A Canadian backpacker with extensive global travel experience has pinpointed the unexpected aspects of Australian life he will miss the most upon leaving, and they aren't the typical tourist draws.
Kmart: The Budget Traveller's Paradise
Lucas Ungaretti, who has visited 60 countries, has been sharing his cultural observations from an epic road trip across Australia. While many visitors rave about the wildlife, landscapes, and cities, Lucas found his greatest admiration reserved for the retail chain Kmart.
In a social media video, Lucas confessed, "One of the things I'm going to miss most about Australia is not the beaches, the culture or the weather. Hear me out, Kmart." He described the store as similar to Walmart but with "extremely affordable" and decent quality items.
He expressed astonishment at the low prices, citing specific purchases like $1.50 flip-flops (known locally as thongs), a $6 shirt, and a $7.50 mattress. "Every time I'm in there, I'm actually shocked at how cheap some of the things are. I don't know how they make these prices even possible," he said.
Lucas emphasised that Kmart's range extends far beyond clothing. He revealed that more than half the items in his car, including his camping stove, cutlery, and pots and pans, were sourced from the store. "You can get a whole camping setup for under $30. A tent, mattress, sleeping bag, everything," he explained, adding that individual items often cost less than a standard $6 Australian coffee.
His enthusiasm was so great he joked, "I honestly would've bought my car there too if they sold cars." His experience led him to challenge the perception that Australia is universally expensive.
Australia's 'Elite' Playgrounds Capture Attention
This wasn't the first time Lucas went viral for praising an underrated Australian feature. Last month, he highlighted the country's exceptional playgrounds, calling them a "niche" thing Australia does better than anywhere else.
"You guys have the most elite playgrounds in the world," he declared in another video, noting he had confirmed this view with other foreign travellers. He was impressed that they were more than simple structures with slides and monkey bars.
"These things are the most elaborate structures - and you see them everywhere," Lucas explained. "They look like they cost millions of dollars to build. You've got giant ship-like playgrounds and sometimes you'll get these ziplines (flying fox) that you can just use."
He contrasted this with his global experience, stating, "I swear in the rest of the world, all you have is like a slide and maybe some monkey bars. But here, it's like a whole experience." Lucas concluded by saying he wished he could have enjoyed them as a child and urged Australians not to take them for granted.
A Resonating Perspective
Many Australians online agreed with Lucas's appraisal of Kmart, with one commenter describing it as "heaven on earth." His observations offer a fresh, budget-conscious traveller's perspective on Australian consumer culture and public amenities, highlighting value and design that often goes unnoticed by locals.
His journey underscores how for a global visitor, the most memorable aspects of a country can sometimes be the everyday conveniences and communal spaces that residents might overlook, rather than the iconic landmarks featured in travel brochures.
