Use the biggest list of Australian quiz questions to test your friends!

A good trivia night has a very Australian vibe. A quiz is a great way to get people to compete with each other, whether you’re at the pub, in the backyard with family, or trying to keep the kids busy on a rainy day. It’s a chance to show off what you know, learn something new about our beautiful country, and have a good laugh at the same time.

We like to put our knowledge to the test, whether it’s about our greatest athletic achievements or the strange and amazing details of our history and language. This guide is full of Australian trivia that can be used at any time. There is something for everyone to enjoy because we have talked about everything from ancient history to modern pop culture.

How to Use This Guide for Your Next Trivia Night

This set of Australian quiz questions is meant to be flexible. You can use it to

• Make a pub quiz: Choose and mix rounds to make a full-fledged trivia night for your neighborhood club or pub.
• Make family get-togethers more fun: At your next Christmas party or barbecue, settle the long-running argument over who knows more about Australia.
• Get students involved in class: These questions are a fun way to learn about Australia’s history, geography, and culture.
• To get people talking and working together at work events, a quick round of Australian trivia is a great way to do it.

You can use any questions from the list, or you can put together your own subject rounds. You can also use the whole list for a full Australia quiz.

Questions for an Australian History Quiz

Australia’s history is full of interesting stories, important events, and amazing people, from the settlement of convicts to Federation and beyond. This round tests how well you know the events that shaped our country.

1. The British colony of New South Wales began in 1788. What was the name of the person in charge of the “first fleet”?

• Captain Arthur Phillip.

2. When did the Australian colonies come together to make the Commonwealth of Australia?

• The answer is 1901.

3. In 1854, the Eureka Stockade, a famous miners’ uprising, took place in which Victorian gold rush town?

• Answer: Ballarat.

4. Who was the first woman to be prime minister of Australia?

• The answer is Julia Gillard.

5. What famous Sydney landmark was officially opened in 1932 after nine years of building?

• The Sydney Harbour Bridge is the answer.

6. Which famous bushranger, known for his armor, was caught in Glenrowan?

• Ned Kelly is the answer.

7. What legal principle did the famous Mabo decision in 1992 turn down?

• Answer: Terra nullius.

8. What does the short form “ANZAC” mean?

• The answer is the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.

9. Which decade saw the introduction of decimal money in Australia, replacing pounds, shillings, and pennies?

• Answer: The 1960s, to be exact, 1966.

10. The “Snowy Mountains Scheme” was a big plan to build electricity plants and methods for watering crops.  Most of the people who worked on it were immigrants who came to Australia after World War II. In which states is it located?

• The answer is New South Wales and Victoria.

Questions about Australia’s geography and nature

Australia has a lot of different kinds of land. We have beautiful beaches, dry deserts, lush jungles, and animals that can’t be found anywhere else in the world. How well do you know Australia?

1. What is the name of the biggest desert in Australia?

• The answer is the Great Victoria Desert.

2. Which state in Australia has only one island?

• The answer is Tasmania.

3. What is the most common name for the world’s biggest monolith, which is in the Northern Territory?

• Uluru is the answer.

4. Which Australian state has the Great Barrier Reef off its coast?

• Answer: Queensland.

5. Which two native Australian animals are on the coat of arms?

• The kangaroo and the emu are the answers.

6. What is the longest river in Australia?

• Answer: The Murray River.

7. It is famous for the “Twelve Apostles” group of limestone stacks. What is the lovely path that goes by them?

• The Great Ocean Road in Victoria.

8. What is the name of the strait that separates Tasmania from the rest of Australia?

• Bass Strait.

9. What place is Western Australia’s capital?

•  Perth.

10. In what state is the Barossa Valley, a famous wine area that draws a lot of tourists?

• The answer is South Australia.

11. What kind of mammal lays eggs, like the platypus or echidna?

• Answer: a monotreme.

12. Which city in Australia is known for being the most isolated from the rest of the world?

• Perth.

Questions about the languages and cultures of indigenous people.

Australia has some of the world’s oldest cultures that are still alive, and its Indigenous history is very rich and different. Aborigines and Torres Strait Islander people speak different languages and have different ways of life. We want people to be polite and keep learning.

1. What group of people believes in the idea of “Dreamtime” or “The Dreaming”?

• The answer is: Aboriginal Australians.

2. What do you call the traditional wind instrument that comes from Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory?

