Special Report
Australia
This Sculpture Takes the Great Barrier Reef’s Temperature
'Ocean Siren' changes colors in real time to reflect ocean temperatures at Davies Reef, part of Australia’s ailing Great Barrier Reef
Undersea 'Hotels' Deployed to Help Sydney's Endangered Seahorses
Captive breeding and microhabitats may help restore White's seahorse whose population plummeted 90 percent in the last decade
You Can Visit This Australian Island, but Only if You Pledge to Skip the Wombat Selfie
The marsupials on Maria Island are so docile, tourism officials are asking the public to stop getting so close
Mysterious Fairy Circles Have Been Found in Western Australia
Once thought to exist only in Namibia, circles spotted 6,200 miles away are helping sort out how these odd features form
Recent Coverage
Eight Natural Phenomena Worth Traveling for in 2025
You won’t regret experiencing bioluminescence, swimming with sperm whales or witnessing the rush of a horizontal waterfall
Take a Journey Down Under With These Amazing Photos of Australia
From the outback to the coasts, see 15 images from the Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest
Meet Pesto, the Biggest Baby Penguin This Australian Aquarium Has Ever Seen
Most adult king penguins weigh between 31 and 37 pounds. At nine months old, a 51.8-pound Pesto is already looming over his parents
General MacArthur’s Dramatic WWII Comeback Began in Australia. Trace His Journey From the Outback to the Queensland Coast
After a harrowing escape from the Philippines, the prickly American famously vowed “I shall return” from a remote train station before marshaling Allied forces to victory
![The "wombat walker" will "coax [the wombats] out of bed to get them moving" and "[motivate] them to complete their morning walks."](https://th-thumbnailer.cdn-si-edu.com/zlbNkFVPjILG7uHTsRjSMD5039s=/450x300/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/66/02/66024570-77c5-4f04-b2b1-13eea82f13c6/gettyimages-173872734.jpg)
Tasmania Is Hiring for a ‘Wombat Walker’ and Other Odd Jobs
The Australian island state is trying to drum up tourism during the Southern Hemisphere’s winter
Would You Spend Three Years Living on a Cruise Ship?
Some enthusiasts are selling their homes in preparation, while others have balked at the risks
The World’s Newest National Park Protects 550-Million-Year-Old Fossils
The 148,000-acre Nilpena Ediacara National Park in South Australia is helping scientists unravel the mysteries of life’s evolution on Earth
These Robot Dogs Are Learning to Paint. Soon, You Can Watch Them Work
Agnieszka Pilat and her automated artists will be featured in the National Gallery of Victoria’s Triennial
50,000-Year-Old Campfires Reveal the Deep Historical Roots of Australia’s National Flower
Australian wattle or acacia plants were used as firewood by ancient people navigating the harsh climes of the Western Desert, new research finds
Giant, Dragon-Like, Flying Reptile Fossil Discovered in Australia
A rare specimen reveals a new species of pterosaur with a staggering 23-foot wingspan
Missing Australian Masterpiece Spent 115 Years Hiding in Plain Sight
Impressionist Frederick McCubbin painted “The Pioneer” (1904) over an earlier work titled “Found”
This Sculpture Takes the Great Barrier Reef’s Temperature
‘Ocean Siren’ changes colors in real time to reflect ocean temperatures at Davies Reef, part of Australia’s ailing Great Barrier Reef
Australian Bushfires Reveal Hidden Sections of Ancient Aquaculture System
The eel-farming system of the Budj Bim Cultural Landscape is older than both Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids
Undersea ‘Hotels’ Deployed to Help Sydney’s Endangered Seahorses
Captive breeding and microhabitats may help restore White’s seahorse whose population plummeted 90 percent in the last decade
You Can Visit This Australian Island, but Only if You Pledge to Skip the Wombat Selfie
The marsupials on Maria Island are so docile, tourism officials are asking the public to stop getting so close
Archaeological Dig at Australian Metro Station Unearths 1,000 Human Teeth
A local dentist probably flushed the molars down the toilet or discarded them with his trash
Stunning ‘Field of Light’ Surrounds Iconic Australian Rock
As the Sun sets at Uluru, a landscape of lit glass flowers awakens
A Guided Tour of Australia’s Blue Mountains Follows Ancient Aboriginal Songlines
Yanna Muru’s walkabouts to sacred sites teach visitors about Darug culture
Discover Ancient Rock Art in Australia’s Northern Territory
These ancient canvases represent some of the oldest historical records of any group of people in the world
10 Must-Do Experiences in Australia’s Northern Territory
From massive crocodiles, to waterfalls and ancient Aboriginal art, the Top End offers something for every traveler