1 00:00:00,750 --> 00:00:02,150 If Australia makes you think 2 00:00:02,150 --> 00:00:06,760 of beaches and barbecues, cricket and cork hats, 3 00:00:06,760 --> 00:00:08,553 you haven't seen anything yet. 4 00:00:08,553 --> 00:00:11,136 (serene music) 5 00:00:21,580 --> 00:00:22,833 Giant deserts, 6 00:00:28,690 --> 00:00:30,263 ancient rainforests, 7 00:00:35,730 --> 00:00:37,053 tropical coasts, 8 00:00:39,480 --> 00:00:42,140 mystical rock formations, 9 00:00:42,140 --> 00:00:45,160 and some of the weirdest and most wonderful animals 10 00:00:45,160 --> 00:00:45,993 on the planet. 11 00:00:46,940 --> 00:00:49,130 These bucket list encounters, 12 00:00:49,130 --> 00:00:53,233 can only be fulfilled in one place, Australia, 13 00:01:03,750 --> 00:01:06,000 The sixth largest country, 14 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:09,200 similar in size to the United States, 15 00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:12,230 but with a 16th of its population, 16 00:01:12,230 --> 00:01:16,053 Australia, is a vast wonderland for the intrepid explorer. 17 00:01:18,810 --> 00:01:22,203 It is the only country that occupies an entire continent. 18 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:28,513 It's a staggering 7.6 million square kilometers, 19 00:01:29,880 --> 00:01:33,123 4,000 kilometers from coast to coast. 20 00:01:37,100 --> 00:01:38,880 Wherever you live in the world, 21 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:42,363 a trip to Australia is probably on your to do list. 22 00:01:44,000 --> 00:01:47,273 Most tourists and residents head for the coast. 23 00:01:50,930 --> 00:01:52,650 80% of the population live 24 00:01:52,650 --> 00:01:54,863 within 100 kilometers of the coast, 25 00:01:55,970 --> 00:01:58,050 that leaves a whole lot of land in between 26 00:01:58,050 --> 00:02:00,993 for the traveler, willing to step off the beaten track. 27 00:02:03,550 --> 00:02:05,940 If you were putting together the ultimate bucket list 28 00:02:05,940 --> 00:02:08,873 for a trip down under, what would you include? 29 00:02:10,940 --> 00:02:12,773 Perhaps the ultimate road trip. 30 00:02:14,910 --> 00:02:17,133 Australia's roads seem to go on forever. 31 00:02:22,580 --> 00:02:25,290 It boasts the longest highway on earth, 32 00:02:25,290 --> 00:02:29,600 at more than 14,000 kilometers from end to end, 33 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:33,020 it would be a daunting road trip for anyone to take on, 34 00:02:33,020 --> 00:02:34,920 but one that's well worth it. 35 00:02:34,920 --> 00:02:36,340 The Outback's the best place 36 00:02:36,340 --> 00:02:38,243 to see the ultimate Oz icon, 37 00:02:40,820 --> 00:02:41,813 the red kangaroo. 38 00:02:57,740 --> 00:03:00,420 There are 44 million roos in Australia, 39 00:03:00,420 --> 00:03:02,270 more than twice the number of people. 40 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:08,863 There are several kinds, but big red is the biggest. 41 00:03:19,430 --> 00:03:21,950 Taller and heavier than the average man, 42 00:03:21,950 --> 00:03:24,140 the big males are huge, 43 00:03:24,140 --> 00:03:26,223 the biggest native mammals in Oz. 44 00:03:29,350 --> 00:03:31,300 Most famed for their hop, 45 00:03:31,300 --> 00:03:33,060 what site could be more wonderful, 46 00:03:33,060 --> 00:03:35,083 than a herd bouncing across the Outback? 47 00:03:38,420 --> 00:03:42,530 With supersize elastic tendons, their legs work like springs 48 00:03:44,460 --> 00:03:46,433 and hardly use any energy to run. 49 00:03:49,300 --> 00:03:52,963 Effortlessly covering nine meters, in a single boing. 50 00:04:02,808 --> 00:04:05,800 (birds chirping) 51 00:04:05,800 --> 00:04:08,560 There are other mammals that are even bigger, 52 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:11,890 and seeing one in Australia, might be a bit of a shock. 53 00:04:16,830 --> 00:04:18,193 Dromedary camels, 54 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:26,580 these great beasts were first brought from the Middle East 55 00:04:26,580 --> 00:04:29,430 to help open up the hot, dry interior, 56 00:04:29,430 --> 00:04:32,903 shipping in supplies and building materials on their backs. 57 00:04:35,750 --> 00:04:38,230 Once the road infrastructure was complete, 58 00:04:38,230 --> 00:04:40,700 the camels were surplus to requirement, 59 00:04:40,700 --> 00:04:43,100 and the animals were turfed out into the desert. 60 00:04:46,620 --> 00:04:49,843 Now there are more camels in Australia, than in Egypt. 61 00:04:52,940 --> 00:04:54,903 They thrive in the barren landscape. 62 00:05:02,950 --> 00:05:05,500 Sadly, roads kill a lot of rare 63 00:05:05,500 --> 00:05:07,443 and extraordinary local wildlife. 64 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:19,300 Still, a tragedy on the tarmac can also reveal 65 00:05:19,300 --> 00:05:22,333 a glimpse of one of the nation's most dramatic birds. 66 00:05:23,180 --> 00:05:27,670 A sharp-eye passer by, might notice wedge-tailed eagles, 67 00:05:27,670 --> 00:05:29,033 or wedges for short. 