South Australia

South Australia: The Realm of Dragons and Aliens

South Australia is the cold-water counterpoint to the Great Barrier Reef, and it is arguably even more unique. This is the heart of the "Great Southern Reef," a temperate wonderland where the water is crisp, the kelp is tall, and the animals look like they came from another planet. The headline act here is the annual aggregation of Giant Cuttlefish in Whyalla—the only place in the world where these massive, color-changing cephalopods gather by the thousands to mate in waist-deep water. But the region is also the exclusive home of the Leafy Seadragon, a creature so ornate and camouflaged it looks more like floating seaweed than a fish.

Why We Chose This Sticker Design

This design is a celebration of Southern Australia's two most famous endemic residents. On the right, we illustrated the Leafy Seadragon in all its intricate glory, highlighting the leaf-like appendages that make it the absolute master of disguise in the seagrass. On the left, we contrasted that stillness with the vibrant, alien energy of a Giant Cuttlefish, depicted in a deep purple hue to represent the spectacular color displays they perform during mating season. The green, kelp-filled background sets the scene for this temperate underwater forest.