• Answer: Didgeridoo (also called yidaki).

3. How many different languages were spoken in Australia before Europeans came?

• Answer: About 250.

4. The flag of the Aboriginal people is black, red, and yellow. What do the yellow circles mean?

• The answer is the sun.

5. What is a “corroboree” really?

• Answer: A ceremonial meeting or gathering of Aboriginal Australians that often involves dancing and singing.

6. Is there any other country between the northern tip of Queensland and the Torres Strait Islands?

• Answer: Papua New Guinea.

7. What Aboriginal language does the word “kangaroo” come from?

• Answer: Guugu Yimithirr.

8. What does the abbreviation “NAIDOC” stand for during NAIDOC Week?

• The National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee is the answer.

Problems with Australian politics and civic life

Politics is a part of our daily lives, whether we like it or not. This part talks about everything from the basics of how we govern ourselves to some of the more unusual things that have happened in our political history.

1. What is the official name of the building in Canberra where the Australian Parliament meets?

• Parliament House is the answer.

2. There are three levels of government in Australia. What are they?

• Answer: federal, state/territory, and local.

3. What do you call the practice of voting in federal elections, which often includes a sausage sizzle?

• Answer: a ‘democracy sausage.’

4. Who is the head of state in Australia?

• The answer is the current British monarch, who is represented by the Governor-General.

5. Where in Australia is the High Court located?

• Canberra is the answer.

6. Which Prime Minister went missing while swimming at Cheviot Beach in 1967?

• The answer is Harold Holt.

7. What are the names of the two parts of the federal parliament?

• The House of Representatives (lower house) and the Senate (upper house) are the two houses of Congress.

8. What do you call an electoral district in Australian federal politics?

• Answer: a seat or a constituency.

Questions about Australian sports

For a lot of Australians, sports are like a religion. We do better than ourselves on the world stage, and our home tournaments are very competitive. This round is for people who like sports.

1. Where is the Melbourne Cup horse race held?

• Answer: Melbourne.

2. Who is the Australian cricketer who has the highest individual Test batting average?

• Answer: Matthew Hayden got 380 runs.

3. What are the full names of the two main football codes that have “grand finals” in September? They are the AFL and the NRL.

• Answer: The National Rugby League and the Australian Football League.

4. What do people call Australia’s women’s national soccer team?

• Answer: The Matildas 

5. Who was the last Australian man to win the men’s singles title at Wimbledon?

• Answer: Lleyton Hewitt (2002).

6. What two states play each other in the annual best-of-three rugby league series called “State of Origin”?

•  Answer: Queensland and New South Wales.

7. How many gold medals did Ian Thorpe win at the Sydney Olympics in 2000?

• Answer: Three

8. What sport do you do a “shoey” in?

• Answer: Motorsport (Daniel Ricciardo made it popular in Formula 1).

9. Who is the only person to have been in charge of both cricket and rugby union in Australia?

• Answer: This is a trick question, and no one has. It’s a well-known question for bar trivia!

10. Australia II won the America’s Cup sailboat race in 1983, ending the longest winning streak in sports history. What made the yacht’s design stand out?

• Answer: A keel with wings.

Facts about Australian pop culture and TV

Australian TV has given us a lot of memorable moments, from famous soap operas to well-known sitcoms and reality shows that are huge hits. Let’s see how well you were paying attention.

This made-up suburban street is where the long-running soap opera Neighbours takes place.

The answer is Ramsay Street.

1. In which Australian city does the comedy show Kath and Kim take place?

• Answer: Melbourne.

2. What was the name of Daryl Somers’ popular variety show from the 1990s that had a pink ostrich puppet named Ossie?

• Answer: Hey, it’s Saturday.

3. What kind of dog is the Heeler family in the show Bluey?

• Answer: Blue Heelers.

4. Who was the famous Australian wildlife expert known as “The Crocodile Hunter”?

• The Steve Irwin.

5. What is the name of the lovely beach town where Home and Away takes place?

•  Answer: Summer Bay.

6. People know a lot about the three judges on the Australian version of MasterChef. Name two of the first three judges.

• Answer: Gary Mehigan, George Calombaris, and Matt Preston.

7. In the TV show SeaChange, a corporate lawyer moves to the strange coastal town of what?

• Answer: Pearl Bay.

8. What is the most prestigious Logie Award, given to the most popular person on Australian TV?

• The Gold Logie is the answer.