68 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:33,633 Among the world's biggest eagles, 69 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:43,500 meter-long bodies and wingspans wider than the garage door, 70 00:05:43,500 --> 00:05:46,863 they're capable predators that can even snatch kangaroos, 71 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:50,563 but won't miss the chance for an easy meal. 72 00:05:51,500 --> 00:05:52,963 Roads provide carrion, 73 00:05:54,170 --> 00:05:56,420 as long as they keep their wits about them, 74 00:05:56,420 --> 00:05:58,413 and don't become themselves. 75 00:06:13,190 --> 00:06:15,270 A journey through the middle of Australia, 76 00:06:15,270 --> 00:06:17,313 might seem monotonous at first glance, 77 00:06:19,290 --> 00:06:22,570 two thirds of it is desert, the Outback, 78 00:06:22,570 --> 00:06:25,483 the name given to the dry interior of the continent. 79 00:06:29,950 --> 00:06:34,950 Australia is a vast flat continent, with few mountains. 80 00:06:35,020 --> 00:06:38,133 It's the only continent without any active volcanoes. 81 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:44,113 After Antarctica, It's also the driest continent. 82 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:50,100 At first glance, it doesn't seem too inviting, 83 00:06:50,100 --> 00:06:52,573 but it's an incredible place for wildlife. 84 00:06:56,100 --> 00:06:58,783 But not all of the Outback is dry and brown, 85 00:07:00,330 --> 00:07:03,620 craggy rock formations can protect tiny bodies of water, 86 00:07:03,620 --> 00:07:06,503 from the fierce sun, oasis. 87 00:07:08,900 --> 00:07:11,683 The perfect place for any weary traveler to cool off. 88 00:07:15,060 --> 00:07:17,540 The oasis of scattered far and wide, 89 00:07:17,540 --> 00:07:21,030 and so act like islands, protecting their own little unique 90 00:07:21,030 --> 00:07:23,033 collections of plants and animals. 91 00:07:26,140 --> 00:07:29,780 Out here the little bodies of water, are dubbed Billabongs, 92 00:07:29,780 --> 00:07:32,360 the Australian word for oxbow lakes. 93 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:34,440 Once tight bends in rivers, 94 00:07:34,440 --> 00:07:37,200 but left behind, when a river's course changed, 95 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:38,163 or it dried up. 96 00:07:40,290 --> 00:07:42,290 In a place where water is scarce, 97 00:07:42,290 --> 00:07:44,573 just a few drops can make all the difference. 98 00:07:47,570 --> 00:07:49,923 Zebra finches, dash in for a sip. 99 00:07:52,250 --> 00:07:54,673 Firefinches find enough water for a bath. 100 00:07:58,700 --> 00:08:00,120 The black-fronted dotterel, 101 00:08:00,120 --> 00:08:02,523 even uses the sand banks to raise a family. 102 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:15,780 The small bodies of water attract animals from far and wide, 103 00:08:15,780 --> 00:08:17,593 including the red kangaroos. 104 00:08:22,940 --> 00:08:23,790 And another icon, 105 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:26,993 the emu. 106 00:08:28,330 --> 00:08:30,463 In this case, an emu dad. 107 00:08:33,460 --> 00:08:37,160 The male bird is responsible for raising the stripey chicks, 108 00:08:37,160 --> 00:08:39,087 and leaves them to water to cool off. 109 00:08:51,600 --> 00:08:54,883 These two classic Outback Oz's have something in common, 110 00:08:57,020 --> 00:08:59,460 they both feature on the national emblem, 111 00:08:59,460 --> 00:09:01,123 the Australian Court of Arms. 112 00:09:04,210 --> 00:09:07,240 It said that the kangaroo and emu were chosen, 113 00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:10,570 because they are two animals that can't walk backwards, 114 00:09:10,570 --> 00:09:12,340 reflecting the forward thinking view, 115 00:09:12,340 --> 00:09:14,073 Australia wanted to project. 116 00:09:18,540 --> 00:09:19,890 But it's also true, 117 00:09:19,890 --> 00:09:22,110 that Australia is the only country, 118 00:09:22,110 --> 00:09:23,693 to eat its national emblem. 119 00:09:25,010 --> 00:09:27,563 Both species are common on restaurant menus. 120 00:09:39,020 --> 00:09:41,750 Looking at the scale of the harsh landscape, 121 00:09:41,750 --> 00:09:44,250 It's hard to imagine what brought people out here. 122 00:09:47,680 --> 00:09:51,473 One of the drivers in the great migration in land, was gold. 123 00:09:55,140 --> 00:09:57,530 From the mid 1850s onwards, 124 00:09:57,530 --> 00:09:59,550 a global crowd was drawn to search, 125 00:09:59,550 --> 00:10:02,400 and plunder the region's mineral wealth. 126 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:05,850 Even today, Australia's the world's second biggest 127 00:10:05,850 --> 00:10:06,873 producer of gold. 128 00:10:13,751 --> 00:10:15,751 But it was also farming. 129 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:24,910 The numerous unspoiled, unaltered tracks of land 130 00:10:24,910 --> 00:10:26,610 were irresistible to people, 131 00:10:26,610 --> 00:10:29,733 looking for homesteads, where they could run some livestock. 