Spiders and snakes in Australia???

Question

Me and my gf are travelling to Oz later this year around the east coast. The only thing is I am petrified of spiders, is it really as bad as some people say? Im sorry if it seems as though I am stereotyping australia. Do you like have to check your shoes when putting them on? Are they crawling all over the place? Bearing in mind I am probably thinking the worst. Any answers would be good!! Thanks.

Answer 1

It depends on where you are going in Australia. In the cities, you are fine, there are spiders of course, but usually the poisonous ones are in areas near bushland. If I park my shoes inside, I dont bother checking, if I park them out side, I do check them, or put the bottom end of a stocking over where you slide your foot in so nothing can enter it.  I have never found a spider in my shoes, however I have found frogs (and therefore frog wee) in them. I live in bushland and the spiders are around my garden, but I make sure to wear gloves. There are also snakes all around where I live, but they will only bite if you scare them or step on them, most of the time they are just happy doing their thing. One thing that is a big killer over here is the sun. Please wear sunscreen and a hat when you come over.

Answer 2

it's not as bad as everyone makes out.  i'm scared of spiders too and i'm australian.  i would check my shoes if i left them outside, but inside, no.  you may see spiders if you are in an area with a lot of trees in the mornings as they build their webs overnight.  then they hide as birds will eat them.  you probably will see some huntsmans inside but they are not dangerous or venomous.  you do not need to kill them, just put them outside.

we once had a family of about 200 redbacks in our back fence and mum killed them with mortein.  so don't worry.

Answer 3

if you leave your shoes outside yes it is sensible to check them,it isn't anywhere near as bad as you think

just be aware and think!

Answer 4

Your not likely to see any snakes unless you go to a zoo or wildlife park. Snakes are as scared of you as you are of them and they will only attack if they feel threatened. Personally I wouldn't run through long grass or if i was scrambling around rocks I would have my eyes peeled but if they feel any vibrations of people walking they will slither away to protect themselves. Spiders you may come across but really you may not . they are around of course and most are harmless The big huntsman look scary but they are very good to have in the garden as they will eat mosquitos . Red backs have a different sort of a web to many spiders it is fine and tangly and you may find them in places they can hide around under outdoor furniture , fences or plant pots. What I hate in Australia is mosquitos but they are more often around at dawn or dusk so if you are outside sitting around and you think there is some about have some personal insect spray and give your self a spray. I also don't like cockroaches . they are also very cunning and run if they think anyone is about but they wont hurt you they are just dirty things . You are thinking the worst. but that's understandable. I never check my shoes but many years ago I left a wet pair of bathers on the ground outside over night and there was a scorpion on them ,but I was in the outback . So really I wouldn't worry there are millions of people here and it's rare to hear of anyone being bitten.

Answer 5

They really aren't that bad.  If you stay in populated areas, there's not that many.  I saw most of them when I was in Darwin, NT.  Found 3 Huntsman in the house.  Had the neighbour kill them for me.

You have to be careful with Huntsman.  They carry their babies on their back and if you hit the mommy, the babies will scatter ( up to 100 of them) and you will never find them all.