When you’re preparing to move to Australia, there are so many things to organise – visas, shipping, housing, schools, jobs – the list feels endless. But there’s another surprisingly useful way to get ready for your new life: watching Australian television.
TV shows give you a window into the culture, humour, lifestyle, and even the everyday quirks of Aussies that you won’t find in official guides. Whether you’re into reality TV, drama, comedy, or family-friendly favourites, Australian television has something that will help you feel more connected before you land.
Here’s a list of must-watch Australian TV shows across different genres that will help you prepare for your new adventure Down Under.
Australian TV Shows You Must Watch Before You Move – Reality
Wanted Down Under
If you’re from South Africa or the UK, chances are you’ve already stumbled across Wanted Down Under. It’s a BBC production rather than an Aussie one, but it’s worth mentioning because it features real families considering a move to Australia or New Zealand. They get a “trial week” to see what life might be like, with job interviews, house-hunting, and a taste of the lifestyle. The show also highlights the emotional side of emigrating, especially leaving family behind. Watching it can give you a sense of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, and might even help you prepare for some of the tricky conversations with loved ones back home. We were addicted to this before we moved, and thought it was the bee’s knees, but now we watch it and cringe at the suburb pronunciations and the ridiculous salary expectations and price of bananas.
Travel Guides
This show is light-hearted but surprisingly insightful. Travel Guides follows a group of very different families and friends as they travel across Australia (and sometimes internationally). They rate everything – from hotels and food to activities and attractions – in brutally honest and often hilarious ways. If you want to see some of the best (and occasionally worst) parts of Australian travel destinations through the eyes of real Aussies, this show is perfect. It’s not just fun viewing; it’s also a great way to start your own Aussie bucket list when they feature local destinations.
Married at First Sight Australia
You might have rolled your eyes at this one, but hear me out. Married at First Sight Australia (MAFS) is a cultural phenomenon. Each season, strangers are “married” and must navigate life together while cameras follow their every move. Beyond the drama, it gives an unfiltered look into Australian social dynamics, slang, and humour. It’s one of the most talked-about shows in Australia and has a massive international following. Watching it will give you endless conversation starters with colleagues and neighbours once you’re here.
MasterChef Australia
Forget everything you think you know about cooking shows. MasterChef Australia is warm, encouraging, and incredibly inspiring. Contestants are from all walks of life and reflect the country’s multicultural makeup. It’s not just about food – it’s about dreams, determination, and storytelling. You’ll also pick up plenty of Aussie food culture: from “prawns on the barbie” to fine dining creations you’ll want to try. Plus, it’s a great way to get familiar with the Aussie love of coffee, brunch, and anything involving fresh produce.
Lego Masters Australia
Hosted by comedian Hamish Blake, Lego Masters Australia is ridiculously fun. Teams compete to create jaw-dropping Lego builds under time pressure. What makes this show so good is its heart. Contestants are quirky, creative, and full of Aussie banter. The humour is infectious, and it’s family-friendly too. Watching it will help you tune in to Aussie humour and the laid-back way people interact here.
My Kitchen Rules
MKR has been a long-running favourite in Australia. Teams of home cooks host “instant restaurants” in their homes and compete against each other. It’s a mix of reality TV, cooking competition, and drama, with plenty of personality clashes. Like MasterChef, it highlights Australia’s diverse food scene – from Greek lamb roasts to spicy Malaysian curries. If you want to understand why Aussies take their food so seriously, this is a good place to start.
You Can’t Ask That
This unique show asks the questions that people are often too afraid to say out loud. Each episode features a marginalised group – refugees, people with disabilities, former soldiers, drag performers – and gives them the chance to answer directly. It’s raw, moving, funny, and eye-opening. Watching it is an excellent way to better understand the diversity of people in Australia and the challenges some communities face.
Australian TV Shows You Must Watch Before You Move – Drama
Mystery Road
Set in the Australian outback, Mystery Road is a gritty crime drama that captures both the beauty and harshness of rural Australia. It follows Detective Jay Swan as he investigates crimes in small towns, often highlighting issues around race, culture, and justice. If you want to get a sense of Australia beyond the big cities, this is essential viewing.
Territory
This is a newer series that dives into life in the Northern Territory – a place of extreme landscapes and unique communities. It combines crime, drama, and family storylines while showcasing the rawness of life in remote Australia. It’s a gripping watch and an excellent introduction to an area most expats don’t initially know much about.
Jack Irish
Starring Guy Pearce (and who doesn’t love a bit of Guy Pearce?), Jack Irish is a smart and stylish drama about a private investigator who often finds himself tangled in dangerous situations. It’s very Melbourne – full of laneways, bars, and footy references. Watching it gives you a flavour of the city’s culture while enjoying a fast-paced, witty drama.
Rake
Rake follows the life of Cleaver Greene, a brilliant but self-destructive barrister. It’s sharp, funny, and full of satirical takes on Australian politics, law, and society. If you’re interested in seeing how Aussies laugh at themselves and their institutions, this show delivers in spades.
