Holds a master's degree in Tourism Management from Kyonggi University and is also a travel enthusiast. Previously served in the Planning and Development Office of ACAM TOUR, as a lecturer at the Korea Institute of Industrial Development (KID), the Korea Economic Research Institute (KERI), the Department of Tourism Management at Suwon Science College, and a professor in the Department of Tourism Management at Sejong College. Believes that the process of preparing for a trip is the happiest part, and hopes to help everyone choose the most suitable itinerary from the overwhelming amount of travel information. Author of “This Time! The South Coast.”

Yhee1216@nate.com

Translator / Chen Xiao-jing

Korean-language translator.

This article is excerpted from the bookEnjoy Traveling Australia: Sydney · Cairns · Melbourne · Adelaide · Perth, courtesy of Yueli Culture Group and Mountain Publishing.