20 Best Australian TV Shows On US Netflix

Discover some of the best Australian shows on Netflix, from comedies to dramas, even to children's programming and documentary series.

Summary

• Australia's TV programs on Netflix are high-quality and gaining international success despite not being intended for a global audience.
• The Australian shows on Netflix range from comedic mockumentaries to family-friendly fantasies and animated adventures.
• Netflix offers a diverse selection of Australian shows, including dramas, mysteries, teen series, and documentaries, catering to a wide range of tastes and interests.

Australia might be on the other side of the world, but thanks to Netflix, their top-notch TV programs are finding their way into homes everywhere and dazzling audiences from across the globe. Oz might not be known for cranking out worldwide entertainment, but what they lack in quantity, they more than make up for in quality. Many of the modest-budget productions listed below were never intended for a worldwide audience, but their unique storylines, refreshingly honest humor, and nail-biting dramas have made them all an international success.

Because of the way Netflix works, TV shows do come and go from the platform on a regular basis. While Netflix used to host a lot of Australian dramas and mysteries, the bulk of the Australian shows on the platform these days are family-friendly favorites. Here are the best Australian TV shows on Netflix.

Lunatics (2019)

Fronted by Australian comedian Chris Lilley, Lunatics isn’t for everyone, but it’s one of the most intriguing and underrated comedies on Netflix. Lilley is known for stirring up controversy and using a mockumentary style to allow himself to play multiple characters.

In Lunatics, Lilley takes on six roles that all have their own eccentricities and are very different from one another, allowing him to show off his performance skills. The downside to Lilley’s gifted performances here is that the characterizations of many of those roles are easily labeled as problematic. Lunatics is certainly a show to watch with a critical eye.

The New Legends Of Monkey (2018-)

The legend of the Monkey King has been adapted for a lot of different media, but The New Legends of Monkey is actually a remake of a Japanese series from the 1970s. The series sees a monk go on a journey to find sacred scrolls with Monkey and a pair of other ancient gods that the population has largely forgotten about.

While the series is billed as a family-friendly fantasy (and has been nominated for children’s programming awards in New Zealand and Australia), it’s got darker moments and violence that young audience members might not be ready for. The fantasy series is a creative take on a classic hero’s journey, and will definitely call to mind fantasy shows like Xena Warrior Princess, Hercules, or Beastmaster, all also filmed in New Zealand and based on myths that were given fresh takes.

The Deep (2015-)

This animated series is a joint venture between a Canadian and Australian broadcasting company with streaming access given to Netflix. It follows a family who are descendants of an ocean-dwelling people who set out to solve the mysteries of the deepest parts of the ocean. The Deep draws on some real-life oceanic creatures and events to create a compelling adventure for all ages to enjoy.

Unfortunately, Netflix only has access to one batch of episodes of The Deep at a time. Right now, the streamer only has season 3 available to stream, which is right in the middle of the larger narrative arc. Despite only having part of the story available, The Deep is still one of the best Australian animated series on Netflix.

The Unlisted (2019-)

Like many of the best Australian series on Netflix, The Unlisted is aimed at a young audience, specifically teens. The series follows a group of teenagers who uncover a conspiracy in which a government organization seeks to control teenagers.

It’s not unlike the American movie Disturbing Behavior, though a bit lighter in tone. Teens who haven’t found themselves implanted with a tracker that allows their movements to be controlled call themselves “the unlisted” and work to expose what’s really happening to the world. The series focuses on twin Indian-Australian boys (played by Ved and Vrund Rao) and slowly expands to their circle of allies which even includes a gamer who is a well-known streamer, putting the anonymity of the group in danger.

The Bureau Of Magical Things (2018-2021)

Producer and writer Jonathan M. Shiff has a knack for Australian children’s television in that the shows he creates often don’t just appeal to kids. While they contain fantasy elements like mermaids or, in this case, fairies, the shows are always grounded in very real problems for the teens and their families at the center of the story. Shiff is the mind behind such Australian gems as Ocean Girl, H2O: Just Add Water, and Lightning Point, among others.

