Q 01/05

Which road network circumnavigates Australia, joining every mainland state capital?

A) Hume Highway

B) Bruce Highway

C) Highway 1

D) Pacific Highway

Answer · why

C) Highway 1

Highway 1 rings the whole continent and links every mainland state capital, yet it never reaches Canberra, the one mainland capital left off the loop.

Q 02/05

Which South Australian salt basin, full only three times since 1860, holds the nation's lowest natural point?

A) Lake Torrens

B) Lake Eyre

C) Lake Gairdner

D) Lake Frome

Answer · why

B) Lake Eyre

Lake Eyre, officially Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre, lies about 15 m below sea level, so floodwater from as far away as Queensland drains inland to it and eva...

Q 03/05

Which Northern Territory park lost its title as Australia's largest national park to a new desert park in 2021?

A) Litchfield

B) Nitmiluk

C) Kakadu

D) Watarrka

Answer · why

C) Kakadu

Kakadu fell to second place in November 2021, when South Australia joined two existing Simpson Desert reserves into one far larger national park after...

Q 04/05

Which sea do Australians and New Zealanders both call 'the Ditch', as in 'crossing the Ditch'?

A) Coral Sea

B) Tasman Sea

C) Solomon Sea

D) Arafura Sea

Answer · why

B) Tasman Sea

The Tasman Sea is named for Abel Tasman, who crossed it in 1642 and reached Tasmania and New Zealand, yet sailed right around Australia on that voyage...

Q 05/05

Which Queensland island beach is famous for fine, pale sand that is almost pure silica?

A) Cable Beach

B) Hyams Beach

C) Bondi Beach

D) Whitehaven Beach

Answer · why

D) Whitehaven Beach

Whitehaven Beach, on Whitsunday Island, has sand that came from elsewhere: nearby rocks hold little quartz, so geologists think sea currents carried i...