132 00:10:31,632 --> 00:10:33,800 But the ground isn't very productive, 133 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:36,853 to feed a herd of animals, they needed big areas. 134 00:10:38,030 --> 00:10:39,690 And so travelers of the Outback 135 00:10:39,690 --> 00:10:42,203 might come across some pretty enormous ranches, 136 00:10:43,180 --> 00:10:45,243 the biggest, is the size of Belgium. 137 00:11:04,870 --> 00:11:08,060 The livestock creating conflict between farmers, 138 00:11:08,060 --> 00:11:11,893 and one of the most stunning native predators, dingoes. 139 00:11:17,890 --> 00:11:19,993 The wild dogs were hunted and fenced out. 140 00:11:23,590 --> 00:11:26,323 In some regions, dingoes have become scarce, 141 00:11:27,460 --> 00:11:30,423 but fortunately there are still plenty in the Outback. 142 00:11:32,720 --> 00:11:35,210 They're important top predators, 143 00:11:35,210 --> 00:11:37,063 helping to regulate the ecosystem. 144 00:11:47,610 --> 00:11:49,790 Seeing a beautiful canine in the wild, 145 00:11:49,790 --> 00:11:51,590 should be on everyone's bucket list. 146 00:12:01,300 --> 00:12:04,280 The persistent people who push out into the wilderness, 147 00:12:04,280 --> 00:12:06,303 eventually come to the red center. 148 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:11,740 Oxidized iron in the sand, 149 00:12:11,740 --> 00:12:14,743 gives this classic view of Australia, it's warm hues, 150 00:12:17,630 --> 00:12:21,353 and at its heart, the famous jewel in Australia's crown. 151 00:12:22,310 --> 00:12:24,460 Formerly known as Ayers rock, 152 00:12:24,460 --> 00:12:27,910 Uluru the name given by indigenous Aboriginal people, 153 00:12:27,910 --> 00:12:29,043 stands proud. 154 00:12:30,650 --> 00:12:33,610 To gaze upon it, is one of the most desired experiences 155 00:12:33,610 --> 00:12:35,600 on a tour of Australia. 156 00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:38,300 Despite the fact that it's hundreds of kilometers 157 00:12:38,300 --> 00:12:41,550 from any major cities and during summer, 158 00:12:41,550 --> 00:12:43,853 often has temperatures in the mid forties. 159 00:12:46,450 --> 00:12:50,273 The spectacular rock is more than 500 million years old. 160 00:12:51,480 --> 00:12:52,990 Though towering slopes 161 00:12:52,990 --> 00:12:56,710 reaching 350 meters in height are impressive, 162 00:12:56,710 --> 00:12:58,560 they are just the tip of the iceberg. 163 00:12:59,680 --> 00:13:03,493 It's the top of a mountain range, buried beneath the sand. 164 00:13:06,610 --> 00:13:10,400 It's one of Australia's many UNESCO world heritage sites, 165 00:13:10,400 --> 00:13:11,850 much treasured by the nation. 166 00:13:14,660 --> 00:13:17,743 But it's not just the geology that makes this place special. 167 00:13:23,990 --> 00:13:26,370 Ever thought of adding licking an ant's bottom 168 00:13:26,370 --> 00:13:27,283 to your wishlist? 169 00:13:29,160 --> 00:13:32,580 Local people do that here, because locked underground, 170 00:13:32,580 --> 00:13:34,563 the ants doing something pretty odd. 171 00:13:37,290 --> 00:13:39,780 Not all of the ants in the colony do it, 172 00:13:39,780 --> 00:13:42,993 but these chosen few, are known as replete. 173 00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:48,880 When the going is good in the desert, the ants harvest food, 174 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:51,270 especially the sweet, energy-rich nectar 175 00:13:51,270 --> 00:13:52,780 from desert flowers, 176 00:13:52,780 --> 00:13:54,463 and they feed it to the replete. 177 00:13:56,380 --> 00:13:59,403 These bloated bugs are literally living larders. 178 00:14:00,810 --> 00:14:03,260 They store as much food as their bodies can hold. 179 00:14:17,380 --> 00:14:20,530 When hard times roll around, during the dry season, 180 00:14:20,530 --> 00:14:22,210 when food is scarce, 181 00:14:22,210 --> 00:14:24,320 they gradually regurgitate their rich honey, 182 00:14:24,320 --> 00:14:25,273 to feed the colony. 183 00:14:42,060 --> 00:14:43,960 Answer something of an Oz's specialty, 184 00:14:45,670 --> 00:14:48,113 there are 4,000 different kinds. 185 00:14:49,350 --> 00:14:50,890 The social insects work together 186 00:14:50,890 --> 00:14:54,343 to build their elaborate homes, to defend their colony, 187 00:14:55,430 --> 00:14:57,763 gather food and even hunt together. 188 00:15:00,130 --> 00:15:03,120 And the abundance of ants makes the living easy, 189 00:15:03,120 --> 00:15:05,063 for a wide variety of ant-eaters. 190 00:15:11,990 --> 00:15:14,750 Like one of the Outback's most bizarre critters, 191 00:15:14,750 --> 00:15:15,893 the thorny devil. 192 00:15:18,930 --> 00:15:21,490 It looks like it should be attacking Tokyo, 193 00:15:21,490 --> 00:15:24,343 even though it rarely reaches 20 centimeters in length. 194 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:30,680 It's evil looking armor, 195 00:15:30,680 --> 00:15:34,010 helps to deter anything that might want to eat it. 196 00:15:34,010 --> 00:15:35,720 But covered in little grooves, 197 00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:38,330 it also collects moisture from the morning dew 198 00:15:38,330 --> 00:15:39,890 funneling it into its mouth, 199 00:15:39,890 --> 00:15:41,490 providing a drink in the desert. 