In The Mood For Home-Grown? These Are The Best Australian TV Shows To Stream Right Now

There’s something about turning on a TV show and hearing the familiar twang of an Aussie accent. Luckily for us, we’ve been gifted some seriously entertaining Australian TV shows in recent years, and so we’re spoiled for choice for home-grown crime shows, comedy, dramas, and everything in between.

If you’re looking for a cracker show that has been created in your very own backyard, look no further. We’ve found the 11 best Australian TV shows to stream right now (and where you can find them). 

Heartbreak High

There’s a reason this show has taken home AACTA awards, Logie awards, and even an Emmy. This comedy-drama follows the lives of a group of teens at fictional school Hartley High and is a reboot of a series that ran in the 90s. While the show could have been another standard teen drama, it’s surprisingly gritty and doesn’t shy away from tough topics. Aussies will love the pure Australiana of it (just ignore the lack of school uniforms) and everyone will find a character to love, or love to hate. With a 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating, this really is a teen drama at its best. 

You can watch HeartBreak High on Netflix.

Territory

This show is a fascinating deep-dive into the high-stakes world of outback cattle stations. Think Succession if it was in the Northern Territory and centred around the world’s largest cattle station. The cinematography of this six-part series is absolutely breathtaking and you’ll quickly find yourself caught up in the drama surrounding the families looking to control ownership. If you’re a fan of Yellowstone, you’ll love this.

You can watch Territory on Netflix.

Wellmania

This absolute gem of a comedy series stars Celeste Barber as a food writer who is forced on a wellness journey she really doesn’t want to have. And the entire wellness industry is perfectly parodied in the process. This series is just as chaotic as you expect it to be with Barber starring, with the perfect supporting cast to match her comedy chops. Expect a lot of Aussie humour and some heartwarming, and very deep, character developments. 

You can watch Wellmania on Netflix.

Mystery Road

If you haven’t come across this Aussie crime show yet, make sure you add it to your watch list, because a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes can’t steer you wrong. Following the events of films Mystery Road and Goldstone, the series follows Aboriginal detective Jay Swan (Aaron Pedersen) as he investigates the disappearance of two young farmhands from an outback cattle station. The slow-burn series will have you hooked with its incredible cinematography, mysterious cast of characters and well-told (and believable) plot.

You can watch Mystery Road on ABC iView.

Rake

This Australian classic show aired from 2010-2017 and followed rakish Sydney barrister Cleaver Greene (Richard Roxburgh). Greene is your classic anti-hero, an excellent barrister with very self-destructive tendencies in his personal life. The ongoing drama of Rake’s personal life while he weaves in and out of high-profile cases (some with striking similarities to real Life) will have you hitting “start next episode’ every time the credits roll. Plus, there’s an impressive and steady stream of guest appearances, including Hugo Weaving, Sam Neil and Toni Collette.

You can watch Rake on Stan, Netflix or ABC iView.

You might also like:

• The top-rated movies streaming on Netflix
• The best films from Indigenous directors
• Feel-good movies to stream on Netflix

Wentworth

This prison drama series is among Australia’s best and is one of Foxtel’s longest running local dramas. The first few seasons follow Bea Smith (Danielle Cormack) who is sent to prison and waiting to be sentenced for the attempted murder of her husband. There, she has to learn about Wentworth’s hierarchy and how to survive. Don’t go into this thinking it will be like Orange Is The New Black, it is decidedly darker and grittier and no character is safe.

You can watch Wentworth on Binge.

Fisk

If you’re in the mood for lighthearted, awkward, but clever-as-heck humour, then this series will not disappoint. Starring Kitty Flanagan as hapless lawyer Fisk and a surrounding cast of some of Australia’s best comedians, Fisk is like The Office in a suburban Melbourne law firm. The writing is sharp (but yes, awkward) and each episode a delightful vignette that makes the best use of each comedian (which includes Aaron Chen, Marty Sheargold and Julia Zemiro as series regulars). Do yourself a favour and start season one (season three is already streaming).

You can watch Fisk on Netflix or ABC iView.

Boy Swallows Universe

This coming-of-age story absolutely swept the AACTAs and the Logies when it came out in 2024, and with an 87% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it seems to be a fan-favourite as well. The story follows Brisbane teenager Eli as he navigates his difficult life, including crime, violence and a troubled family. There are several moments in the series that are tough to watch, but there are heartwarming moments, too. Get ready to cry with this one.

You can watch Boy Swallows Universe on Netflix.

The Tourist

The Tourist is kind of like a thriller mixed with a black comedy (the perfect combo, in my opinion). It follows Jamie Dorman as an Irishman who wakes up in outback Australia with amnesia. The plot will hook you and the characters will make it a fun ride. Plus, the isolated Australian setting is visually striking and makes everything that much more mysterious. If you’re a fan of well-told, layered thrillers with comedy thrown in, this is for you.

You can watch The Tourist on Stan.

Please Like Me

 

Let me just say that this is a perfectly named series from Australia’s comedy prince Josh Thomas. If you’re a fan of Thomas or Australian drama comedies, this is for you. It follows Josh (Thomas) as he navigates his 20s and a number of issues that come along with it – realising he is gay, moving in with friends, and caring for his mother. The relationships and issues are so well-developed and real you can’t help but fall in love with hopeless Josh and his cast of characters. As you’d expect, the series is genuinely funny too, with Thomas’ typical brand of awkward and self-aware humour. 

You can watch Please Like Me on Binge or ABC iView.

Bump

Bump is based on a pretty simple premise, an unwanted teenage pregnancy, but trust me when I say this series will draw you in and make you fall in love with it like the rest of us. The plot follows high-achieving teenager Oly (nathalie Morris) who surprisingly has a baby, and the fallout of that for her family and the father’s family. The great thing about this show is that the storylines are not over the top and the writing is clever. You will love the realistic portrayal of Aussie families and an honest look at some real issues. 

You can watch Bump on Stan.

Main image credit: ABC