Australia is a land of extremes. It's big in size, with a sparse population; it's blisteringly hot, and welcomes tonnes of annual snowfall; it's one of the youngest countries, but home to one of the world's most ancient peoples. 

Here are 12 fun facts about Australia to give you an idea about the size, scale, and sense of humour here in 'Oz'. They might come in handy for your first Australian trivia night too!

1. There are more than 10,000 beaches in Australia

If you visited a new beach every day, it would take 29 years to see them all. Challenge accepted!

2. You can send a postcard from the middle of the Great Barrier Reef

There’s a post-box located on the Agincourt Reef Platform floating in the Coral Sea, accessible off the coast of Port Douglas in Far North Queensland.

3. Australia is as wide as the distance between London and Moscow

Our wide brown land is approximately 4,000 kilometres from east to west.

4. Australia was the second country in the world to give women the right to vote

All the way back in 1902. New Zealand was the country to beat us to the punch, by the way.

5. A cattle station in South Australia is larger than Belgium

Anna Creek Station is 34,000 square kilometres and is the largest cattle station in the world. As far as Australia facts go, this is a big one (pardon the pun). 

6. Canberra was chosen as Australia’s capital city to settle an argument

With rival cities Sydney and Melbourne vying for the title, Canberra was chosen in 1908 to settle the dispute. It’s now Australia’s largest inland city and our political epicentre. 

7. More than 200 different languages and dialects are spoken in Australia

That includes 45 Indigenous languages!

8. The Australian Alps receive more snowfall than Switzerland

Also known as the Snowy Mountains, the peaks run through New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory, spanning more than one million hectares.

9. There are 60 designated wine regions in Australia

The most well-known being the Barossa in South Australia, Hunter Valley in New South Wales, the Yarra Valley in Victoria, and Margaret River in Western Australia.

10. Australia is home to the longest fence in the world

It stretches 5,614 kilometres and was initially built in the 1880s to stop the spread of rabbits, but was rebuild in the 1900s to prevent wild native dingoes attacking sheep. It's now know as the Dingo or Dog Fence.

11. Melbourne was once the richest city in the world

In 1880, thanks to the glittering gold rush. Talk about your interesting facts about Australia! Ka-ching!

12. Australia is home to 19 World Heritage-listed sites

Including three cultural sites (like the Sydney Opera House), 12 natural sites (like the Great Barrier Reef), and four mixed sites (like Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park), with two more sites on a tentative list. Fingers crossed!

Now you know all about Australia! All the fun stuff, at least.