200 00:15:45,040 --> 00:15:47,350 It means the lizard has plenty of time on his hands, 201 00:15:47,350 --> 00:15:49,003 to sit around eating ants. 202 00:15:53,870 --> 00:15:55,083 Which is just as well. 203 00:15:56,730 --> 00:15:59,853 It's estimated that it might munch 2,500 a day. 204 00:16:13,290 --> 00:16:14,800 If you're a reptile lover, 205 00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:17,350 then you need to put the Outback back on your list. 206 00:16:19,220 --> 00:16:22,253 The continent boasts 900 species. 207 00:16:26,010 --> 00:16:28,793 From the lovable bearded dragon, a common pet, 208 00:16:31,690 --> 00:16:35,620 to the huge perentie, a Komodo dragon-like monitor lizard, 209 00:16:35,620 --> 00:16:36,903 the size of a person. 210 00:16:42,090 --> 00:16:45,620 While reptile watching, you need to be careful though, 211 00:16:45,620 --> 00:16:47,090 you might not be the only one, 212 00:16:47,090 --> 00:16:48,490 with their eyes on a lizard. 213 00:16:54,590 --> 00:16:58,603 20 of the world's 25 deadliest snakes, live in Australia. 214 00:17:00,490 --> 00:17:03,280 This species, the eastern brown snake, 215 00:17:03,280 --> 00:17:05,043 kills more people than any other. 216 00:17:15,600 --> 00:17:17,180 Because the performance of reptiles 217 00:17:17,180 --> 00:17:19,240 is determined by the surroundings, 218 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:22,193 the desert sun means the brown can move fast. 219 00:17:24,461 --> 00:17:27,747 It is the second most toxic of land dwelling snakes. 220 00:17:29,830 --> 00:17:32,810 The only reason it is implicated with human deaths, 221 00:17:32,810 --> 00:17:36,060 is because it often lives in the same areas as people, 222 00:17:36,060 --> 00:17:38,293 and only attacks when it feels threatened. 223 00:17:48,580 --> 00:17:51,173 It's much happier munching on rodents or lizards. 224 00:18:03,380 --> 00:18:06,530 Incredible creatures and a privilege to watch, 225 00:18:06,530 --> 00:18:08,033 but just keep your distance. 226 00:18:20,380 --> 00:18:23,230 You'll only see some of Australia's wonders reptiles, 227 00:18:23,230 --> 00:18:25,063 by night. 228 00:18:29,770 --> 00:18:33,473 But what an awesome experience, a camp out under the stars. 229 00:18:36,020 --> 00:18:38,460 For those who venture out after dark, 230 00:18:38,460 --> 00:18:39,963 the rewards can be rich. 231 00:18:55,170 --> 00:18:59,580 Like many geckos, the knob-tailed prefers hunting at night, 232 00:18:59,580 --> 00:19:01,480 when there are fewer predators around. 233 00:19:04,050 --> 00:19:05,280 His sensitive eyes, 234 00:19:05,280 --> 00:19:07,293 allow him to see colors by moonlight. 235 00:19:16,810 --> 00:19:18,970 There might be fewer predators now, 236 00:19:18,970 --> 00:19:21,120 but that doesn't mean he won't be bothered. 237 00:19:23,915 --> 00:19:25,610 Spinifex hopping-mice, 238 00:19:25,610 --> 00:19:27,800 prefer to forage in the cool of night, 239 00:19:27,800 --> 00:19:29,923 avoiding the daytime sun in their burrows. 240 00:19:31,950 --> 00:19:33,713 The gecko draws their attention, 241 00:19:37,280 --> 00:19:39,720 just because they are hoping for a drop of moisture 242 00:19:39,720 --> 00:19:41,543 from its huge sensitive eyes. 243 00:19:43,660 --> 00:19:46,783 The mice should be spending more time watching their backs. 244 00:19:47,670 --> 00:19:52,670 This looks like a mouse, but in Australia, assume nothing. 245 00:19:53,380 --> 00:19:56,230 The fat-tailed dunnart, is a marsupial, 246 00:19:56,230 --> 00:19:59,270 a pouched predator, a tiny tiger, 247 00:19:59,270 --> 00:20:01,823 that can eat its own body weight in a single night. 248 00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:05,353 It's fearless, and might tackle a mouse. 249 00:20:11,160 --> 00:20:13,313 Luckily, a cricket catches it's eye. 250 00:20:22,790 --> 00:20:23,960 There are plenty of other things 251 00:20:23,960 --> 00:20:25,560 for hopping mice to worry about. 252 00:20:37,770 --> 00:20:40,500 Expert in digging, the woma python, 253 00:20:40,500 --> 00:20:42,720 has no trouble hiding out in the desert. 254 00:20:44,460 --> 00:20:46,760 Unlike it's more famous Oz cousins, 255 00:20:46,760 --> 00:20:48,693 this snake doesn't kill with venom. 256 00:20:59,110 --> 00:21:01,560 Throwing its coils over the mouse, 257 00:21:01,560 --> 00:21:04,693 it suffocates its meal, before it swallows it whole. 258 00:21:16,170 --> 00:21:19,873 Night time in Australia, beautiful and a little scary, 259 00:21:23,540 --> 00:21:25,183 but the sun soon returns. 260 00:21:31,920 --> 00:21:35,220 In the desert, there is one claim to fame, 261 00:21:35,220 --> 00:21:36,893 that not many people achieve, 262 00:21:40,792 --> 00:21:43,713 getting rained on, in the driest country on Earth. 263 00:21:50,083 --> 00:21:52,773 Rains are scarce and unpredictable. 264 00:21:54,720 --> 00:21:57,793 Doesn't take much to trigger a bit of desert magic. 