The latest venture from Shiff is The Bureau of Magical Things, taking the stories slightly away from the beach and leaning more toward urban fantasy. The human and magical worlds coexist, but magical creatures are an endangered species that work to keep themselves secret. When a human young woman stumbles on a magical book, she gets a crash course in all things magic.

The Letdown (2016-2019)

A comedy about being a new mom, The Letdown is definitely one of the best Australian shows on Netflix. It stars Alison Bell as Audrey, a new mom who joins a support group when she finds herself struggling to adjust to a new baby more than she thought she would. While the series is firmly a comedy, it also has frank discussions about motherhood, pregnancy, and abortion.

In addition to starring in the series, Bell also co-created the show and co-wrote the show with Sarah Sheller. The duo also directed an episode in season 2. The series won Best Comedy at the Australian Academy of Television Arts Awards for its first season, and the pilot episode even won Best Screenplay.

Izzy’s Koala World (2020-)

Children’s scripted series and comedies aren’t the only Australian shows Netflix has to offer. There are also reality TV programs and docuseries. For reality TV fans who don’t want the soapy aspects of a dating show, or maybe want something they can watch with the entire family, there is this docuseries.

The series follows young Izzy Bee and her family who live on an island just off the coast of Queensland, Australia, and run a clinic out of their home. The clinic specializes in caring for injured or ill koalas. Several of the same koalas are spotlighted throughout the series, so the audience gets the full picture of just how much work goes into helping to get the wild animals back on track. With Australia having such unique wildlife compared to the rest of the world, koalas are a fun animal to watch.

Heartbreak High (1994-1999), (2022)

Heartbreak High was originally a dramatic series centered on the goings-on at one high school that ran in the 1990s. It’s a lot like Australia’s version of the Canadian series Degrassi which began as one series, then spun out into a sequel series later. Heartbreak High actually spun out of the movie The Heartbreak Kid.

In 2022, Netflix began a modern reboot of the series. The series, again, follows the students and teachers at Hartley High, just with more modern takes on the dramedy that ensues in the high school setting. Both series are available on Netflix and both are certainly worth the watch.

The InBESTigators (2019)

This recent Australian television show follows a group of grade five children as they investigate mysteries in their neighborhood. This comedy mockumentary comprises two seasons, both of which can be found on Netflix now.

The group is led by the observant Maudie and works well together as a team to try to solve various mysteries during each new episode. It's a fun family-friendly series that is similar to a detective series but isn't as gritty as other crime shows on Netflix.

Stateless (2020)

Stateless is a miniseries added to U.S. Netflix a few months after its initial release in Australia. The series follows characters stuck in an immigration detention center. Starring Yvonne Strahovski, Cate Blanchett, and Jai Courtney, the compelling drama is available to stream exclusively on Netflix.

The main characters that are the center of the series include a cult escapee, a refugee, an office worker, and a bureaucrat who all have different experiences in the detention center but all of their lives intertwine throughout the 6 episodes.

H2O: Just Add Water (2006-2010)

H2O: Just Add Water is a fun and family-friendly series that follows three teenage Australian girls trying to go to high school and try to keep their secret that they're all mermaids from their classmates. The three friends have a difficult time keeping their secret, especially from bullies at their school, but they try their best to live normal lives at school and use their powers to help sea creatures whenever they're in need.

This Australian series saw international success on Nickelodeon before moving to the Netflix lineup, and it's got two spinoffs on the streamer: the live-action Mako Mermaids as well as an animated series set in the same world.

Glitch (2015-2019)

Glitch is an Australian TV show set in the small (fictional) town of Yoorana, where seven individuals literally rise from their graves after having been dead for years. When a local policeman realizes that their formerly dead wife is one of the "risen," he is determined to discover how and why they have returned, even at the risk of his own life.

The storyline is very similar to The Returned, but the truth behind Glitch lies more in science and less in the supernatural. Either way, it's sufficiently creepy enough to keep viewers hooked.

Tidelands (2018)

Tidelands was originally an eight-part Australian web television series that was released by Netflix at the end of 2018. The story follows Calliope "Cal" McTeer, a former criminal who returns home to the small fishing village of Orphelin Bay.

