The shark that looked me straight in the eyes

This shark looked me straight in the eyes. Well… the head of a shark — hanging high in the museum at the Penguin Parade on Phillip Island. I was wandering around, casually looked up, saw an enormous open jaw above me and nearly jumped out of my sandals. Then I laughed… and of course took a photo. Because some moments belong in your travel diary.

If you travel Down Under, sooner or later you’ll hear something about sharks. Yes, they exist. The good news? Australia has a clear, simple and incredibly effective system to keep beachgoers safe.

It all comes down to the flags.

Sharks: the real story (Without the drama)

In movies, sharks appear everywhere. In real life, they don’t. Your chances of even seeing one are small — and the chance of an incident is even smaller.

Still, I take the ocean seriously — just like I do with currents, big waves or strong wind. Australia has beautiful beaches, but also a wild coastline. And the ocean deserves respect.

The flags are your best friend

On almost every patrolled beach, you’ll see red and yellow flags. This is the zone monitored by lifeguards — the safe area to swim.

The golden rule: Always stay between the flags. Not because sharks are outside of them — but because currents are stronger, and lifeguards can’t see you as easily. The flags move throughout the day depending on wind, waves and conditions. Lifeguards place them where it is safest, and shift them when things change.

It feels almost childishly simple, but Australians follow the flags religiously. And that’s exactly why so few accidents happen.

Other flags you should know

• Red flag — Beach closed. Don’t enter the water, even if it looks calm.
• Black-and-white flags — Surf zone. For surfboards, not swimmers.
• Purple flag — Marine stingers or unpleasant sea creatures. Not dangerous, but painful.

So what happens if a shark is spotted?

If a shark is seen:

• the beach closes immediately (red flag),
• everyone is called out of the water,
• and the beach stays closed until it is 100% safe.

Australian lifeguards are extremely well trained and take zero risks. If they tell you to get out, you get out. No debate.

Why I feel safe on the Australian coast

Because everything here is clear. Wide beaches. Visible flags. Highly trained lifeguards. And a culture where safety is as normal as putting on sunscreen. I always swim between the flags, check for warnings and listen to the lifeguards. No stress. No drama.

Australia is wild — but it is also organised. And that combination is exactly what makes solo travel here feel so good.