265 00:22:02,470 --> 00:22:04,380 Though, perhaps more familiar to most of us 266 00:22:04,380 --> 00:22:06,890 as talkative pets in living rooms, 267 00:22:06,890 --> 00:22:09,823 budgies are one of Australia's most famous residents. 268 00:22:14,270 --> 00:22:16,260 Normally they're hard to see, 269 00:22:16,260 --> 00:22:18,860 living in little scattered groups across the desert, 270 00:22:19,870 --> 00:22:23,110 but throw in a bit of rain, and as if by magic, 271 00:22:23,110 --> 00:22:25,780 they come together in great green tidal waves, 272 00:22:25,780 --> 00:22:27,013 to quench their thirst. 273 00:22:40,620 --> 00:22:43,083 There might be millions in a single flock. 274 00:22:49,520 --> 00:22:51,723 A must for bird watchers bucket list. 275 00:22:58,743 --> 00:23:01,350 But the spectacle is rare and short lived, 276 00:23:01,350 --> 00:23:03,800 and the flocks will soon break up and spread out. 277 00:23:16,870 --> 00:23:19,460 In the Outback, water is scarce. 278 00:23:19,460 --> 00:23:21,640 So, if you are a true water baby, 279 00:23:21,640 --> 00:23:23,680 you might be happier at the coast, 280 00:23:23,680 --> 00:23:26,251 and Australia has plenty of that. 281 00:23:26,251 --> 00:23:28,918 (tides roaming) 282 00:23:30,130 --> 00:23:32,820 Almost 36,000 kilometers of it, 283 00:23:32,820 --> 00:23:34,703 bordering three different oceans. 284 00:23:37,300 --> 00:23:41,023 The Indian ocean, Southern ocean and the South Pacific. 285 00:23:41,860 --> 00:23:43,890 And it's here on the Eastern coast, 286 00:23:43,890 --> 00:23:46,290 the tropical waters of the South Pacific, 287 00:23:46,290 --> 00:23:48,910 where bucket list chasers come to experience, 288 00:23:48,910 --> 00:23:51,163 one of the great natural wonders on earth, 289 00:23:52,660 --> 00:23:54,323 the Great Barrier Reef. 290 00:23:56,980 --> 00:23:59,060 Made up of 3000 reefs, 291 00:23:59,060 --> 00:24:01,320 It's the biggest reef system on earth 292 00:24:01,320 --> 00:24:04,923 and considered by some to be the largest living structure, 293 00:24:08,960 --> 00:24:11,133 one that's clearly visible from space. 294 00:24:13,850 --> 00:24:18,473 Almost 350,000 square kilometers of marine paradise. 295 00:24:21,740 --> 00:24:24,673 Famously, the incredible landmark is in danger. 296 00:24:29,950 --> 00:24:31,490 In the last hundred years, 297 00:24:31,490 --> 00:24:33,030 the surface temperature of the sea 298 00:24:33,030 --> 00:24:35,030 has risen by half a degree. 299 00:24:35,030 --> 00:24:37,860 It doesn't sound like a lot but in hot years, 300 00:24:37,860 --> 00:24:40,430 it puts coral under tremendous stress 301 00:24:40,430 --> 00:24:41,900 and can cause it to die off 302 00:24:41,900 --> 00:24:44,053 in events called coral bleaching. 303 00:24:46,080 --> 00:24:48,310 And the increase of carbon in the atmosphere 304 00:24:48,310 --> 00:24:51,790 from human industry, has increased the acidity of the sea, 305 00:24:51,790 --> 00:24:53,723 which impacts the health of shellfish. 306 00:24:55,520 --> 00:24:58,010 One of the great natural wonders of the world, 307 00:24:58,010 --> 00:24:59,650 is under threat. 308 00:24:59,650 --> 00:25:02,390 All the more reason to visit it, treat it well, 309 00:25:02,390 --> 00:25:05,393 enjoy it and see what you can do to help it. 310 00:25:09,280 --> 00:25:11,750 Any explorer not afraid to get their feet wet, 311 00:25:11,750 --> 00:25:12,973 will want to dive in. 312 00:25:14,330 --> 00:25:17,070 More than 1,500 species of fish, 313 00:25:17,070 --> 00:25:20,573 wait to greet you, in every conceivable size and color. 314 00:25:23,240 --> 00:25:24,693 And there are giants. 315 00:25:26,340 --> 00:25:28,263 More than 100 kinds of shark, 316 00:25:29,490 --> 00:25:30,823 not everyone's favorites, 317 00:25:31,930 --> 00:25:35,110 though this, is a bucket list worthy species, 318 00:25:35,110 --> 00:25:36,960 the whale shark, 319 00:25:36,960 --> 00:25:38,563 the biggest fish on the planet. 320 00:25:49,470 --> 00:25:52,563 There are true whales, like the much loved humpbacks. 321 00:25:56,060 --> 00:25:58,553 And plenty of everyone's favorites, dolphins. 322 00:26:12,700 --> 00:26:15,123 Six of the world's seven turtles live here too. 323 00:26:27,820 --> 00:26:29,320 And they're drawn to the continent's 324 00:26:29,320 --> 00:26:31,053 glorious beaches to breed. 325 00:26:34,600 --> 00:26:36,400 And there are plenty to choose from. 326 00:26:38,860 --> 00:26:41,713 Australia has more than 11,000 beaches. 327 00:26:52,210 --> 00:26:54,913 It's not just turtles and tourists who seek them out, 328 00:26:58,170 --> 00:27:00,940 many animals come to the beaches to forage, 329 00:27:00,940 --> 00:27:02,733 seeing what the tide has washed up. 330 00:27:12,010 --> 00:27:14,613 None more dramatic, than the cassowary. 331 00:27:19,260 --> 00:27:22,620 This giant flightless bird, looks like a leftover dinosaur 332 00:27:22,620 --> 00:27:24,463 from a land lost to history. 333 00:27:25,880 --> 00:27:29,210 It has a large velociraptor-like claw on each foot, 334 00:27:29,210 --> 00:27:30,783 and a deadly reputation. 335 00:27:33,200 --> 00:27:36,563 Though it only attacks if provoked or protecting its family. 