HAPPY AUSTRALIA DAY - Check out these Aussie images!

Today is Australia Day, my favourite public holiday! For those who are not sure what it's all about here's a short list: It's about celebrating our country, our Australian-ness and everything great about our lucky country. It's also the day we welcome new Australian Citizens to the country officially with naturalisation ceremonies conducted all over the country. (Welcome fellow Aussie's, nice to have you here). It's not a day to soap-box political agenda's, to whinge about what happened 200 years ago or take a swipe at other Australian's. That's un-Australian. The thing is, if you don't like it here just fuck off back to where you came from and be done with it. If you were born here and don't like it...Well, just leave. Anyway, now that's out the way...I thought I'd leave you all with some quintessentially Australian images and my best wishes for Australia Day to all Aussies wherever you are. To honorary Aussies like @papacrusher happy Australia Day too my bro! Koala image source

Here's a couple of typical Aussie's doing a typically Aussie thing...Enjoying the beach. I had this as the first image but felt it might be a bit "click-baity" so used the koala's instead. Yes, all Aussie girls look like this Beach image source

Sydney Opera House, Sydney, New South Wales - Designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon and formally opened 20 October 1973 Opera house image source

Koala bear obviously having a snooze after Australia Day celebrations. If you haven't been here these things are super cute, despite their sharp climbing claws, and you can have a cuddle at various locations. If you see them in the wild please leave them alone. Koala image source

Princess Pier, Melbourne, Victoria. Melbourne is classed as one of the most livable cities in the world and is full of many different cultures, like most of Australia. Some 4 million people live there and there is always something to do. Princess pier image source

Beach, North Queensland. Australia's beaches are some of the best in the world and we have everything from calm family beaches to narly surf beaches like Bells in Victoria. Some care needs to be taken as we have RIP currents, sharks, blue-bottle octopus, irukandji jellyfish, sea snakes, crocodiles and all sorts of stuff that will either kill you or make you wish you were dead through the pain. It's safe to swim here though. Beach image source

Ayres Rock, Northern Territory. This rock is massive. You have to see it to understand. It's 467km from Alice Springs, 2840km from Sydney and 2056km from Perth so kind of central in the country. (Called Uluru by some) Rock image source

Kangaroo, everywhere all over Australia. These things are probably one of the most recognisable Australian thing. Did you know they actually stop breathing when they bound across the landscape? It saves energy and they use the motion of hopping to inhale and exhale instead of breathing. They can bound at speeds of 56km/h and at 15km/h can bound all day covering vast distances. A usual bound is about 3m in distance and if fleeing a predator can bound up to 9m in distance and 3m high with each bound. Kangaroo image source

Salt water crocodile. Found in both fresh and salt water across Australia's tropical north. Yes, they will kill you. These things can grow to some 7 metres long. Salt water crocs are as comfortable 20km out to sea as they are in a fresh water river, estuary or billabong. don't mess with these things as they close their jaws with 2700 pounds per square inch (psi) of clamping force. They hunt with great stealth and are opportunistic predators meaning they will take you even if they just ate. They keep you for later. These things are not to be messed with. Croc image source

The 12 Apostles, Great Ocean Road, Victoria. This is one of Australia's most popular drives. The Great Ocean Road was built by returning soldiers from World War One between 1919 and 1932. It spans 213km of Australia's South-Eastern coastline and is beautiful. It's dotted with quaint towns and remarkable cliff formations to the coast side and lovely Australian eucalyptus forest inland. 12 Apostles image source

Melbourne city, Victoria. Again Melbourne is a great place to visit with plenty to do in and around the city. I mean loads to do! Staying a week will not be long enough but I'd recommend no-less than a week to get a really great feel for it and the surrounding areas like Geelong, the Dandenong's and Ballarat. Melbourne image source

Weindorfers Forest Walk, Tasmania. Tasmania is one of Australia's best kept secrets. Beautiful scenery around every corner, amazing food and beverages and stunning serenity. It has a lot of history and is a mecca for nature-lovers. I love Tasmania so much and would like to retire there in the future. Tasmania image source

Buccaneer Archipelago, The Kimberley's, Western Australia. The Kimbberley's and Kimberley coast is one of the world's most remote area's. It's vast, some 423,517 km² in fact, about 3 times the size of England. It's rugged, hot and beautiful, especially the coastal areas and there are many wonders to be found. The Gibb River Road runs through it for 660km and the dirt track is one of Australia's most popular for travellers seeking the real Aussie experience. This is a must-visit area. Buccaneer's image source

