Australia has more than 10,000 beaches. If you visited a new one every day, it would take more than 27 years to see them all. The coastline is so long that you could fit the coast of Britain, France and Italy along it and still have plenty left over.
Surfing came to Australia from Hawaii about 100 years ago. Today, Aussie kids often learn to surf around the same age they learn to ride a bike. There are 'Nippers' clubs at many beaches, where children learn to swim through waves, paddle a board, and look after each other in the water.
Every busy Australian beach has lifeguards in red-and-yellow caps who watch the water and put up flags. The rule is simple: swim between the two flags, where it's safest. Kids learn this rule the way other kids learn to look both ways before crossing the road.
Beach culture isn't just about surfing. Australians also love bodyboarding, building sandcastles, finding shells, having barbecues by the sea, and watching the sun come up or go down over the water. On a hot weekend, half the country seems to be at the beach.