336 00:27:43,320 --> 00:27:45,320 Seeing one on the beach is a rare treat, 337 00:27:48,130 --> 00:27:50,333 really they're denizens of the rainforest. 338 00:28:04,400 --> 00:28:08,260 Despite the fearsome appearance, they're fruit eaters, 339 00:28:08,260 --> 00:28:11,100 and this dad teaches his chicks how to find 340 00:28:12,180 --> 00:28:14,143 and swallow the right fruits. 341 00:28:33,830 --> 00:28:36,910 In cassowaries, like their emu cousins, 342 00:28:36,910 --> 00:28:38,960 it's only the males that raise the young. 343 00:28:52,650 --> 00:28:56,060 Bizarre behavior, but in rainforest down under, 344 00:28:56,060 --> 00:28:57,143 that's commonplace. 345 00:29:20,998 --> 00:29:23,748 (bird squawking) 346 00:29:32,727 --> 00:29:35,470 Lyrebirds have a unique gift. 347 00:29:35,470 --> 00:29:37,350 They're among the many great vocal artists 348 00:29:37,350 --> 00:29:38,743 to come out of Australia. 349 00:29:40,240 --> 00:29:42,963 Both males and females are masters of mimicry, 350 00:29:44,680 --> 00:29:47,690 famously impersonating anything from other birds, 351 00:29:47,690 --> 00:29:50,443 to mobile phones and even chainsaws. 352 00:29:56,580 --> 00:29:58,263 But when it's time for courtship, 353 00:29:59,720 --> 00:30:01,703 the male goes the extra mile. 354 00:30:03,160 --> 00:30:05,563 He clears his stage ready for his performance, 355 00:30:09,780 --> 00:30:12,150 swings his cloak of lacy tail feathers, 356 00:30:12,150 --> 00:30:14,800 like he's pulling back the curtains on opening night. 357 00:30:17,710 --> 00:30:19,483 Then his song and dance begins. 358 00:30:43,810 --> 00:30:45,773 Not everyone has showy plumage. 359 00:30:47,120 --> 00:30:50,610 While handsome in his own right, the satin bowerbird, 360 00:30:50,610 --> 00:30:53,573 adds to his appeal by building himself a bachelor pad. 361 00:30:55,360 --> 00:30:57,610 Who isn't attracted to someone with property? 362 00:31:00,920 --> 00:31:03,630 Looking like it belongs in a modern art museum, 363 00:31:03,630 --> 00:31:07,460 the incredible structure looks like a home, perhaps a nest, 364 00:31:07,460 --> 00:31:09,520 a shelter for a family, 365 00:31:09,520 --> 00:31:13,603 but no, it's simply an extension of his male ego. 366 00:31:19,680 --> 00:31:21,890 Again, it's a stage, 367 00:31:21,890 --> 00:31:24,220 a way to get himself seen. 368 00:31:24,220 --> 00:31:26,393 When it's ready, he'll perform in it. 369 00:31:29,050 --> 00:31:31,193 But first, some decoration. 370 00:31:32,700 --> 00:31:35,960 Rather than scattering rose petals over his love pad, 371 00:31:35,960 --> 00:31:37,373 he selects objects. 372 00:31:39,590 --> 00:31:41,530 There are many kinds of bowerbirds, 373 00:31:41,530 --> 00:31:43,970 and each prefers a different color. 374 00:31:43,970 --> 00:31:46,233 Satin bowerbirds, have a thing for blue. 375 00:31:53,131 --> 00:31:57,840 With his treasures laid out, his heart is on the line. 376 00:31:57,840 --> 00:31:59,240 Will the girls be impressed? 377 00:32:03,820 --> 00:32:06,120 Among the balmy birds of the bush, 378 00:32:06,120 --> 00:32:08,683 there is one who truly steals the show. 379 00:32:09,710 --> 00:32:12,707 Hardly a modern man, the Victorian riflebird 380 00:32:12,707 --> 00:32:14,883 has no interest in raising a family. 381 00:32:16,660 --> 00:32:18,350 His interests are fulfilled, 382 00:32:18,350 --> 00:32:20,093 once he's got a female knocked up. 383 00:32:22,420 --> 00:32:24,470 But he does at least work for his reward, 384 00:32:25,690 --> 00:32:28,063 by staging the best show in town. 385 00:32:28,903 --> 00:32:32,820 (cultural instrumental music ) 386 00:32:53,160 --> 00:32:54,383 And for the finale, 387 00:33:09,260 --> 00:33:10,310 how could she say no? 388 00:33:20,890 --> 00:33:24,630 There are close to 1000 different kinds of bird in Australia 389 00:33:24,630 --> 00:33:28,840 and nearly half of which like the riflebird are endemic, 390 00:33:28,840 --> 00:33:30,980 which means if you want to see them, 391 00:33:30,980 --> 00:33:33,373 Australia, is the only place to come. 392 00:33:36,030 --> 00:33:38,120 The rainforests of Australia, 393 00:33:38,120 --> 00:33:40,363 need to be seen to be believed. 394 00:33:41,420 --> 00:33:43,530 They have an other worldly feel, 395 00:33:43,530 --> 00:33:44,630 perhaps because they have 396 00:33:44,630 --> 00:33:47,103 some of the oldest jungles left on the planet, 397 00:33:49,120 --> 00:33:50,770 remnants of long forgotten times. 398 00:34:00,170 --> 00:34:02,200 They're leftovers from a time, 399 00:34:02,200 --> 00:34:03,840 when the Southern continents 400 00:34:03,840 --> 00:34:07,453 were joined in a vast land mass known as Gondwana. 401 00:34:08,680 --> 00:34:12,263 As the land broke apart and drifted, climate changed. 402 00:34:16,610 --> 00:34:19,190 Today many plant species that exist elsewhere 403 00:34:19,190 --> 00:34:21,853 only in the fossil record, thrive here. 404 00:34:26,580 --> 00:34:29,540 Some of the world's oldest conifers and ferns, 405 00:34:29,540 --> 00:34:33,513 a whole host of plants unchanged, for 100 million years. 