An outback road just about anywhere in Australia. This one is in the top end. Note cattle roaming free. The pastures are unfenced and are hundreds of kilometres in size. Cattle are rounded up by helicopter, horseback and motorbikes. Northern Territory Outback road image source

Inland Taipan or Western Taipan. The most deadly snake in the world. It's estimated that one bite possesses enough lethality to kill at least 100 fully grown men and time to death is approximately 30-40 minutes. Don't mess around with these things. Inland taipan image source

Darling Harbour, Sydney. This city is probably the most recognisable around the world. The opera house and Harbour Bridge being the main reasons. It's a lovely place to visit but is busy! like Melbourne there are no shortage of things to do and see and a week...Well, it's not going to cut it really, although it will give one a great overview. The Blue Mountains are a couple of hours from here and they are worth a visit. Again, I suggest a couple of days there at least, 4 is better. Darling Harbour image source

Gum tree flowers. There are 700 species of eucalyptus and they are mainly only found in Australia. Koala's love them! These trees are found in other places, (Indonesia and Papua New Guinea) but not in the sort of numbers as here. They are vastly different too; A river Red Gum differs immensely from a ghost gum for instance and all have their appeal. Gum tree flowers source

An Aussie enjoying Australia Day at the beach. We have a lot of coastline, 25,760 kilometres of it, and we use just about all of it! Water safety is taken seriously here any yet many people die from drowning. If you're a tourist extra care must be taken. Swim between the flags at the beach and don't go too deep. In rivers, estuaries and lakes don't dive in until you know the depth and that it's clear of obstructions like tree branches and roots. Or, just do whatever you like and we'll read about your death in the paper. Woman image source

These monsters keep Australia moving. They inhabit just about every road in Australia including rough inland roads. They grow to up to 5 trailers long and hike along at up to 120km/h! This one is a baby at only three trailers long and sits on the Lasseter Highway, Northern Territory. If you come across one as you drive around (which you will) don't hit it head-on, that will end badly for you. Road train image source

Hot in summer and moderate (mostly) in winter, well, cold in some places and hot all year round in others...Australia is the land of great diversity. It snows here, but not for long or very much. One can ski here but most of the snow is manufactured to try and extend the ski season. It's not somewhere you'd target for skiing though I guess. This is on the way to the Blue Mountains, from Sydney by train, New South Wales. Snow image source

Lavender fields, Tasmania. I threw this one in as it makes me feel calm which, of course, is a trait of lavender. If you're in Tasmania you will see a lot of this in places and a stop into one of the lavender farms will pay big dividends. Same as stopping into the Cascade brewery will also. Oh, also spend some time in Hobart, it's stunning. You'll love the Salamanca Markets. Lavender image source

Australia has a vast array of flora and fauna and some of the most colourful birds in the world. Sure, must of our fauna can kill you, but hey, the worlds over-populated as it is right? Seriously though, if you're coming here you need to have some awareness of some of the dangers. We live our everyday lives without getting snake or spider-bit generally and it's not every day a person gets taken by a shark or crocodile, stung by an irukandji or clocked on the head by a cassowary but they are still real dangers. There's a lot of them and tourists need to be aware. Swim between the flags, don't poke the wildlife and obey the do-not-swim signs. They are there for a very food reason. ( Lorikeet image source

So, there's some images from Australia. I have been to most of the places pictured here and will go back again. This country is vast and whilst many jet off to Europe, America or Asia there are spectacular wonders to see here. The people are pretty welcoming provided tourists, and immigrants, make an attempt to assimilate, and we're fun-loving...If a little irreverent. We have an odd sense of humour at times but we love our country and showing off its wonders.

Australia Day is about celebrating our country and us as Aussies which we do in various ways. It's a safe country, a very lucky one too and I think most people feel fortunate to live here. I was born here and as you can probably tell, I love it. I love travelling overseas but coming back home, whinging about the customs process and having to declare my cashew nuts...Well, it is all part of the welcome home experience. It's a spectacular country and one which we should protect at all costs.

Happy Australia Day to all Aussies both within Australia and around the world. A big Aussie greeting to my family abroad including @tarazkp, @momone and @smallsteps; The latter two have not been here but I hope one day I get to show them some of the country I love.