After a body of a local fisherman turns up on the beach, Cal starts investigating the town's strange inhabitants, a group of dangerous half-sirens, half-humans called "Tidelanders." What kind of secrets is this little town harboring? Watch and find out. Those who enjoy different takes on siren and mermaid mythology will find this series interesting.

Wentworth (2013-2021)

Wentworth is a contemporary reimagining of Prisoner, an Australian soap opera (from 1979-1986) that was set in Wentworth Detention Center, a fictional women's prison. The series is a modern-day take on inmate Bea Smith's early days in prison and her unexpected rise to the top of the prison's hierarchy (similar to Orange Is the New Black).

The show was an instant success, with the first episode becoming the most-watched Australian drama series premiere in Foxtel history. Before the Australian series was acquired by Netflix, the series was picked up by several countries and was retitled Wentworth Prison.

Secret City (2016-2019)

Fans of House of Cards are sure to enjoy Secret City, an Australian political thriller that's chock-full of secrets, lies, murder, and betrayal. For all the bookworms out there, the series is based on the best-selling novels The Marmalade Files and The Mandarin Code by Chris Uhlmann and Steve Lewis.

The Australian series was released on Netflix just a few years ago, and a sequel to the series (and a departure from the books) called Secret City: Under the Eagle was released on Netflix on March 6, 2019, wrapping up the Australian series in epic fashion.

Surviving Summer (2022-)

Surviving Summer is one of the best new Australian television shows currently on Netflix. The teen drama, consisting of ten episodes, depicts a young girl named Summer who must grow accustomed to her new environment in Victoria, Australia, where she quickly falls in love with the people she meets along the way.

Throughout the first two seasons of the show, Summer learns to surf and compete alongside her friends, who want to make it to the professional circuit. The show balances teen drama and the high performance of an elite sport in a truly entertaining way. Season 2 of Surviving Summer adds a few new characters to the mix as well, shaking up the dynamic established in the first season.

Pine Gap (2018)

Pine Gap is a 2018 Australian miniseries that initially premiered on Netflix before finding its way onto ABC. The series includes several notable actors, including Steve Toussaint, who appears as Lord Corlys Velaryon in HBO's House of the Dragon.

This international thriller delves into politics, intrigue, and betrayal over the course of its six episodes, creating a compelling and relatively short story for any fans looking for a quick binge-watch.

Tales By Light (2015-2018)

Tales By Light is an Australian documentary series produced by National Geographic that depicts several photographers on their journeys to capture some truly awesome shots of the natural world. All three seasons of the series are currently available to stream on Netflix.

With only twelve episodes to comprise its three seasons, Tales By Light is a relatively quick watch, but an awe-inspiring one as well. Fans of nature documentaries won't be let down by this epic Australian docuseries on Netflix.

Kath And Kim (2002-2007)

Kath and Kim is a landmark Australian comedy starring Jane Turner and Gina Riley as the eponymous characters, respectively. Turner and Riley portray a mother and daughter with strikingly different personalities as they navigate life in the suburbs.

All four seasons of the hit sitcom are available to stream on Netflix US, joined by the adjoining television film and the theatrically released feature film Kath and Kimderella, which premiered after the main series had come to an end. America's viewers looking to get a taste of the Australian brand of humor should not overlook Kath and Kim. Netflix has recognized the popularity of the Australian series and even has an anniversary special on the streamer.

Dive Club (2021-)

Dive Club is an Australian teen drama initially released in 2021. It's got a lot in common with Pretty Little Liars. The series takes a turn when a group of friends and divers discover that one of their companions has disappeared, prompting a desperate search for their missing friend.

Dive Club has heart, drama, and intrigue as the mystery unravels regarding the missing diver. While fans of the series desperately await an announcement regarding the potential second season (it has not been canceled since its 2021 premiere), new viewers can discover the Australian drama on Netflix right now.

Overall, the Australian shows on Netflix offer a variety of comedies, dramas, and children's programming that will satisfy any Netflix subscriber.