Deserts, beaches and snow-fields - Australia has it all
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (338640)
Rockingham, Australia
February 3, 2019 2:00am CST
Most people think of Australia as hot, dry, and infested with nasty creatures. Some might be aware that we have some great beaches. And, in some of our high altitude regions we also have snow. These regions include the Australian Alps, also known as the Snowy Mountains, Tasmanian highlands, parts of the Great Dividing Range and very occasionally peaks in south-west Western Australia.
Mostly the snow layer is not deep and does not last long but in the Australian Alps, snow lasts from June to September and perhaps even to October. Several states have well-developed downhill ski resorts with Mt Buller having accommodation for around 7,000. Cross-country skiing is also popular in many areas.
And another fact that I always find fascinating is that the Australian Alps, in New South Wales, receives more snow than Switzerland. Australia is a big country so it shouldn’t really be surprising that we have a wide range of climatic conditions.
25 people like this
24 responses
@xFiacre (12912)
• Ireland
3 Feb 19
@judyev Australia does suffer from stereo-typing but surely you’ll concede to the bit about nasty creatures? I resent the stereo-typing of Ireland - we don’t say Top ‘o the mornin’ to anybody, we couldn’t care less about the Blarney Stone and we are a thoroughly modern European state. I’m off now to see if I can find a croc of gold at the end of a rainbow.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (338640)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Feb 19
But wouldn't you not be saying 'to be sure, to be sure' at the beginning and end of every sentence? 
Would you be destroying anither of me beliefs then?
Would you be destroying anither of me beliefs then?
@garymarsh6 (23404)
• United Kingdom
3 Feb 19
That's the Craic @Xfiacre hope you find the gold! The distances in Australia are phenomenal from East to West and North to South Coast. I expect Europe could fit quite easily into Australia with room to spare!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (338640)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Feb 19
@garymarsh6 When I was researching facts about the snowfields I read that one cattle station is very nearly as large as Belgium! It's hard to fathom isn't it?
@JudyEv (338640)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Feb 19
I continually come across comments here saying Australia is full of things that kill you so I was having a dig at those people. 
I'm trying to convert their thinking but it's slow work. I didn't mention in the flood discussion I just put up that a crocodile has been seen in Townsville having come down in the flood waters. That would really be the limit wouldn't it? To have one floating down the passage!
I'm trying to convert their thinking but it's slow work. I didn't mention in the flood discussion I just put up that a crocodile has been seen in Townsville having come down in the flood waters. That would really be the limit wouldn't it? To have one floating down the passage!1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (470745)
• Switzerland
4 Feb 19
@JudyEv Australia is about 188 times bigger than Switzerland, theoretically your Alps should get 188 more snow than Switzerland. Our two feet of snow has almost totally melted and I am glad of this, the north of Switzerland is still under about 10 feet of snow, good luck to them.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (179715)
• United States
3 Feb 19
I just recently became aware of the snowy mountains there. Someone I know as an Aussie though..goes to New Zealand to ski.
2 people like this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
3 Feb 19
California is also large enough to have those varied climates. I've never seen Mt. Shasta in Northern California without snow. A lot of Southern California is desert, we have redwood forest in the northernmost part of the state, and we have beaches the length of the coast. I'm half an hour from the beach and have been all my life, no matter where I've lived. I don't think we've anything to compete with your or the Swiss Alps. If we have, I've never seen it yet, and I've seen a lot of my state. Do you have any giant redwood trees?
2 people like this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
4 Feb 19
@JudyEv Our central and southern coasts do have a Mediterranean climate. Those on the coast can grow citrus and avocados and other things I can't grow only thirty miles inland. Our large redwoods and Sequoias are near the northern coast and in the central interior near the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range and the border with Nevada.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (105254)
• Marion, Ohio
3 Feb 19
I knew a few areas could get snow but not that it could get more than Switzerland
2 people like this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
3 Feb 19
I have never really pictured Australia as being hot and dry, but I have always envisioned the country having some amazing and world-class beaches! Never really thought about snow there, but it shouldn't surprise me given the size of the country.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (338640)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Feb 19
Everyone seems to have a different idea of Australia but that's to be expected. I 'presumed' many people thought of us as hot and dry and certainly all the interior is but that is only part of what Australia is. And we do have some great beaches.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Feb 19
@JudyEv I'm sure if one of the only tings I knew about Australia was Uluru, I would think it was hot and dry. So maybe that is why a lot of people think that, because the only thing they know of Australia is Uluru.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (121499)
• Gainesville, Florida
4 Feb 19
@JudyEv Hey, I happen to love Crocodile Dundee and Steve Irwin! haha
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
3 Feb 19
You have it all down under!
2 people like this
I'm sure I have perceptions about the US that are probably not quite right too.
@ptrikha_2 (46831)
• India
19 Apr 19
Yes, most of us know Australia for sea beaches, and Western part as a big Desert area. So visiting these hilly areas would also be fun.
And for me, Australia means great cricket grounds- the biggest and the magnificent MCG or the Melbourne Cricket Ground(my dream is to visit there one day), SCG - Sydney Cricket Ground, Gabba in Brisbane, Adelaide Oval in Adelaide and the fast Perth wicket.
Of course, we also have the Hobart cricket ground and a few more.
So you know that if some day I get a chance, I would come and surely watch a cricket match down under !
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (338640)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Apr 19
I hope you are able to do that one day. Certainly some of our cricket grounds have a very long history.
@allknowing (135313)
• India
3 Feb 19
I have experienced your beaches but did not know you had snow as well
1 person likes this
@allknowing (135313)
• India
4 Feb 19
@JudyEv Now there is news of extreme heat out there.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (338640)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 Feb 19
@allknowing We have huge extreme conditions here at the moment.
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
4 Feb 19
Yes, it is diverse. But as you say we generally have the concept of deserts and beaches....And coral reefs
1 person likes this
@mysimplelot (1347)
• Calcutta, India
4 Feb 19
Good that you shared so much about Australia and thanks for this. Indeed Australia is a big country. That Pic was nice too.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (338640)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Feb 19
It can be hard to get to know much about other countries. That's what I like about myLot. You get to talk to 'ordinary' citizens and you learn more about how the 'real' people live.