Boy Swallows Universe
Based on the award-winning novel by Trent Dalton, this Netflix-backed drama is set in 1980s Brisbane. It’s a coming-of-age story mixed with crime, family struggles, and resilience. Beautifully shot and emotionally powerful, it gives a sense of Queensland’s history and character. It’s a really great show to watch with the whole family, my teen loved it.
The Twelve
This courtroom drama explores the lives of twelve ordinary Australians selected for jury duty in a high-profile murder case. Beyond the gripping storyline, it’s fascinating for its portrayal of different Australian perspectives – class, culture, and personal struggles all collide.
Stateless
Inspired by real events, Stateless follows the lives of four people caught in an immigration detention centre in the Australian desert. It’s confronting but important viewing, especially for migrants. It sheds light on Australia’s immigration policies and the human stories behind them. It’s one of the best Australian TV shows I’ve watched. It’s just 4 episodes and easily hooks you.
Ten Pound Poms
This BBC/Australian co-production tells the story of post-war British migrants who moved to Australia for a new life. It’s set in the 1950s but resonates with anyone who has faced the challenges of settling into a strange land. While times have changed, the feelings of homesickness, culture shock, and resilience remain familiar to many expats today.
Australian TV Shows You Must Watch Before You Move – Comedy
Fisk
Comedian Kitty Flanagan stars in Fisk as a down-on-her-luck lawyer who ends up working in wills and probate. It’s dry, witty, and full of awkward humour. The show is set in Melbourne and has quickly gained a cult following. It’s perfect if you want to get a sense of Aussie office life and deadpan humour.
Wellmania
Starring Celeste Barber, Wellmania follows a woman who moves back to Australia and finds herself navigating wellness culture while trying to get her life back on track. It’s irreverent, funny, and very modern. It also pokes fun at Australia’s obsession with health, fitness, and fads. One of the best Netflix comedy shows we’ve watched in Australia.
Upper Middle Bogan
This show hilariously explores the cultural divide between an upper-middle-class family and their newly discovered “bogan” relatives. It’s all about stereotypes, class differences, and what happens when two very different worlds collide. Aussies love poking fun at themselves, and this show captures that brilliantly.
The Letdown
Parenting in a new country can be overwhelming, and The Letdown captures the chaos and absurdity of early parenthood in Australia. It’s both funny and painfully real. For expat parents, it might be particularly relatable as you juggle raising kids with building a life far from extended family support.
Kath & Kim
An absolute classic. Kath & Kim is an over-the-top satire of suburban Australian life. With its catchphrases, cringeworthy fashion, and laugh-out-loud moments, it’s become part of Australia’s cultural identity. Even if you don’t get every joke at first, you’ll hear references to it everywhere.
Wilfred
This quirky comedy is about a man who sees his neighbour’s dog as a man in a dog suit. It’s bizarre but very Australian in its humour – irreverent, dark, and unexpected. If you like offbeat comedy, this one’s for you. I first watched the American version with Elijah Wood, but the Australian original is worth finding.
Australian TV Shows You Must Watch Before You Move – Kids
Bluey
You can’t talk about Australian kids’ TV without Bluey. This animated series about a Blue Heeler puppy and her family has taken the entire world by storm. It’s funny, touching, and incredibly relatable for both kids and adults. If you have children, they’ll fall in love with it. If you don’t, watch anyway – you’ll learn a lot about Aussie family life.
The Adventures of Blinky Bill
A classic Aussie character, Blinky Bill the koala has been entertaining kids for decades. The stories are whimsical, adventurous, and very Australian. It’s a lovely introduction for children to Aussie wildlife and storytelling.
Play School
One of the longest-running children’s shows in Australia, Play School is gentle, fun, and educational. Generations of Australians grew up watching it, and it’s still going strong today. If you’re moving with young children, it’s a great way for them to connect with something familiar to their new peers.
Giggle & Hoot
Starring a friendly owl called Hoot, this show is perfect for preschoolers. It’s colourful, musical, and engaging. It also introduces kids to everyday routines, friendship, and fun – all in an Aussie setting.
The Wiggles
The Wiggles are an institution in Australia. This musical group has been entertaining children since the 1990s, and they’re still hugely popular. Their songs and dances are infectious, and kids absolutely adore them. If you’ve got little ones, they’ll probably become Wiggles fans before you know it.
Moving to Australia is about so much more than flights and paperwork – it’s about preparing yourself for a whole new culture. Watching iconic Australian TV shows is a fun and surprisingly effective way to get ready. From dramas that reveal the outback’s raw beauty to comedies that highlight Aussie humour, and from cooking competitions to beloved kids’ classics, these shows will help you feel more at home before you even arrive.
If you found this list helpful, make sure to check out more of my settling-in guides and resources here on Proudly South African In Perth – your go-to online resource for making the most of your new Aussie life.
No Comments