406 00:34:35,810 --> 00:34:37,330 Not even half a percentage 407 00:34:37,330 --> 00:34:39,730 of Australia's surface is rainforest, 408 00:34:39,730 --> 00:34:41,640 yet this incredible place, 409 00:34:41,640 --> 00:34:44,860 contains a third of the country's birds and mammals, 410 00:34:44,860 --> 00:34:46,293 and half of all its plants. 411 00:34:50,050 --> 00:34:52,453 It's also a land of dragons. 412 00:34:53,560 --> 00:34:56,333 Reptile lovers will enjoy exploring the undergrowth. 413 00:35:01,310 --> 00:35:05,510 Scaling predators like the water monitor and carpet Python, 414 00:35:05,510 --> 00:35:07,153 Keep the mammals on their toes. 415 00:35:18,470 --> 00:35:21,883 There's even a kind of kangaroo that's taken to the trees. 416 00:35:23,800 --> 00:35:26,390 If you're a fan of bizarre creatures, 417 00:35:26,390 --> 00:35:29,103 the lumholtz's tree-kangaroo is one for you. 418 00:35:32,500 --> 00:35:34,940 Its ancestors were ground dwellers, 419 00:35:34,940 --> 00:35:38,030 like more typical kangaroos and wallabies, 420 00:35:38,030 --> 00:35:39,483 rock-wallabies in fact. 421 00:35:42,090 --> 00:35:44,990 Their rock hoping skills made them good climbers, 422 00:35:44,990 --> 00:35:47,890 and during warmer periods of the Earth's history, 423 00:35:47,890 --> 00:35:50,703 they started climbing rainforest trees to feed. 424 00:35:52,000 --> 00:35:55,390 When the climate dried and rainforest became scarce, 425 00:35:55,390 --> 00:35:57,580 some of the tree-climbers remained, 426 00:35:57,580 --> 00:35:59,173 unique and wonderful. 427 00:36:16,250 --> 00:36:19,240 But there is one other reptile lurking in the forest, 428 00:36:19,240 --> 00:36:20,763 that puts everyone on edge. 429 00:36:26,130 --> 00:36:27,540 For thrill seekers, 430 00:36:27,540 --> 00:36:30,400 there is only one true King of the reptiles, 431 00:36:30,400 --> 00:36:33,483 the biggest of them all, the salt water crocodile. 432 00:36:49,130 --> 00:36:52,680 Feral pigs are not native to Australia, 433 00:36:52,680 --> 00:36:54,530 in fact, they're a menace. 434 00:36:54,530 --> 00:36:58,430 Digging up the fragile flora, but the giant crocs, 435 00:36:58,430 --> 00:37:00,643 make their best efforts in pest control. 436 00:37:32,720 --> 00:37:36,760 These incredible crocs, can reach more than six meters long, 437 00:37:36,760 --> 00:37:38,303 nearly as long as a minibus. 438 00:37:45,880 --> 00:37:48,940 They also have the most powerful bites known on earth, 439 00:37:48,940 --> 00:37:51,663 exerting one and a half kilos of force. 440 00:38:41,420 --> 00:38:45,043 It doesn't take long to turn a pig into streaky bacon. 441 00:38:53,430 --> 00:38:55,660 The crocs make the waterways of Australia 442 00:38:55,660 --> 00:38:58,773 dangerous places to be, demanding great care. 443 00:39:05,070 --> 00:39:07,380 But for the careful and determined, 444 00:39:07,380 --> 00:39:10,470 they can also reveal one of Australia's weirdest, 445 00:39:10,470 --> 00:39:13,783 most wonderful and famously unique animals. 446 00:39:19,330 --> 00:39:22,060 Barely changed from the time of the dinosaurs, 447 00:39:22,060 --> 00:39:24,633 this is a mammal that still lays eggs. 448 00:39:26,610 --> 00:39:29,460 With the body of a beaver, but a duck beak, 449 00:39:29,460 --> 00:39:31,443 there is no mistaking, the platypus. 450 00:39:39,811 --> 00:39:43,340 But the gorgeous creature is hard to spot. 451 00:39:43,340 --> 00:39:45,023 It's barely the size of a rabbit, 452 00:39:48,400 --> 00:39:50,850 and spends most of its time foraging under water. 453 00:39:57,460 --> 00:39:59,130 Using its sensitive bill, 454 00:39:59,130 --> 00:40:01,220 to locate shrimps and other little creatures 455 00:40:01,220 --> 00:40:02,283 from under rocks. 456 00:40:08,440 --> 00:40:12,460 For Australia's fresh-water crayfish, known as yabbies, 457 00:40:12,460 --> 00:40:14,060 there is competition. 458 00:40:14,060 --> 00:40:16,970 Not just from people wanting them on the barbecue, 459 00:40:16,970 --> 00:40:18,710 but from the planet's biggest 460 00:40:18,710 --> 00:40:22,473 and the meanest looking Kingfisher, the kookaburra. 461 00:40:26,040 --> 00:40:29,610 The size of a football and with a menacing beak, 462 00:40:29,610 --> 00:40:31,143 it's a formidable predator. 463 00:41:17,730 --> 00:41:20,783 No shellfish armor can stand up to a beating from this bird. 464 00:41:26,740 --> 00:41:28,823 King, among feathered fishermen. 465 00:41:42,440 --> 00:41:45,210 If the forest gets a bit claustrophobic for you, 466 00:41:45,210 --> 00:41:46,983 how about a hike in the mountains? 467 00:42:02,390 --> 00:42:06,413 The Flinders Ranges, breach 400 kilometers of the Outback. 468 00:42:10,870 --> 00:42:12,670 In the midst of time, 469 00:42:12,670 --> 00:42:14,653 Australia was largely underwater. 470 00:42:15,500 --> 00:42:17,400 800 million years ago, 471 00:42:17,400 --> 00:42:20,230 geological forces from deep underground, 472 00:42:20,230 --> 00:42:23,513 thrust the sea bed up into the dramatic mountain range. 