9. Which directory’s TV ad made the phrase “Not happy, Jan!” famous?

• The answer is the Yellow Pages.

Quiz about Australian music and movies

Australia has produced world-class actors, directors, and musicians who have had an effect on the whole world. This part tests how well you understand the sounds and sights of Australian creative arts.

1. Which Australian band sang the classic unofficial hymn “Down Under”?

• Answer: People at Work.

2. What is the name of the bus that appears in the 1994 movie The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert?

• Answer: Priscilla.

3. Who played the main character in the 2000 movie Chopper?

• The answer is Eric Bana.

4. Which two brothers were the first members of the rock band AC/DC?

• Answer: Malcolm and Angus Young.

5. The quotes in the movie The Castle are well-known. Finish this one. “Not a house, but a…”

• Answer: “…home.”

6. Who was the pop princess who got her start on Neighbours and had a huge hit with “Can’t Get You Out of My Head”?

• Answer: Kylie Minogue.

7. Who was the first Australian director to make the Mad Max movies set after the end of the world?

• Answer: George Miller.

8. What annual music festival happens in Byron Bay and often features well-known local and international acts?

• Answer: The Grass is Beautiful.

9. What is the best-selling Australian movie of all time?

• Answer: Crocodile Dundee.

10. Jimmy Barnes was the lead singer of which famous Australian pub rock band?

• Answer: Cold Chisel.

Test your knowledge of Australian food and slang

You can’t really call yourself an Aussie if you don’t know our words and food. This round is a great way to test how well you know the culture.

1. What is a “sanger”?

• Answer: A sandwich.

2. What do you call the famous sausage and bread combo that is often served at community fundraisers?

• Answer: a sausage sizzle.

3. What does an Australian mean when they say “coldie”?

• Answer: A nice cold beer.

4. What is the main thing in Vegemite?

• Answer: yeast extract.

5. What is a Lamington?

• Answer: A square of sponge cake that has been dipped in chocolate frosting and then covered in dried coconut.

6. What does the slang word “arvo” mean?

• Answer: in the afternoon.

7. The “parma” or “parmi” is a common drink at bars. What is it?

• Answer: chicken parmesan.

8. What does “beyond the black stump” mean?

• Answer: In the middle of nowhere, a very faraway place.

9. What do Australians call “thongs”?

• Answer: flip-flops.

10. During World War I, soldiers were known to get Anzac cookies. What important part makes it last so long?

• Answer: Golden syrup and no eggs.

Just a quick note: language and local knowledge can be different. We have checked our data, but if you are in a serious competition, it is always a good idea to double-check any local information.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ).

1. What are the best quiz categories in Australia?

The best categories are those that cover a lot of different things. History, geography, sports, and pop culture are all great places to start. You could also add themed rounds like “Famous Australians,” “Australian Inventions,” and “Name the Aussie Brand.”

2. How many questions should be in a round of pub quiz?

There are usually ten questions in a regular pub quiz round. This keeps the pace going and lets you do 5–6 rounds of activities in a normal two-hour session.

3. What is a good question to use as a tie-breaker?

A good tiebreaker is a question with a number answer that no one is likely to know for sure. The team that gets the closest to the right number wins. “To the nearest thousand, how many kilometers of coastline does mainland Australia have?” (Answer: about 34,000 kilometers).

4. How can I make my quiz more open to everyone?

Make sure that your questions cover a lot of different subjects, people, and places. Ask questions about women’s sports, Indigenous culture (but do so respectfully), and successes from other states and territories. Don’t ask questions that are based on obscure knowledge that only a certain group of people would know.

5. What are some fun ways to do an Australian quiz night?

In addition to regular questions and answers, you could have a picture round where players have to guess the famous Australian or landmark, a music round where they have to name the Aussie artist and song from a 10-second clip, or a “Who Am I?” round where they have to give clues about a famous person.

6. Where can I find more trivia questions about Australia?

Question sheets can be found on the internet, in board games, and on TV quiz shows like Hard Quiz and The Chase Australia. The important thing is to get help from someone you can trust.

Are you ready to run your own quiz about Australia?

Now you have everything you need to throw a great game night in Australia. These questions are just a place to begin. You can change them, make the event truly unique, and give it a local feel. Tell your friends about them, get your family involved, and most importantly, have fun celebrating all things Australian. Good luck! May the best team win!