Many Australians live in the bush by choice, or because in distant lands they have no other choice. In all cases, living close to nature is quite fascinating. Australians are generally very environmentally friendly and when they live in the bush, they live in harmony with the elements. iPhoneography Oz was fortunate to spend several days in a house entrenched on the heights of Tanja State Forest not far from Bega, New South Wales. The nearest neighbour is ten kilometres away. There is no supply of town water, the only source is rainwater. Electricity and hot water are powered entirely by solar energy. A woodfire heats the house with wood collected from the land. Food scraps are turned into compost chicken feed, which in return provide eggs for breakfast. And in the evening, the property turns into a real sanctuary where kangaroos and parrots do not hesitate to approach the house in search of food. One might think that certain comforts need to be sacrificed to enjoy these aspects of nature, but this is not the case. The experience re-connects you to human values ​​that urban life sometimes takes away. It is relaxing for the body, mind and soul!

We came across this giant billboard. A reference to the lifestyle adopted by many Australian surfers, surely. But also a nod to what crossed our mind when we decided to make this trip exactly six months ago. We wish you all to live the life you love and love the life you live. We will take our "life coach" hat off now.

Looking at a map of Australia, one can tell that most of the Australian population lives along the coast. So where do you think Aussies spend their weekends? At the beach of course (same as at happy hour time during the week)! Surfing is the main activity but others such as sea kayaking seem also popular on the Sunshine Coast (photo). It is fascinating to see how always active are most of Australians. From what we have noticed, they are generally sportsmen at heart. Love this life!

What do you like the most about the Australian lifestyle? the least? Let us know in the comments below!

It has rained a lot in recent days on the... Sunshine Coast (as ironical as it may sound!). We are still in the process of learning landscape iPhoneography and our endeavours to capture the perfect rain shot proved to be a challenge. It is actually very difficult to distinguish the rain in the photos. And since that is what we wanted to show, we decided to give up and wait for the sun to break through the clouds. And what do Aussies do as soon as the sun comes out? They go to the beach (and take pictures!).

What are your mobile photography tips to take good rain shots? Let us know in the comments below!

At Happy Hour time, it seems to be a tradition for Australians to go to the beach rather than in a local bar. At least it is a more healthy choice. Sitting on their surfboards, these teenagers appear to discuss anything and everything sharing a moment of peace. They watch the waves splashing on the rocks of the Sunshine Coast and indulge in some rock-paper-scissors. The world could collapse, they would not even notice. No worries... that is part of the Australian culture and lifestyle!

What do you think? What do you like about the Australian lifestyle? What you don't like about the Australian lifestyle? Let us know in the comments below!

It is rare to find another activity that matches the popularity of surfing along Australia coastlines. Surf schools and surf shops are all over the place. We are able to spot surfboards on the roof of one car out of three we pass on the road. We bump into a lot of people walking barefoot and carrying their surf gear (even in the street of Brisbane). Boys, girls, young, old, all are constantly looking for the best surfing spots. They all sound like an encyclopedia of surfing as well when you interact with them. It is also very common to find entire families of surfers on Australia's beaches (photo). God, do they all live in houses decorated with surfing posters? Something needs to be clarified here: we have used the word "surf" and its derivative 11 times so far in this article (and soon 12 and 13). No, we are not paid to use it. One thing is sure though, more than just a sport, surf culture is an art and a way of life in Australia. It is not surprising that Rip Curl, Billabong and Quiksilver, three of the biggest brands in the surfwear industry, are Australian companies.

What do you think about surf culture? Are there any surfing spots you would recommend? Let us know in the comments below!