473 00:42:26,150 --> 00:42:29,293 They contain fossils of the earliest traces of life. 474 00:42:32,260 --> 00:42:34,410 For millions of years of being shoved about 475 00:42:34,410 --> 00:42:36,200 through tectonic force, 476 00:42:36,200 --> 00:42:40,370 the land was buckled and folded over itself multiple times, 477 00:42:40,370 --> 00:42:43,683 resulting in bizarre structures, like Wilpena Pound. 478 00:42:53,690 --> 00:42:55,500 A natural amphitheater, 479 00:42:55,500 --> 00:42:59,070 farmers once tried to use it as a pound for their livestock, 480 00:42:59,070 --> 00:43:01,363 though failed due to the lack of water. 481 00:43:07,400 --> 00:43:10,490 Today, It's a wildlife haven, 482 00:43:10,490 --> 00:43:12,140 and an exciting place to explore. 483 00:43:17,120 --> 00:43:20,513 The highest peak is here, over 1000 meters tall. 484 00:43:24,910 --> 00:43:26,500 The longest range though, 485 00:43:26,500 --> 00:43:30,413 and the fifth longest on earth, is the Great Dividing Range. 486 00:43:33,060 --> 00:43:34,820 Three and a half thousand kilometers, 487 00:43:34,820 --> 00:43:37,360 stretching the entire Eastern coast, 488 00:43:37,360 --> 00:43:39,973 and explaining why Australia is contrasting. 489 00:43:42,210 --> 00:43:45,160 When water from the Pacific coast drifts in, 490 00:43:45,160 --> 00:43:47,100 it's caught by the mountains, 491 00:43:47,100 --> 00:43:49,690 causing rain and creating the conditions, 492 00:43:49,690 --> 00:43:52,253 that have allowed the rainforests to survive. 493 00:43:54,560 --> 00:43:56,500 But the range blocks the rain, 494 00:43:56,500 --> 00:43:59,410 from making it over into the interior, 495 00:43:59,410 --> 00:44:02,253 which is why it's so dry and desert-like in land. 496 00:44:06,780 --> 00:44:09,300 Exploring the continent's high country, 497 00:44:09,300 --> 00:44:10,763 you might run into these. 498 00:44:16,040 --> 00:44:17,063 Rock wallabies. 499 00:44:27,010 --> 00:44:29,723 In this case, Mareeba rock-wallabies. 500 00:44:41,110 --> 00:44:42,893 These guys invented parkour. 501 00:44:52,680 --> 00:44:54,920 With rubberized soles to their feet, 502 00:44:54,920 --> 00:44:57,773 they can effortlessly scale vertical surfaces. 503 00:45:16,420 --> 00:45:17,910 And when they do battle, 504 00:45:17,910 --> 00:45:20,310 it's like something from the martial arts movie. 505 00:45:40,820 --> 00:45:43,573 Why not join them, for some rock hopping yourself? 506 00:45:48,200 --> 00:45:49,650 There's even something you can do 507 00:45:49,650 --> 00:45:51,430 in the mountains of Australia, 508 00:45:51,430 --> 00:45:53,963 that goes against most people's expectations. 509 00:45:58,410 --> 00:46:00,493 Did you know, it was a place to ski? 510 00:46:03,120 --> 00:46:04,870 Part of the great Dividing Range, 511 00:46:04,870 --> 00:46:07,363 is known as the Australian Alps. 512 00:46:12,270 --> 00:46:16,670 Australia's highest peaks, over 2000 meters above sea level, 513 00:46:16,670 --> 00:46:18,753 get as much snow as the Alps of Europe. 514 00:46:29,270 --> 00:46:30,670 Australian wildlife, 515 00:46:30,670 --> 00:46:34,380 that you might expect to see on the dry hot Plains below, 516 00:46:34,380 --> 00:46:36,113 seem to cope with the extremes. 517 00:46:41,550 --> 00:46:44,173 A common wombat on a cold mountain hike. 518 00:47:01,750 --> 00:47:03,380 You'd be hard-pressed, 519 00:47:03,380 --> 00:47:05,743 to dream of a more extraordinary country, 520 00:47:13,440 --> 00:47:16,993 where you can go back in time through ancient rainforests, 521 00:47:23,650 --> 00:47:25,453 travel across endless desert, 522 00:47:33,260 --> 00:47:34,623 and hike through snow. 523 00:47:36,140 --> 00:47:38,260 The ultimate land of contrasts 524 00:47:41,700 --> 00:47:43,420 with equally incredible, 525 00:47:43,420 --> 00:47:46,123 diverse and colorful wildlife to match. 526 00:47:53,600 --> 00:47:54,750 And of course, 527 00:47:54,750 --> 00:47:57,443 there's one other thing that everyone wants to see. 528 00:48:01,230 --> 00:48:04,620 No bucket list trip to Australia would be complete, 529 00:48:04,620 --> 00:48:06,323 without a koala encounter. 530 00:48:16,630 --> 00:48:18,610 These cute and cuddly creatures, 531 00:48:18,610 --> 00:48:21,650 evolved at least 20 million years ago, 532 00:48:21,650 --> 00:48:23,900 and there is nothing else like them on Earth. 533 00:48:27,390 --> 00:48:31,953 And they live here, and only here, in eucalyptus forests. 534 00:48:40,060 --> 00:48:42,943 They eat almost nothing apart from eucalyptus leaves. 535 00:48:45,530 --> 00:48:49,270 Because the leaves are low in protein and high in toxins, 536 00:48:49,270 --> 00:48:51,500 they take a lot of digesting, 537 00:48:51,500 --> 00:48:54,490 a good excuse for koalas to have big tummies, 538 00:48:54,490 --> 00:48:56,423 and spend most of their time sleeping. 539 00:49:06,370 --> 00:49:09,433 They might not do much, but they sure are cute. 540 00:49:18,540 --> 00:49:21,633 Nothing says down under, like these lovable tree huggers. 541 00:49:24,870 --> 00:49:26,453 After meeting one of these, 542 00:49:27,440 --> 00:49:30,493 your Australian bucket list, is complete. 543 00:49:34,552 --> 00:49:37,552 (slow serene music) 544 00:49:37,552 --> 00:49:39,552 ��moovlmvhd�-��